OBJECTIVE To investigate the in vitro activity of Chansu injection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and determine whether bufalin is the primary active component responsible for its efficacy.METHODS The half-maximal effective concentration(EC50)of Chansu injection and bufalin against SARS-CoV-2 infection was determined using the CellTiter-Glo cell viability assay.qPCR was performed to assess the effects of Chansu injection and bufalin on mRNA levels of SARS-CoV-2 NP protein,inflammatory factors,and interferons in virus-infected cells.A cell-cell membrane fusion model was established,and the impact of the drugs on membrane fusion between HEK-293T and HEK-293T-ACE2 cells was evaluated using a luciferase reporter gene assay.RESULTS Chansu injection exhibited anti-SARS-CoV-2 virus infection activity,with an EC50 of 85.56 ng·mL-1.Chansu injec-tion significantly reduced the mRNA levels of viral NP protein(P<0.05),IFN-λ2/3(P<0.05),ISG-15 and RIG-I(P<0.000 1)in SARS-CoV-2 infected Calu-3 cells,and the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly reduced(P<0.000 1).The EC50 of bufalin in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 virus-infected cells was 13.3 nmol·L-1,which might be the main active component of Chansu injection in resisting SARS-CoV-2 virus-infected cells.Chansu injection could significantly inhibit the cell membrane fusion mediated by the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 virus,thereby blocking the virus invasion.CONCLUSION Chansu injection demonstrates in vitro anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity by suppressing NP protein expression,reducing inflammatory cytokine lev-els,and blocking viral entry through membrane fusion inhibition.Bufalin is likely the key active component responsible for its anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the in vitro activity of Chansu injection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and determine whether bufalin is the primary active component responsible for its efficacy.METHODS The half-maximal effective concentration(EC50)of Chansu injection and bufalin against SARS-CoV-2 infection was determined using the CellTiter-Glo cell viability assay.qPCR was performed to assess the effects of Chansu injection and bufalin on mRNA levels of SARS-CoV-2 NP protein,inflammatory factors,and interferons in virus-infected cells.A cell-cell membrane fusion model was established,and the impact of the drugs on membrane fusion between HEK-293T and HEK-293T-ACE2 cells was evaluated using a luciferase reporter gene assay.RESULTS Chansu injection exhibited anti-SARS-CoV-2 virus infection activity,with an EC50 of 85.56 ng·mL-1.Chansu injec-tion significantly reduced the mRNA levels of viral NP protein(P<0.05),IFN-λ2/3(P<0.05),ISG-15 and RIG-I(P<0.000 1)in SARS-CoV-2 infected Calu-3 cells,and the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly reduced(P<0.000 1).The EC50 of bufalin in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 virus-infected cells was 13.3 nmol·L-1,which might be the main active component of Chansu injection in resisting SARS-CoV-2 virus-infected cells.Chansu injection could significantly inhibit the cell membrane fusion mediated by the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 virus,thereby blocking the virus invasion.CONCLUSION Chansu injection demonstrates in vitro anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity by suppressing NP protein expression,reducing inflammatory cytokine lev-els,and blocking viral entry through membrane fusion inhibition.Bufalin is likely the key active component responsible for its anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects.

Objective:To evaluate the accuracy, completeness, and reproducibility of domestic open-source large language models (LLM) in diabetic retinopathy (DR) patient education, and to explore their potential as intelligent virtual assistants for DR patient education.Methods:A total of 41 questions and answers related to the diagnosis and treatment of DR in five categories, namely risk factors, screening and examination, symptoms and staging, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.All questions were repeated twice as a " new dialogue" in the LLM, and all the answers were recorded.Three senior fundus physicians independently evaluated the answers on a 6-point Likert scale for accuracy and a 3-point Likert scale for completeness and repeatability, and for each answer, the evaluator was asked to make a recommendation between the LLM and the manual answers.Five questions were randomly selected to evaluate the three open source LLM, ERNIE Bot 3.5, Qwen and Kimi chat, and the LLM with the best overall performance was selected for further evaluation in the full question bank.Results:Among the three LLM, Kimi chat had the best overall performance, Kimi chat performed best, with percentages of 6 for accuracy, 3 for completeness, and 3 for repeatability among the 5 questions at 90%, 90%, and 100%, respectively.For all questions answered, the number of words in manual replies was 106 (70, 202), which was significantly lower than 505 (386, 600) in Kimi chat ( Z=-7.866, P<0.001).There was no significant correlation between the number of Kimi chat replies and the accuracy score ( rs=-0.044, P=0.492), but it was positively correlated with the integrity score ( rs=0.239, P<0.001).The interclass correlation coefficient for accuracy and completeness scores were above 0.700 among three evaluators, with the highest agreement for repeatability at 0.853, followed by completeness of the first response at 0.771.The proportion of responses ≥5 points for accuracy was 87.0%(214/246), the proportion ≥2 points for completeness was 98.0%(241/246), and the proportion higher than 70% for repeatability was 78.5%(193/246).Kimi chat excelled in answering basic questions about the disease such as disease definition, staging, frequency of screening, and common risk factors, but performed poorly on questions involving treatment choices that require a doctor's professional judgment.The proportion of evaluators choosing Kimi chat responses as superior was 69.5% (171/246), and the reasons for non-selection included lack of characteristic answers, inclusion of too much irrelevant information, and lack of responses to questions requiring a high degree of medical expertise. Conclusions:Kimi chat answers DR-related diagnostic questions in a detailed and well-organized manner, with a high degree of accuracy, completeness and reproducibility.

