Objective Magnetoreception, the remarkable ability of diverse animals to sense and utilize the geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation, remains a molecularly unresolved mystery in sensory biology. The putative magnetoreceptor (MagR, previously known as IscA1) is a highly conserved iron-sulfur protein implicated in both magnetoreception and iron metabolism; however, the functional diversity among its cross-species homologs remains poorly understood. Cellular morphology is a key genetically determined trait that can be altered through genetic or environmental modifications—a process known as cell morphology engineering. Constructing engineered cells with specific morphological features and magnetic sensitivity to achieve remote, non-invasive magnetic modulation represents a crucial goal in this field with significant application potential. Therefore, this study aims to systematically investigate the effects of MagR heterologous expression on bacterial morphology and magnetic sensing capabilities, screen for MagR-based magnetically sensitive morphology engineering pathways, and reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods We systematically screened 28 MagR homologous genes from diverse prokaryotic and animal taxa to evaluate their expression and corresponding phenotypic effects in Escherichia coli (E. coli). To compare the differential magnetic responses among bacteria expressing various recombinant MagR proteins, we utilized high-throughput automated bright-field microscopic imaging and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, comprehensive biochemical and biophysical characterizations of iron and iron-sulfur cluster binding were performed using Ferrozine colorimetric assays, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Additionally, 100 mT static magnetic field (SMF) exposure experiments were conducted to assess magnetically tunable phenotypes, while the intrinsic magnetic properties of purified MagR proteins were directly measured using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Results Our results demonstrated that the heterologous expression of MagR homologs induced varying degrees of bacterial filamentation. From this comprehensive screen, two distinct morphological patterns were identified: hydra (Hydra vulgaris) MagR (hyMagR) promoted uniform cell elongation and filamentation, exhibiting robust magnetic sensitivity manifested as significantly enhanced filamentation under the 100 mT SMF. In contrast, pigeon (Columba livia) MagR (clMagR) induced only low-frequency, extreme filamentation (sporadically exceeding 80 μm) with a relatively weaker magnetic morphological response. Mechanistically, our data unambiguously proved that these phenotypic differences are primarily driven by distinct iron redox preferences rather than total cellular iron accumulation. Specifically, hyMagR preferentially binds ferrous iron (Fe²⁺), whereas clMagR favors ferric iron (Fe³⁺) and forms more stable iron-sulfur clusters. Intriguingly, although SQUID magnetometry showed that purified clMagR exhibited approximately five-fold higher mass magnetic susceptibility than hyMagR, its cellular magnetic response was weaker. We hypothesize that the Fe²⁺-preferred intracellular environment associated with hyMagR overexpression primes the cell for enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the Fenton reaction. Exposure to an SMF synergizes with this primed redox state, triggering the bacterial SOS response and upregulating cell division inhibitors to efficiently induce uniform filamentation. Conclusion Our findings identify the Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ redox state as a critical determinant of MagR-mediated morphological remodeling and magnetic responsiveness. This discovery suggests a potential strategy for engineering magnetically responsive cellular systems for synthetic biology applications, and provides a plausible framework, which potentially combines intrinsic protein magnetism with redox-state modulation, for further investigating the evolutionary mechanisms of MagR-mediated magnetoreception.

