The triterpenoid saponins of Centella asiatica, including asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid, and madecassic acid, are pivotal bioactive compounds of the plant. These constituents exhibit a spectrum of pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, antitumor, and antidepressant effects, promotion of wound healing, and enhancement of microcirculation. Owing to these therapeutic properties, C. asiatica is widely employed in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. However, the escalating global demand for its extracts has led to potential supply shortages, prompting researchers to use multiple strategies such as multi-omics, molecular biology, and synthetic biology to conduct extensive studies. These studies encompass the elucidation of the biosynthetic pathways of triterpenoid saponins in C. asiatica, metabolic regulation, the hormonal induction of secondary metabolite synthesis, and the application of biotechnological strategies for natural product production to increase the yield of secondary metabolites in C. asiatica, or to produce active components via microbial chassis, thus satisfying market demands and promoting the sustainable exploitation of wild C. asiatica resources. This article first introduced the triterpenoid saponins of C. asiatica and their biological activities, then summarized the latest research advancements in their biosynthetic pathways, metabolic regulation, and heterologous biosynthesis, and provided an outlook on future development directions, with the aim of providing reference for comprehensive resource development and biotechnological synthesis of active components from C. asiatica.
Centella/genetics* ; Triterpenes/chemistry* ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts

Based on whole-genome identification of the TPS gene family in Perilla frutescens and screening, cloning, bioinformatics, and expression analysis of the synthetic enzyme for the insect-resistant component germacrene D, this study lays the foundation for understanding the biological function of the TPS gene family and the insect resistance mechanism in P. frutescens. This study used bioinformatics tools to identify the TPS gene family of P. frutescens based on its whole genome and predicted the physicochemical properties, systematic classification, and promoter cis-elements of the proteins. The relative content of germacrene D was detected in both normal and insect-infested leaves of P. frutescens, and the germacrene D synthase was screened and isolated. Gene cloning, bioinformatics analysis, and expression profiling were then performed. The results showed that a total of 99 TPS genes were identified in the genome, which were classified into the TPS-a, TPS-b, TPS-c, TPS-e/f, and TPS-g subfamilies. Conserved motif analysis showed that the TPS in P. frutescens has conserved structural characteristics within the same subfamily. Promoter cis-element analysis predicted the presence of light-responsive elements, multiple hormone-responsive elements, and stress-responsive elements in the TPS family of P. frutescens. Transcriptome data revealed that most of the TPS genes in P. frutescens were highly expressed in the leaves. GC-MS analysis showed that the relative content of germacrene D significantly increased in insect-damaged leaves, suggesting that it may act as an insect-resistant component. The germacrene D synthase gene was screened through homologous protein binding gene expression and was found to belong to the TPS-a subfamily, encoding a 64.89 kDa protein. This protein was hydrophilic, lacked a transmembrane structure and signal peptide, and was predominantly expressed in leaves, with significantly higher expression in insect-damaged leaves compared to normal leaves. In vitro expression results showed that germacrene D synthase tended to form inclusion bodies. Molecular docking showed that farnesyl pyrophosphate(FPP) fell into the active pocket of the protein and interacted strongly with six active sites. This study provides a foundation for further research on the biological functions of the TPS gene family in P. frutescens and the molecular mechanisms underlying its insect resistance.
Perilla frutescens/chemistry* ; Plant Proteins/chemistry* ; Multigene Family ; Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane/metabolism* ; Alkyl and Aryl Transferases/chemistry* ; Phylogeny ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant

OBJECTIVES: Anxiety is a common negative emotion. Under current social circumstances, university young teachers face multiple stressors and are more prone to anxiety, seriously threatening their physical and mental health. This study aims to investigate the impact of job insecurity on anxiety of university young teachers, while exploring the mediating roles of perceived stress and insomnia on this relationship. METHODS: Using convenience sampling, young teachers from a general university in a Chinese province were surveyed online. Scores of the Job Insecurity Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Athens Insomnia Scale-Short Form, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale were collected. A chain mediation analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro. RESULTS: A total of 798 subjects were finally included. The detection rate of anxiety among university young teachers was 36.47%. Mediation analysis showed that job insecurity not only had a direct effect on anxiety, but also indirectly affected anxiety via perceived stress (46.42% of the total effect) and insomnia (7.45%), as well as through the chain-mediating path of perceived stress→ insomnia (13.18%; all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Job insecurity is a significant predictor of anxiety in young university faculty. Perceived stress and insomnia serve as sequential mediators in this relationship. Targeted interventions addressing job insecurity, stress perception, and sleep disturbances, alongside efforts to improve mental health literacy and the working environment, may help promote the overall well-being of university young teachers.
Humans ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/epidemiology* ; Universities ; Female ; Anxiety/psychology* ; Male ; Stress, Psychological/psychology* ; Adult ; Faculty/psychology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; China/epidemiology* ; Occupational Stress ; Job Security