Objective:To observe the effects of NDRG1 on proliferation, migration and lumen formation of retinal vascular endothelial cells (RF/6A cells) in monkeys under high glucose condition. Methods:RF/6A cells were divided into normal group, mannitol group, high glucose group, small interfering RNA (siRNA) negative control group without target gene (siRNA group), 30 nmol/L siRNA down-regulated NDRG1 genome (siNDRG1 group) and 50 nmol/L siNDRG1 group. Normal group cells were cultured conventionally. The mannitol group was added with 25 mmol/L mannitol, and the high-glucose group was added with 25 mmol/L glucose. In the siRNA group, 25 mmol/L glucose was added, and then blank siRNA was added for induction. The 30 and 50 nmol/L siNDRG1 groups were added with 25 mmol/L glucose and induced with 30 and 50 nmol/L siRNDRG1, respectively. All cells were incubated for 24 h for follow-up experiments. Cell proliferation was observed by 4', 6-diaminidine 2-phenylindole staining. Cell counting kit-8 staining was used to detect cell activity. The expression level of NDRG1 mRNA and protein was detected by Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cell migration was observed by cell scratch assay. Cell lumen formation assay was used to detect lumen formation. The two-tailed Student t test was used to compare the two groups. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare groups. Results:There were significant differences in cell proliferation rate ( t=36.659, 57.645) mobility rate ( t=24.745, 33.638) and lumen formation number ( t=41.276, 22.867) between high glucose group and normal group and mannitol group ( P <0.01). Compared with normal group and mannitol group, the relative expression levels of NDRG1 gene mRNA and protein in high glucose group were significantly decreased, with statistical significance ( t=46.145, 21.541, 36.738, 32.976; P<0.001). Compared with the siRNA negative group, the relative expression levels of NDRG1 gene mRNA and protein in 30 nmol/L siNDRG1 group and 50 nmol/L siNDRG1 group were significantly decreased, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=44.275, 40.7577, 57.167, 25.877; P<0.01). Compared with normal group and siRNA group, cell mobility in 30 nmol/LsiNDRG1 group was increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=57.562, 49.522; P<0.01). Compared with normal group and siRNA group, the number of cell lumen formation in 30 nmol/LsiNDRG1 group was significantly increased in the same field of vision, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=63.446, 42.742; P<0.01). Conclusion:Down-regulation of NDRG1 gene can improve the activity, migration and lumen formation of RF/6A cells under hyperglycemia.

