19 cinnamamide/ester-triazole compounds were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) activity. Among them, compound 4f displayed excellent anti-β-amyloid protein (Aβ)-mediated cytotoxicity (EC₅₀ = 2.03 ± 2.45 μmol·L^-1) in APPswe cells and acetylcholinesterase inhibiton (IC₅₀ = 4.88 ± 4.70 μmol·L^-1). Further study indicated that, at dosages of (1, 5 and 25 mg·kg^-1), compound 4f was effective in improving spatial learning and memory deficits in Aβ_1-42-impaired mice, which was achieved by promoting the nonamyloidogenic signaling and inhibiting the amyloidogenic pathway, along with the suppression of Aβ-induced Tau phosphorylation. All animal experiments in this study were approved by the Experimental Animal Care and Use Committee of the Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology (IMB-20220908D701). In conclusion, compound 4f holds promise as a lead candidate for AD treatment, and the present study lays the foundation for its subsequent development.

To investigate the mechanism of Jianpi Qutan Formula in regulating the balance between classically activated macrophages(M1) and alternatively activated macrophages(M2) in atherosclerotic plaques through phosphorylation and activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6(STAT6), thereby reducing inflammation, increasing plaque stability, and exerting anti-atherosclerosis(AS) effects. An AS model was established by feeding apolipoprotein E(ApoE)~(-/-) mice with atherosclerotic chow for 8 weeks. The ApoE~(-/-) mice were randomly divided into a model group(Mod group), a Jianpi Qutan Formula group(JPQT group, 8.97 g·kg~(-1)), and a Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets group(ATO group, 1.3 mg·kg~(-1)) according to a random table method, with 10 mice in each group. Additionally, 10 male C57BL/6J mice of the same age, fed with a normal diet, were set as the control group(Con group). The JPQT and ATO groups received their respective treatments via oral gavage for 8 consecutive weeks, while the Con and Mod groups were administered an equivalent volume of saline. Body weight was continuously monitored, and after blood collection, total cholesterol(TC) and triglyceride(TG) levels in the serum of each group were compared. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and oil red O staining were used to observe plaque formation in aortic tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed to detect the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-12, as well as the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the positive expression of aortic cluster of differentiation(CD)86 and CD206. Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the protein expression levels of aortic inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), arginase 1(Arg1), STAT6, and p-STAT6. Compared to the Con group, the Mod group exhibited increased body weight and blood lipid levels, disordered aortic structure, significant AS plaque formation accompanied by extensive lipid deposition, and elevated serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-12, as well as elevated CD86 and iNOS protein levels. In contrast, the serum levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, along with the protein expression levels of CD206, Arg1, and p-STAT6/STAT6, were reduced. Compared to the Mod group, the drug intervention groups showed improvements in body weight and lipid metabolism, with a more significant improvement in aortic structure, reduced lipid accumulation, decreased serum levels of IL-6 and IL-12, and lower CD86 and iNOS protein levels. Meanwhile, levels of IL-10, CD206, Arg1, and p-STAT6/STAT6 increased. Jianpi Qutan Formula improves AS by regulating the imbalance in M1/M2 macrophage polarization, and its mechanism is likely closely related to the activation of the STAT6 signaling pathway.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis/metabolism* ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Macrophages/cytology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; STAT6 Transcription Factor/immunology* ; Humans ; Apolipoproteins E/genetics* ; Interleukin-6/immunology*