Objective Magnetoreception, the remarkable ability of diverse animals to sense and utilize the geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation, remains a molecularly unresolved mystery in sensory biology. The putative magnetoreceptor (MagR, previously known as IscA1) is a highly conserved iron-sulfur protein implicated in both magnetoreception and iron metabolism; however, the functional diversity among its cross-species homologs remains poorly understood. Cellular morphology is a key genetically determined trait that can be altered through genetic or environmental modifications—a process known as cell morphology engineering. Constructing engineered cells with specific morphological features and magnetic sensitivity to achieve remote, non-invasive magnetic modulation represents a crucial goal in this field with significant application potential. Therefore, this study aims to systematically investigate the effects of MagR heterologous expression on bacterial morphology and magnetic sensing capabilities, screen for MagR-based magnetically sensitive morphology engineering pathways, and reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods We systematically screened 28 MagR homologous genes from diverse prokaryotic and animal taxa to evaluate their expression and corresponding phenotypic effects in Escherichia coli (E. coli). To compare the differential magnetic responses among bacteria expressing various recombinant MagR proteins, we utilized high-throughput automated bright-field microscopic imaging and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, comprehensive biochemical and biophysical characterizations of iron and iron-sulfur cluster binding were performed using Ferrozine colorimetric assays, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Additionally, 100 mT static magnetic field (SMF) exposure experiments were conducted to assess magnetically tunable phenotypes, while the intrinsic magnetic properties of purified MagR proteins were directly measured using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Results Our results demonstrated that the heterologous expression of MagR homologs induced varying degrees of bacterial filamentation. From this comprehensive screen, two distinct morphological patterns were identified: hydra (Hydra vulgaris) MagR (hyMagR) promoted uniform cell elongation and filamentation, exhibiting robust magnetic sensitivity manifested as significantly enhanced filamentation under the 100 mT SMF. In contrast, pigeon (Columba livia) MagR (clMagR) induced only low-frequency, extreme filamentation (sporadically exceeding 80 μm) with a relatively weaker magnetic morphological response. Mechanistically, our data unambiguously proved that these phenotypic differences are primarily driven by distinct iron redox preferences rather than total cellular iron accumulation. Specifically, hyMagR preferentially binds ferrous iron (Fe²⁺), whereas clMagR favors ferric iron (Fe³⁺) and forms more stable iron-sulfur clusters. Intriguingly, although SQUID magnetometry showed that purified clMagR exhibited approximately five-fold higher mass magnetic susceptibility than hyMagR, its cellular magnetic response was weaker. We hypothesize that the Fe²⁺-preferred intracellular environment associated with hyMagR overexpression primes the cell for enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the Fenton reaction. Exposure to an SMF synergizes with this primed redox state, triggering the bacterial SOS response and upregulating cell division inhibitors to efficiently induce uniform filamentation. Conclusion Our findings identify the Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ redox state as a critical determinant of MagR-mediated morphological remodeling and magnetic responsiveness. This discovery suggests a potential strategy for engineering magnetically responsive cellular systems for synthetic biology applications, and provides a plausible framework, which potentially combines intrinsic protein magnetism with redox-state modulation, for further investigating the evolutionary mechanisms of MagR-mediated magnetoreception.

To develop an multimodal interpretable model that integrates whole slide images(WSI) and clinical features, and to validate its efficacy in predicting pathological complete response(pCR) in lung cancer patients following neoadjuvant therapy.

Objective To explore the analytical methods combining multicolor flow cytometry with bioinformatics techniques for analyzing myeloid cells in the gastrocnemius of mice after muscle injury, and provide an experimental foundation for the study of muscle regeneration mechanisms. Methods Immune cells were collected from single-cell suspensions of mouse gastrocnemius using multicolor flow cytometry, and data were analyzed by the t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding（t-SNE）algorithm supplemented by manual gating techniques. The tSNE algorithm was used in multicolor flow cytometry to guide the setting of manual gates, optimize the identification and classification of cell populations. Results Compared to the sham surgery group, the proportions of dendritic cells, granulocytes, macrophages, and monocytes at the site of muscle injury in the model group significantly increased, with the increasing in monocytes being particularly notable. Conclusion The application of the tSNE algorithm combined with manual gating techniques in multicolor flow cytometry demonstrated that this method could effectively guide the setting of manual gates and enhance the efficiency of distinguishing immune cell types. Through this combined technology, the function and subtypes of myeloid cells in the mouse gastrocnemius could be analyzed more accurately.

Objective: To determine the clinical efficacy and mechanism of Piwei Peiyuan Pill (PPP) combined with moxibustion for treating patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome. Methods: Ninety-six CAG patients with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled at the Department of Spleen and Stomach Diseases of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from June 2022 to December 2023. The patients were randomly divided into a control, a Chinese medicine, and a combined group using a random number table method, with 32 cases in each group (two cases per group were excluded). The control group was treated with rabeprazole combined with folic acid tablets (both thrice daily), the Chinese medicine group was treated with PPP (8 g, thrice daily), and the combined group was treated with moxa stick moxibustion (once daily) on the basis of the Chinese medicine group for 12 consecutive weeks. Gastric mucosa atrophy in the three groups was observed before and after treatment. The gastric mucosal pathological score was evaluated. The Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) scale was used to evaluate the patients′ physical and mental health status and quality of life.An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-10, IL-37, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β levels in each group. Real-time fluorescence PCR was used to detect the relative expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) mRNA in each group. Western blotting was used to detect the relative expression levels of proteins related to the STAT3/mTOR signaling pathway, and the adverse drug reactions and events were recorded and compared. Results: There was no statistical difference in age, gender, disease duration, family history of gastrointestinal tumors, alcohol consumption history, and body mass index among the three groups of patients.The total therapeutic efficacy rates of the control, Chinese medicine, and combined groups in treating gastric mucosal atrophy were 66.67% (20/30), 86.67% (26/30), and 90.00% (27/30), respectively (P<0.05). Compared to before treatment, the pathological and PRO scale scores of gastric mucosa in each group decreased after treatment, and TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-37, and TGF-β levels decreased. The relative STAT3 and mTOR mRNA expression levels, as well as the relative STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels decreased (P<0.05), whereas the IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased (P<0.05). After treatment, compared to the control group, the pathological score of gastric mucosa, PRO scale score, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-37, TGF-β content, relative STAT3 and mTOR mRNA expression levels, and relative STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels in the Chinese medicine and combined groups after treatment were reduced (P<0.05), whereas the IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased (P<0.05). After treatment, compared to the Chinese medicine group, the combined group showed a decrease in relative STAT3, mTOR mRNA expression levels, and STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels (P<0.05). Conclusion The combination of PPP and moxibustion may regulate the inflammatory mechanism of the body by inhibiting the abnormal activation of the STAT3/mTOR signaling pathway, upregulating related anti-inflammatory factor levels, downregulating pro-inflammatory factor expression, and increasing related repair factor expression, thereby promoting the recovery of atrophic gastric mucosa, reducing discomfort symptoms, and improving the physical and mental state of CAG patients with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome.