Objective:To observe the effects of p21 activated kinase 4 (PAK4) on the mitochondrial function and biological behavior in retinal vascular endothelial cells.Methods:The experimental study was divided into two parts: in vivo animal experiment and in vitro cell experiment. In vivo animal experiments: 12 healthy C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into normal control group and diabetes group, with 6 mice in each group. Diabetes mice were induced by streptozotocin to establish diabetes model. Eight weeks after modeling, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blots were performed to detect the expression of PAK4 in diabetic retinas. In vitro cell experiments: the human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (hRMEC) were divided into three groups: conventional cultured cells group (N group), empty vector transfected (Vector group); pcDNA-PAK4 eukaryotic expression plasmid transfected group (PAK4 group). WB and qPCR were used to detect transfection efficiency, while scratching assay, cell scratch test was used to detect cell migration in hRMEC of each group. In vitro white blood cell adhesion experiment combined with 4 ', 6-diamino-2-phenylindole staining was used to detect the number of white blood cells adhering to hRMEC in each group. The Seahorse XFe96 cell energy metabolism analyzer measures intracellular mitochondrial basal respiration, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, maximum respiration, and reserve respiration capacity. The t-test was used for comparison between the two groups. Single factor analysis of variance was used for comparison among the three groups. Results:In vivo animal experiments: compared with normal control group, the relative expression levels of PAK4 mRNA and protein in retina of diabetic mice were significantly increased, with statistical significance ( t=25.372, 22.419, 25.372; P<0.05). In vitro cell experiment: compared with the N group and Vector group, the PAK4 protein, mRNA relative expression and cell mobility in the hRMEC of PAK4 group were significantly increased, with statistical significance ( F=36.821, 38.692, 29.421; P<0.05). Flow cytometry showed that the adhesion number of leukocytes on hRMEC in PAK4 group was significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=39.649, P<0.01). Mitochondrial pressure measurement results showed that the capacity of mitochondrial basic respiration, ATP production, maximum respiration and reserve respiration in hRMEC in PAK4 group was significantly decreased, with statistical significance ( F=27.472, 22.315, 31.147, 27.472; P<0.05). Conclusion:Over-expression of PAK4 impairs mitochondrial function and significantly promotes leukocyte adhesion and migration in retinal vascular endothelial cells.

Objective:To observe the effect of metformin (Met) on inflammatory bodies and focal death in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (hRMEC) in diabetes mellitus (DM) microenvironment.Methods:Experimental research was divided into in vivo animal experiment and in vitro cell experiment. In vivo animal experiments: 9 healthy C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into DM group, normal control group, and DM+Met group, with 3 mice in each group. DM group and DM+Met group mice were induced by streptozotocin to establish DM model, and DM+Met group was given Met 400 mg/ (kg · d) intervention. Eight weeks after modeling, the expression of NLRP3, cleaved-membrane perforating protein D (GSDMD) and cleaved-Caspase-1 in the retina of mice in the normal control group, DM group and DM+Met group were observed by immunohistochemical staining. In vitro cell experiments: hRMEC was divided into conventional culture cell group (N group), advanced glycation end products (AGE) group, and AGE+Met group. Joining the AGE, AGE+Met groups cells were induced by 150 μg/ml of glycation end products, and 2.0 mmol/L Met was added to the AGE+Met group. Pyroptosis was detected by flow cytometry; 2' ,7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) fluorescent probe was used to detect the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells of each group. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to detect the relative mRNA and protein expression levels of NLRP3, cleaved-GSDMD, cleaved-Caspase-1 in each group of cells. Single factor analysis of variance was used for comparison among the three groups.Results:In vivo animal experiments: compared with the DM group, the expression of NLRP3, cleaved-GSDMD, and cleaved-Caspase-1 in the retina of normal control group and DM+Met group mice was significantly reduced, with significant difference among the 3 groups ( F=43.478, 36.643, 24.464; P<0.01). In vitro cell experiment and flow cytometry showed that the pyroptosis rate of AGE group was significantly higher than that of N group and AGE+Met group ( F=32.598, P<0.01). The DCFH-DA detection results showed that the intracellular ROS levels in the N group and AGE+Met group were significantly lower than those in the AGE group, with the significant difference ( F=47.267, P<0.01). The mRNA ( F=51.563, 32.192, 44.473; P<0.01) and protein levels ( F=63.372, 54.463, 48.412; P<0.01) of NLRP3, cleaved-GSDMD, and cleaved-Caspase-1 in hRMEC of the AGE+Met group were significantly reduced compared to the N group. Conclusion:Met can down regulate the expression of NLRP3 inflammatory body related factors in hRMEC and inhibit pyroptosis.

Idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) is one of common fibroblast proliferative diseases in vitreoretinal interface and is significantly associated with aging.The treatment and management methods of iERM are limited, primarily including clinical following-up and vitrectomy.The time point of irreversible functional and structural damage of retina in macula is difficult to identify.Therefore, we can not predict whether surgery is safe when the symptoms of early iERM are mild, or whether surgical treatment should be postponed until metamorphopsia and vision loss occur.The formation of iERM is a process of retinal surface fibrosis, and fibrosis is a very common process in human body.Many studies on fibrosis have got a growing concern, which is helpful for us to find new treatment approch and also provides more clues of the causes of iERM.The research progress in the treatment of iERM was reviewed.