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder among the elderly, and BuChE has emerged as a potential therapeutic target. In this study, we reported the development of compound 8e, a selective reversible BuChE inhibitor (eqBuChE IC₅₀ = 0.049 μmol/L, huBuChE IC₅₀ = 0.066 μmol/L), identified through extensive virtual screening and lead optimization. Compound 8e demonstrated favorable blood-brain barrier permeability, good drug-likeness property and pronounced neuroprotective efficacy. Additionally, 8e exhibited significant therapeutic effects in zebrafish AD models and scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in mice. Further, 8e significantly improved cognitive function in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Proteomics analysis demonstrated that 8e markedly elevated the expression levels of very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), offering valuable insights into its potential modulation of the Reelin-mediated signaling pathway. Thus, compound 8e emerges as a novel and potent BuChE inhibitor for the treatment of AD, with significant implications for further exploration into its mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role and mechanism of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase/stimulator of interferon gene (cGAS/STING) pathway in oleic acid-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. METHODS: Male wild-type C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups (each n = 10): normal control group, ALI model group, and 5, 50, 500 μg/kg inhibitor pretreatment groups. The ALI model was established by tail vein injection of oleic acid (7 mL/kg), while the normal control group received no intervention. The inhibitor pretreatment groups were intraperitoneally injected with the corresponding doses of cGAS inhibitor RU.521 respectively 1 hour before modeling. At 24 hours post-modeling, blood was collected, and mice were sacrificed. Lung tissue pathological changes were observed under light microscopy after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and pathological scores were assessed. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of cGAS, STING, phosphorylated TANK-binding kinase 1 (p-TBK1), phosphorylated interferon regulatory factor 3 (p-IRF3), and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65) in lung tissue. Immunohistochemistry was performed to observe STING and p-NF-κB positive expressions in lung tissue. Serum interferon-β (IFN-β) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the ALI model group exhibited significant focal alveolar thickening, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, pulmonary capillary congestion, and neutrophil infiltration in the pulmonary interstitium and alveoli, along with markedly increased pathological scores (10.33±0.58 vs. 1.33±0.58, P < 0.05). Protein expressions of cGAS, STING, p-TBK1, p-IRF3, and p-NF-κB p65 in lung tissue significantly increased [cGAS protein (cGAS/β-actin): 1.24±0.02 vs. 0.56±0.02, STING protein (STING/β-actin): 1.27±0.01 vs. 0.55±0.01, p-TBK1 protin (p-TBK1/β-actin): 1.34±0.03 vs. 0.22±0.01, p-IRF3 protein (p-IRF3/β-actin): 1.23±0.02 vs. 0.36±0.01, p-NF-κB p65 protein (p-NF-κB p65/β-actin): 1.30±0.02 vs. 0.53±0.02, all P < 0.05], positive expressions of STING and p-NF-κB in lung tissue were significantly elevated [STING (A value): 0.51±0.03 vs. 0.30±0.07, p-NF-κB (A value): 0.57±0.05 vs. 0.31±0.03, both P < 0.05], and serum IFN-β levels were also significantly higher (ng/L: 256.02±3.84 vs. 64.15±1.17, P < 0.05). The cGAS inhibitor pretreatment groups showed restored alveolar structural integrity, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, and decreased hemorrhage area, along with dose-dependent lower pathological scores as well as the protein expressions of cGAS, STING, p-TBK1, p-IRF3 and p-NF-κB p65 in lung tissue, with significant differences between the 500 μg/kg inhibitor group and ALI model group [pathological score: 2.67±0.58 vs. 10.33±0.58, cGAS protein (cGAS/β-actin): 0.56±0.03 vs. 1.24±0.02, STING protein (STING/β-actin): 0.67±0.03 vs. 1.27±0.01, p-TBK1 protein (p-TBK1/β-actin): 0.28±0.01 vs. 1.34±0.03, p-IRF3 protein (p-IRF3/β-actin): 0.32±0.01 vs. 1.23±0.02, p-NF-κB p65 protein (p-NF-κB p65/β-actin): 0.63±0.01 vs. 1.30±0.02, all P < 0.05]. Compared with the ALI model group, positive expressions of STING and p-NF-κB in lung tissue were significantly reduced in the 500 μg/kg inhibitor group [STING (A value): 0.40±0.01 vs. 0.51±0.03, p-NF-κB (A value): 0.43±0.02 vs. 0.57±0.05, both P < 0.05], and serum IFN-β levels were also markedly reduced (ng/L: 150.03±6.19 vs. 256.02±3.84, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The cGAS/STING pathway is activated in oleic acid-induced ALI, leading to exacerbated inflammatory responses and increased lung damage. RU.521 can inhibit cGAS, thereby down-regulating the expression of pathway proteins and cytokines, and providing protection to lung tissue.
Animals ; Acute Lung Injury/chemically induced* ; Male ; Nucleotidyltransferases/metabolism* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Oleic Acid/adverse effects* ; Transcription Factor RelA/metabolism* ; Lung/pathology* ; Interferon Regulatory Factor-3/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal

Objective:To investigate the effect of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of FCN gene on the susceptibility of pre-eclampsia (PE) in Han nationality pregnant women.Methods:A total of 274 PE pregnant women (PE group) and 154 healthy pregnant women (control group) admitted to Boai Hospital of Zhongshan, Affiliated Hospital to Southern Medical University from October 2020 to October 2022 were collected. The general information, medical history, reproductive history, blood pressure, body mass index and blood biochemical indicators before delivery were compared between the two groups. Twenty-three SNP loci of FCN gene family were genotyped by time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and the serum levels of ficolins (ficolin-1, -2 and -3) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:(1) Compared with the control group, the body mass index, mean arterial pressure, gestational age at delivery, blood urea nitrogen, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, direct bilirubin, albumin, and C-reactive protein in the PE group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The levels of N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), placental growth factor (PlGF) and human soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sFlt-1) were significantly different between the two groups (all P<0.05). (2) Among the 23 SNP loci in FCN gene family, 18 loci were in Hardy-Weinberg genetic equilibrium, including 5 loci in FCN1 gene, 10 loci in FCN2 gene, and 3 loci in FCN3 gene. Five loci that did not conform to Hardy-Weinberg genetic equilibrium were not included in the subsequent analysis. Compared with the control group, the genotype distribution of 3 loci of FCN2 gene (rs7872508, rs11103563, rs73664188) and 1 locus of FCN3 gene (rs3813800) in the PE group were significantly different (all P<0.05). After Bonferroni correction, only the genotype distribution of rs7872508 and rs73664188 in FCN2 gene were statistically different between the PE group and the control group (all P<0.05). Further analysis showed that for the rs7872508 locus of FCN2 gene, compared with GG genotype, genotype GT ( OR=3.025, 95% CI: 1.080-8.471) and TT ( OR=4.777, 95% CI: 1.758-12.979) both significantly increased the risk of PE (both P<0.05). For rs73664188 locus of FCN2 gene, compared with TT genotype, genotype TC ( OR=0.510, 95% CI: 0.334-0.778) significantly reduced the risk of PE ( P<0.05). (3) Compared with the control group, the serum levels of ficolin-1 and ficolin-2 in pregnant women in the PE group were significantly reduced (both P<0.05), while the level of ficolin-3 showed no significant change ( P=0.271). Correlation analysis showed that the serum levels of ficolin-2 in pregnant women in the PE group were significantly positively correlated with PlGF level ( r=0.321, P<0.001), and significantly negatively correlated with sFlt-1 level ( r=-0.187, P=0.002) and NT-proBNP level ( r=-0.392, P<0.001). Further analysis revealed that the serum levels of ficolin-2 in pregnant women of the PE group with GT and TT genotypes at rs7872508 locus of FCN2 gene were significantly reduced (both P<0.05), while the serum level of ficolin-2 in pregnant women of the PE group with TC genotype at the rs73664188 locus were significantly increased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The SNP of FCN2 gene in FCN gene family might be related to the susceptibility to PE and have an effect on serum ficolin-2 level in PE pregnant women.

Objective To study whether there is a difference in the percentage consonants correct(PCC)of children with functional speech sound disorders(SSD)at different ages,and to explore the distribution in types of consonant errors at different ages.Methods A total of 172 children with ages from 4 to 7 years who were diagnosed with functional speech sound disorders and admitted to the Department of Rehabilitation of the Third Xiangya hospi-tal of Central South University participated in the study.The children were divided into three groups according to their ages:Groups 1 to 3.Groups 1,2,and 3 consisted of 97,45,and 30 children,respectively(Group 1:63 boys and 34 girls,aged 4 to＜5 years;Group 2:36 boys and 9 girls,aged 5 to＜6 years;and Group 3:36 boys and 9 girls,aged 6 to＜7 years).Picture-naming task was used to assess children's phonology.The types of consonant error were recorded and the percentage consonants correct(PCC)and the incidence of consonant errors in different places of articulation(stopping,affrication,frication,nasalization,and lateralization)was calculated.Results ①There was no significant difference in the PCC results among the three groups(P＞0.05).②There was a significant difference in omission errors(Z=6.531,P=0.038＜0.05),but not for substitution and distortion errors among the three groups(P＞0.05).③The omission of the lateral/l/was major among the three groups of children.④There were more stopping,affrication and frication in all three groups of children,yet no significant difference in the results of incidence of consonant errors in different places of articulation(stopping,nasalization,affrication,frica-tion and lateralization)among the three groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion There was no significant difference in the PCC among children with functional speech sound disorders at different ages.There were obvious differences in the distribution of omission errors in different age groups,suggesting idiosyncrasy.Children with SSD demonstrated similar characteristics of consonant phonetic errors at different age stages,included mainly the omission of the lateral/1/and more stopping,affrication and frication.