Objective:To investigate the current situation of fall fear in elderly patients after operation of intertrochanteric fracture, analyze the influencing factors and build a prediction model.Methods:A prospective cohort study and convenient sampling method were used to select 303 elderly patients with intertrochanteric fracture after surgery in the Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from January 2021 to December 2022 as the modeling group. According to the scores of fall fear when getting out of bed for the first time, they were divided into 211 cases in the fall fear group and 92 cases in the non-fall fear group. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of fall fear after operation of femoral intertrochanteric fracture in elderly patients, and a risk prediction score model was established. ROC curve was used to evaluate the differentiation of the model, calibration chart was used to evaluate the calibration degree of the model, and Bootstrap method was used for internal verification. Data of 81 elderly patients with intertrochanteric fracture treated from January to May 2023 were collected as a validation set for external verification of the model.Results:A total of 6 influencing factors were included in the prediction of fall fear risk model for elderly patients after operation of intertrochanteric fracture: gender ( OR = 3.229, 95% CI 1.672 - 6.401), number of co-existing diseases ( OR = 9.578, 95% CI 4.532 - 20.245), pain ( OR = 1.684, 95% CI 1.074 - 2.463), depression ( OR = 1.719, 95% CI 1.371 - 2.155), social support ( OR = 0.859, 95% CI 0.784 - 0.942), and ability to perform activities of daily living ( OR = 0.960, 95% CI 0.932 - 0.989) (all P<0.05). The area under ROC curve of the prediction model was 0.853, the sensitivity was 0.896, and the specificity was 0.663. The area under the externally verified ROC curve was 0.766, the sensitivity was 0.800, and the specificity was 0.645. The calibration curve was close to the reference curve in the model prediction, indicating that the model hasd a good prediction effect. Conclusions:The prediction effect of this model is good, and it can quickly predict the risk of fall fear in elderly patients after operation of intertrochanteric fracture, and provide a basis for medical personnel to provide timely intervention measures.

Objective:To analyze the effect of analysis plan, do, check, and action (PDCA) cycle in improving the completion rate of sepsis bundle treatment in sepsis patients and the knowledge-attitude-practice of sepsis bundle treatment in medical staff.Methods:Using the historical control method, sepsis patients admitted to the Emergency Trauma Intensive Care Unit of Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University were selected as the research objects by convenience sampling. The 35 patients admitted from January to December 2021 will be included in the control group; from June 2022 to June 2023, 28 patients were admitted to the observation group. The control group received routine nursing care, while the observation group received intervention based on the PDCA cycle. The completion rate of sepsis bundle treatment before and after PDCA cycle implementation was compared. The 27 nurses and 5 doctors working in trauma care unit were investigated by using a self-designed questionnaire on their knowledge and practice level of sepsis bundle treatment. The completion rate of sepsis bundle treatment before and after the implementation of PDCA cycle was compared.Results:The control group included 19 males and 16 females, aged (61.77 ± 8.64) years. The observation group included 13 males and 15 females, aged (60.61 ± 10.20) years. After the implementation of PDCA cycle, the completion rate of 3h bundle treatment for sepsis in the observation group was 89.29% (25/28), which was higher than 31.42% (10/35) in the control group, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=23.22, P<0.05). The completion rate of sepsis bundle treatment within 6 hours in the observation group was 11/11, which was higher than 5/9 in the control group, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=6.11, P<0.05). Moreover, after the implementation of PDCA cycle, the total score and sub-scale scores of the knowledge-attitude-practice among medical staffs increased from 86.60 ± 10.33, 21.00 ± 4.74, 18.00 ± 1.58, and 47.60 ± 4.10 to 100.00 ± 5.20, 27.60 ± 2.51, 19.60 ± 0.55, and 52.80 ± 2.28 respectively, with statistically significant differences ( t values were -5.10 - -3.14, all P<0.05). Conclusions:PDCA cycle can improve the completion rate of sepsis bundle treatment and improve the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of medical staff.