Objective: To explore the prevalence of screening myopia and depressive symptom among primary and secondary school students in Xuzhou, and to explore the association of sleep and screen time on the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptom, so as to provide scientific references for developing intervention strategies to address the development of myopia and promote mental health in children and adolescents. Methods: From September to October 2024, a stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select 6 605 students in grade 4 to 12 in 2 urban and 2 suburban districts in Xuzhou. The students health condition and influencing factors questionnaire were used to assess students basic information, sleep time, and screen time. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to assess primary and secondary school students depressive symptom.Unaided distance visual acuity examination was conducted, and refractive assessment was performed using an automated refractometer without cycloplegic agents. The Chi-square test and multiple Logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the association of sleep and screen time with the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptom. Results: The detection rates of screening myopia, depressive symptom, and screening myopia and depressive symptoms co morbidity among primary and secondary school students in Xuzhou were 60.35%, 4.45% and 18.61% respectively. Results from the multinomial Logistic regression analysis, using the healthy group as the reference and after adjusting for confounding factors, showed that students with insufficient sleep duration were more likely to have depressive symptom ( OR=1.57, 95%CI =1.08-2.27) and the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptom ( OR=1.85, 95%CI =1.45-2.36). Students with daily screen time≥2 h were more likely to have depressive symptom only ( OR=1.41, 95%CI =1.04-1.93) and the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptom ( OR=1.31, 95%CI =1.06-1.61). Further stratified analysis based on sufficient and insufficient sleep duration revealed that only in the insufficient sleep duration group, students with daily screen time≥2 h had an increased risk of depressive symptom only ( OR=1.49, 95%CI =1.07-2.07) and the coexistence of screening positive myopia and depressive symptom ( OR=1.40, 95%CI =1.11- 1.77 ) (all P <0.05). Conclusions Primary and secondary school students with insufficient sleep duration and daily screen time≥2 h have higher risks of depressive symptoms and the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptoms. It is recommended to ensure adequate sleep duration and limit screen time for children and adolescents.

Syringa pinnatifolia, belonging to the family Oleaceae, is a species endemic to China. It is predominantly distributed in the Helan Mountains region of Inner Mongolia and Ningxia of China. The peeled roots, stems, and thick branches have been used as a distinctive Mongolian medicinal material known as "Shan-chen-xiang", which has effects such as suppressing "khii", clearing heat, and relieving pain and is employed for the treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and joint pain. Over the past five years, significant increase was achieved in research on chemical constituents and pharmacological effects. There were a total of 130 new constituents reported, covering sesquiterpenoids, lignans, and alkaloids. Its effects of anti-myocardial ischemia, anti-cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, sedation, and analgesia were revealed, and the mechanisms of agarwood formation were also investigated. To better understand its medical value and potential of clinical application, this review updates the research progress in recent five years focusing on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of S. pinnatifolia, providing reference for subsequent research on active ingredient and support for its innovative application in modern medicine system.
Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Syringa/chemistry*