Biliary fibrosis (BF) is the result of pathological repair of bile tract injury, characterized by thickening and sclerosis of the bile duct wall and progressive stricture of the lumen, which may ultimately lead to serious adverse outcomes such as biliary obstruction, biliary cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatobiliary malignancies. Current research describes BF as a pathological feature of certain bile tract diseases, lacking a systematic summary of its etiology, pathophysiology, molecular mechanisms, and treatment. BF is a common but easily neglected disease state in biliary system, which may promote the development and progression of hepatobiliary diseases through abnormal repair mechanism after pathological biliary tract injury. Based on the latest research progress from both domestic and international perspectives, the authors review the concept, clinical manifestation, etiology, pathogenesis, and therapeutic strategies of BF to provide a reference for clinical physicians.

Chemotherapy is an important adjuvant treatment of glioma, while the efficacy is far from satisfactory, due not only to the biological barriers of blood‒brain barrier (BBB) and blood‒tumor barrier (BTB) but also to the intrinsic resistance of glioma cells via multiple survival mechanisms such as up-regulation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). To address these limitations, we report a bacteria-based drug delivery strategy for BBB/BTB transportation, glioma targeting, and chemo-sensitization. Bacteria selectively colonized into hypoxic tumor region and modulated tumor microenvironment, including macrophages repolarization and neutrophils infiltration. Specifically, tumor migration of neutrophils was employed as hitchhiking delivery of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs/DOX). By virtue of the surface pathogen-associated molecular patterns derived from native bacteria, OMVs/DOX could be selectively recognized by neutrophils, thus facilitating glioma targeted delivery of drug with significantly enhanced tumor accumulation by 18-fold as compared to the classical passive targeting effect. Moreover, the P-gp expression on tumor cells was silenced by bacteria type III secretion effector to sensitize the efficacy of DOX, resulting in complete tumor eradication with 100% survival of all treated mice. In addition, the colonized bacteria were finally cleared by anti-bacterial activity of DOX to minimize the potential infection risk, and cardiotoxicity of DOX was also avoided, achieving excellent compatibility. This work provides an efficient trans-BBB/BTB drug delivery strategy via cell hitchhiking for enhanced glioma therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the practical and health economical values of non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) in Changsha Municipal Public Welfare Program. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out on 149 165 women undergoing NIPT test from April 9, 2018 to December 31, 2019. For pregnant women with high risks, invasive prenatal diagnosis and follow-up of pregnancy outcome were conducted. The cost-benefit of NIPT for Down syndrome was analyzed. RESULTS: NIPT was carried out for 149 165 pregnant women and succeeded in 148 749 cases (99.72%), for which outcome were available in 148 538 (99.86%). 90% of pregnant women from the region accepted the screening with NIPT. 415 (0.27%) were diagnosed as high risk. Among these, 381 (91.81%) accepted amniocentesis, which led to the diagnosis of 212 cases of trisomy 21 (PPV=85.14%), 41 cases with trisomy 18 (PPV=48.81%) and 10 cases with trisomy 13 (PPV=20.83%). The sensitivity and specificity of NIPT for trisomy 21, trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 were (97.70%, 99.98%), (97.62%, 9.97%) and (100%, 99.97%), respectively. In addition, 213 and 30 cases were diagnosed with sex chromosomal aneuploidies (PPV=46.2%) and other autosomal anomalies (PPV=16.57%), respectively. For Down syndrome screening, the cost and benefit of the project was 120.79 million yuan and 1,056.95 million yuan, respectively. The cost-benefit ratio was 1: 8.75, and safety index was 0.0035. CONCLUSION NIPT is a highly accurate screening test for trisomy 21, which was followed by trisomy 18 and sex chromosomal aneuploidies, while it was less accurate for other autosomal aneuploidies. The application of NIPT screening has a high health economical value.
Aneuploidy ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Noninvasive Prenatal Testing ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Trisomy 18 Syndrome/genetics*

Occult myopia refers to a special type of myopia, which is caused by the axial length beyond the normal range of children's normal age, and the corneal curvature is lower than the normal range of children with the normal age range of the vision. Because the vision of occult myopia children is within the normal range, it is easy to be ignored in myopia screening. Without timely myopia prevention and control, occult myopia is very easy to develop into dominant myopia, not only the visual development is seriously affected, but visual function will also produce irreversible changes. It is found that the axial length, corneal curvature, retina and chorioid of occult myopia are different from those of ordinary myopia. The change of these indicators can be used to assist the diagnosis and observe their development process. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the research progress at home and abroad on ocular axis length, corneal curvature, macular retinal thickness, macular choroidal thickness and other related factors in children with occult myopia, in order to provide references for related clinical research.