Objective:To establish a prediction model for symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (SRP) after radiotherapy for thoracic cancer based on a longitudinal cohort and dose interval variations.Methods:Clinical data of 587 patients who received thoracic radiotherapy in Department of Radiotherapy of Yunnan Cancer Hospital from July 2022 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The National Cancer Institute common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTCAE) version 5.0 was used to grade radiation pneumonitis, and clinical factors, traditional independent dosimetric characteristics and dose interval variation characteristics were collected. Features used to predict the occurrence of SRP were screened using genetic algorithms and analyzed the correlation between the selected features and SRP occurrence. Predictive models for SRP occurrence were established using the selected features and evaluated, and the optimal predictive model was visualized using a column chart.Results:The incidence of SRP was 35.94%. Five clinical factors, seven independent dosimetric features and six dose interval variation features were screened out by genetic algorithms to effectively predict the occurrence of SRP. The area under ROC curve (AUC) of clinical factors combined with traditional independent dosimetric factors and dose interval variation factors was 76%. The AUC of clinical factors combined with traditional independent dosimetric factors and that of clinical factors combined with dose interval variation factors was 69% and 67%, respectively. The addition of the characteristics of dose interval variation factors significantly improved the effectiveness of the prediction model.Conclusions:The supplement of the characteristics of dose interval variation factors can significantly improve the performance of the SRP prediction model for thoracic tumors after radiotherapy. The SRP prediction model based on dose interval variations can effectively predict the occurrence of SRP.

AIM To investigate the consistency of chemical constituents between formula granules and standard decoction of Coptidis Rhizoma.METHODS Eighteen batches of standard decoctions were prepared,after which the extraction rate and contents,transfer rates of magnolflorine,jatrorrhizine,columbamine,epiberberine,coptisine,palmatine,berberin were determined,HPLC characteristic chromatograms were established.RESULTS There were 11 common peaks in the characteristic chromatograms of 18 batches of standard decoctions and 24 batches of formula granules with the similarities of 0.861-1.000,which were clusterd into two categories.The formula granules and standard decoction demonstrated approximated extraction rate and contents,transfer rates of index constituents.CONCLUSION The chemical constituents between formula granules and standard decoction of Coptidis Rhizoma display good consistency,which can provide references for the quality control,process research and clinical application of the former.

Objective To study the effects and mechanism of norcantharidin(NCTD)on proliferation and apoptosis of NB4 and K562 human leukemic cells by regulating phosphoprotein phosphatase 5 catalytic(PPP5C).Methods PC3.1 and PPP5C-PC3.1 plasmids were electroporated into NB4 and K562 cells.Stable NB4 and K562 cell lines were selected with geneticin(G418).Protein and mRNA expression levels of PPP5C were measured by Western blot and RT-qPCR,respectively.Proliferation,migration,and apoptosis of NB4 and K562 cells were determined by a CCK-8 assay,transwell assay,and Live & Dead? animal cell viability/toxicity detection kit,respectively.NB4 and K562 cells were divided into 0 μg/mL NCTD group and various NCTD dose groups,and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium containing 0,8,16,or 32 μg/ml NCTD.The Live & Dead? animal cell viability/toxicity detection kit measured the numbers of dead and live cells,and cell morphology was observed under a microscope.Western blot was used to measure protein expression levels of caspase 3,Cleaved caspase 3,JNK,p-JNK,p38,p-p38,and α-Tubulin.Results Proliferation,migration,and apoptosis of NB4 and K562 cells were enhanced by overexpression of PPP5C.Compared with 0 μg/mL NCTD group,NCTD promoted apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.PPP5C overexpression antagonized the killing effect of NCTD on leukemic cells.Mechanistic investigations showed that PPP5C reduced the protein level of p-JNK by dephosphorylating and regulating the expression of apoptosis-related protein Cleaved caspase 3.Conclusions NCTD promotes apoptosis of NB4 and K562 cells and inhibits their proliferation by inhibiting PPP5C.

Objective:To evaluate the risk factors for the formation of parastomal Hernias(PSH)using meta-analysis,and to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of PSH.Methods:Case control or Cohort study of PSH risk factors were collected by searching PubMed,CNKI,Wanfang data and other databases.Extract relevant data and perform meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3.Results:The results included a total of 16 studies,with a total sample size of 2411 cases,including 670 in the PSH group and 1741 in the non PSH group.The results showed that advanced age,female gender,BMI≥25,hypertension,COPD/chronic cough,diabetes,and postoperative Hypoproteinemia could increase the risk of PSH(P＜0.05);Smoking,previous ab-dominal surgery history,preoperative radiotherapy/chemotherapy etc.,were not significantly asso-ciated with the occurrence of PSH(P＞0.05).Conclusion:The current evidence shows that ad-vanced age,female gender,BMI≥25,hypertension,COPD/chronic cough,diabetes,postoperative Hypoproteinemia are risk factors for PSH,and extraperitoneal stoma can reduce the occurrence of PSH.