In this report, the protective effect and molecular mechanism of Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum on corticosterone(CORT)-induced mitochondrial damage in pheochromocytoma(PC12) cells was studied based on CORT-induced rat PC12 cell model. The cultured cells were divided into five groups: blank control group, CORT group(400 μmol·L~(-1) CORT), Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum group(400 μmol·L~(-1) CORT + 10% Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum), control serum group(400 μmol·L~(-1) CORT + 10% control serum), and fluoxetine group(400 μmol·L~(-1) CORT + 10% fluoxetine-containing serum). The study was carried out by cell activity detection, mitochondrial morphology observation, membrane potential measurement, energy metabolism analysis, and mitochondrial dynamics-related protein detection. The results showed that CORT treatment significantly reduced the survival rate of PC12 cells, altered mitochondrial morphology, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and adenosine triphosphate(ATP) synthetic rate. Both Chaihu Shugan San-and fluoxetine-containing serum significantly increased the survival rate of CORT-treated PC12 cells and the ATP synthetic rate in the mitochondria. Unlike fluoxetine, Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum significantly inhibited the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential caused by CORT and increased the oxygen consumption rate(OCR) values of both mitochondrial maximum respiration and reserve respiration capacity. Western blot analysis showed that CORT induced upregulated protein expressions of dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1α(PGC-1α) in PC12 cells and specific protein expression of optic atrophy protein 1(OPA1), yet it repressed the protein expressions of silent information regulator 1(SIRT1) and mitochondrial fusion protein 1(Mfn1) in PC12 cells. Both Chaihu Shugan San-and fluoxetine-containing serum significantly inhibited the protein expression of Drp1. However, only Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum could significantly inhibit the CORT-induced upregulation protein of PGC-1α. RESULTS:: herein suggest that Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum can alleviate CORT-induced damage in PC12 cells, which may be related to the mitochondrial fragmentation/lipid peroxidation protection by Drp1 inhibition, as well as mitochondrial dynamics and energy metabolism mediated by PGC-1α/SIRT1 signaling pathway.
Animals ; PC12 Cells ; Rats ; Mitochondrial Dynamics/drug effects* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Corticosterone/adverse effects* ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Protective Agents/pharmacology* ; Cell Survival/drug effects*

OBJECTIVE: To reveal the molecular basis of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with Yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome by analyzing the gene expression profiles in synovial fluid and blood of KOA patients with this syndrome. METHODS: A total of 80 KOA patients were recruited from October 2022 to June 2024, including 40 cases in the non-Yang deficiency and blood stasis group (27 males and 13 females), with an average age of (61.75±3.45) years old;and 40 cases in the Yang deficiency and blood stasis group (22 males and 18 females), with an average age of (62.00±2.76) years old. The levels of body mass index (BMI), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), fibrinogen, total cholesterol, and D-dimer were recorded and summarized. Blood and synovial fluid samples from patients were collected for gene expression profile microarray sequencing, and then PCR and immunohistochemistry were used for clinical verification on the patients' synovial fluid and cartilage samples. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with KOA patients with non-Yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, those with Yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome had increased BMI, LDL, fibrinogen, total cholesterol, and D-dimer, and decreased HDL, with a clear correlation between the two groups. There were 562 differential genes in the blood, among which 322 were up-regulated and 240 were down-regulated;755 differential genes were found in the synovial fluid, with 350 up-regulated and 405 down-regulated. KEGG signaling pathway analysis of synovial fluid revealed changes in lipid metabolism-related pathways, including cholesterol metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and PPARG signaling pathway. Analysis of the involved differential genes identified 6 genes in synovial fluid that were closely related to lipid metabolism, namely LRP1, LPL, ACOT6, TM6SF2, DGKK, and PPARG. Subsequently, PCR and immunohistochemical verification were performed using synovial fluid and cartilage samples, and the results were consistent with those of microarray sequencing. CONCLUSION This study explores the clinical and genomic correlation between traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and knee osteoarthritis from the perspective of lipid metabolism, and proves that abnormal lipid metabolism is closely related to KOA with Yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome from both clinical and basic aspects.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Synovial Fluid/metabolism* ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism* ; Yang Deficiency/complications* ; Aged

Recent clinical trials have demonstrated a protective effect in using traditional Chinese medicine Tongxinluo (TXL) capsule to treat atherosclerosis. However, clinical evidence of the effects of TXL treatment on coronary plaque vulnerability is unavailable. In response, we developed this study to investigate the hypothesis that on the basis of statin therapy, treatment with TXL capsule may stabilize coronary lesions in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The TXL-CAP study was an investigator-initiated, randomized, double-blind clinical trial conducted across 18 medical centers in China. Patients with ACS aging from 18 to 80 years old who had a non-intervened coronary target lesion with a fibrous cap thickness (FCT) < 100 μm and lipid arc > 90° as defined by optical coherence tomography (OCT) were recruited. A total of 220 patients who met the selection criteria but did not meet the exclusion criteria will be finally recruited and randomized to receive treatment with TXL (n = 110) or placebo (n = 110) for a duration of 12 months. The primary endpoint was the difference in the minimum FCT of the coronary target lesion between TXL and placebo groups at the end of the 12-month follow-up. Secondary endpoints included: (1) changes of the maximum lipid arc and length of the target plaque, and the percentage of lipid, fibrous, and calcified plaques at the end of the 12-month period; (2) the incidence of composite cardiovascular events and coronary revascularization within the 12 months; (3) changes in the grade and scores of the angina pectoris as assessed using the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) grading system and Seattle angina questionnaire (SAQ) score, respectively; and (4) changes in hs-CRP serum levels. The results of the TXL-CAP trial will provide additional clinical data for revealing whether TXL capsules stabilizes coronary vulnerable plaques in Chinese ACS patients.