RAS, a member of the small GTPase family, functions as a binary switch by shifting between inactive GDP-loaded and active GTP-loaded state. RAS gain-of-function mutations are one of the leading causes in human oncogenesis, accounting for ∼19% of the global cancer burden. As a well-recognized target in malignancy, RAS has been intensively studied in the past decades. Despite the sustained efforts, many failures occurred in the earlier exploration and resulted in an 'undruggable' feature of RAS proteins. Phosphorylation at several residues has been recently determined as regulators for wild-type and mutated RAS proteins. Therefore, the development of RAS inhibitors directly targeting the RAS mutants or towards upstream regulatory kinases supplies a novel direction for tackling the anti-RAS difficulties. A better understanding of RAS phosphorylation can contribute to future therapeutic strategies. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the current advances in RAS phosphorylation and provided mechanistic insights into the signaling transduction of associated pathways. Importantly, the preclinical and clinical success in developing anti-RAS drugs targeting the upstream kinases and potential directions of harnessing allostery to target RAS phosphorylation sites were also discussed.

With the development of intraocular injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs, early treatment of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) has more understanding and development.Once PCV combined with vitreous hemorrhage, treatment becomes much more difficult.The causes of vitreous hemorrhage in PCV, treatment of PCV with vitreous hemorrhage by different surgical methods, including simple vitrectomy, vitreous gas injection, intraoperative combined with vitrectomy and PDT, vitrectomy combined with CF 6, retinal pigment epithelium transplantation and other vitrectomy, as well as common operation complications, postoperative recurrence and prognosis are summarized in this article.

Objective To observe the protective effect of polypyrimidine bundle-binding proteinrelated splicing factor (PSF) over-expression on RPE cell injury induced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs).Methods The human RPE cells cultured in vitro were divided into three groups:normal control group (N group),blank control group (N + AGEs group),empty vector control group (Vec + AGEs group),and PSF high expression group (PSF + AGEs).group).RPE cells in N group were routinely cultured;RPE cells in N + AGEs group were only transfected but did not introduce any exogenous genes combined with AGEs induction;Vec +AGEs group and PSF + AGEs group were transfected with pcDNA The empty vector or pcDNA-PSF eukaryotic expression plasmid was introduced into RPE cells and induced by AGEs.Except the N group,the other 3 groups of cells were transfected accordingly,and were stimulated with 150 μg/ml AGEs for 72 h after 24 h.HE staining and Hoechst 33258 staining were used to observe the effect of high PSF expression on the morphological changes of RPE cells;ROS level detection was used to analyze the effect of PSF high expression on the ROS expression of RPE cells induced by AGEs;MTT colorimetric method was used to detect the high PSF expression Effects on the viability of RPE cells;Western blot was used to detect the effects of different time and dose of PSF on the expression of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1).Results HE staining and Hoechst 33258 staining observation showed that the cells in group N were full in shape,the nucleus was round,the cytoplasm was rich,and the staining was uniform;the cells in N + AGEs group and Vec + AGEs group were reduced in size,the eosinophilic staining was enhanced,and the nucleus was densely densely stained.Pyrolysis and even fragmentation;the morphology of cells in the PSF + AGEs group was still full,the cytoplasm staining was more uniform,and the nucleus staining was uniform.The results of MTT colorimetry showed that high expression of PSF can effectively improve the viability of RPE cells,but this effect can be effectively antagonized by ZnPP,and the difference is statistically significant (F=33.26,P＜0.05).DCFH-DA test results showed that compared with the N + AGEs group and Vec + AGEs group,the ROS production in PSF + AGEs group decreased,the difference was statistically significant (F=1 1.94,P＜0.05).Western blot analysis showed that PSF protein upregulated HO-1 expression in a time-and dose-dependent manner.The relative expression level of HO-1 at 24,48,and 72 h after PSF protein was significantly higher than that at 0 h,and the difference was statistically significant (F=164.91,P＜0.05).The relative expression level of HO-1 under the action of 0.1,0.5,1.0,1.5,and 2.0 μg PSF protein was significantly higher than 0.0 μg,and the difference was statistically significant (F=104.82,P＜0.05).Conclusion PSF may inhibit the production of ROS by up-regulating the expression of HO-1,thus protecting the RPE cells induced by AGEs.