AIM:Regulatory T cells(Tregs)are a specialized subset of CD4+T cells primarily involved in im-munosuppressive functions.AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)serves as a metabolic sensor that governs the differen-tiation,maturation,and immune functions of Tregs through metabolic reprogramming.However,the impact of AMPKα1(the catalytic subunit of AMPK)knockout specifically in Tregs on the host's immune microenvironment remains largely un-explored.METHODS:Histological changes in immune organs were assessed using HE staining.The types of immune cells and their relative population percentages in immune organs and blood were quantified through flow cytometry in both AMPKα1flox/flox(AMPKα1fl/fl)mice and Treg-specific AMPKα1 knockout mice(AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice).RESULTS:Compared to AMPKα1fl/fl mice,the percentage of eosinophils in the bone marrow of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice was significant-ly reduced.Additionally,while the thymus of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice exhibited normal structure,both its size and the ra-tio of thymus weight to body weight were significantly decreased.The knockout of AMPKα1 in Tregs led to a notable reduc-tion in the total percentage of immature double-negative(DN)cells.Consequently,the percentage of CD4+T cells derived from these DN cells also decreased,even though the percentages of DN1 and DN4 cells were higher in the thymus of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice compared to AMPKα1fl/fl mice.Importantly,the proportion of Siglec-F+CD11b+eosinophils in the thymus was significantly lower in AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice.Knockout of AMPKα1 in Tregs resulted in a marked increase in the percentage of CD4+T cells in peripheral blood,alongside a decrease in the proportion of mature CD8+T cells.Similar-ly,the proportion of CD4+T cells in the spleen of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice was elevated compared to AMPKα1fl/fl mice.In contrast,the proportion of neutrophils significantly decreased,while mononuclear cell proportions increased in the spleen of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice.In lymph nodes,the medullary boundaries in AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice were blurred,and the lymphoid follicles were missing,a feature not observed in AMPKα1fl/fl mice.Furthermore,the knockout of AMPKα1 in Tregs reduced the CD3+T cell population,particularly the CD8+T cell population,in lymph nodes.Although the mature Treg cell population was significantly lower in AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice,the percentage of CD4+T cells was markedly in-creased.In contrast,there was no statistically significant difference in granulocyte populations between AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre and AMPKα1fl/fl mice.CONCLUSION:The populations of mature Tregs,CD8+T cells and eosinophils in various im-mune organs were significantly altered in mice with Treg-specific AMPKα1 knockout,suggesting a potential remodeling of the host immune microenvironment in response to inflammatory stimuli.

AIM:Regulatory T cells(Tregs)are a specialized subset of CD4+T cells primarily involved in im-munosuppressive functions.AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)serves as a metabolic sensor that governs the differen-tiation,maturation,and immune functions of Tregs through metabolic reprogramming.However,the impact of AMPKα1(the catalytic subunit of AMPK)knockout specifically in Tregs on the host's immune microenvironment remains largely un-explored.METHODS:Histological changes in immune organs were assessed using HE staining.The types of immune cells and their relative population percentages in immune organs and blood were quantified through flow cytometry in both AMPKα1flox/flox(AMPKα1fl/fl)mice and Treg-specific AMPKα1 knockout mice(AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice).RESULTS:Compared to AMPKα1fl/fl mice,the percentage of eosinophils in the bone marrow of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice was significant-ly reduced.Additionally,while the thymus of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice exhibited normal structure,both its size and the ra-tio of thymus weight to body weight were significantly decreased.The knockout of AMPKα1 in Tregs led to a notable reduc-tion in the total percentage of immature double-negative(DN)cells.Consequently,the percentage of CD4+T cells derived from these DN cells also decreased,even though the percentages of DN1 and DN4 cells were higher in the thymus of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice compared to AMPKα1fl/fl mice.Importantly,the proportion of Siglec-F+CD11b+eosinophils in the thymus was significantly lower in AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice.Knockout of AMPKα1 in Tregs resulted in a marked increase in the percentage of CD4+T cells in peripheral blood,alongside a decrease in the proportion of mature CD8+T cells.Similar-ly,the proportion of CD4+T cells in the spleen of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice was elevated compared to AMPKα1fl/fl mice.In contrast,the proportion of neutrophils significantly decreased,while mononuclear cell proportions increased in the spleen of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice.In lymph nodes,the medullary boundaries in AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice were blurred,and the lymphoid follicles were missing,a feature not observed in AMPKα1fl/fl mice.Furthermore,the knockout of AMPKα1 in Tregs reduced the CD3+T cell population,particularly the CD8+T cell population,in lymph nodes.Although the mature Treg cell population was significantly lower in AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice,the percentage of CD4+T cells was markedly in-creased.In contrast,there was no statistically significant difference in granulocyte populations between AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre and AMPKα1fl/fl mice.CONCLUSION:The populations of mature Tregs,CD8+T cells and eosinophils in various im-mune organs were significantly altered in mice with Treg-specific AMPKα1 knockout,suggesting a potential remodeling of the host immune microenvironment in response to inflammatory stimuli.

Objective To discuss the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) commonly seen in clinic based on data mining technology.Methods A multicenter study was conducted. 1 451 in-patients with CHF in 4 grade Ⅲ hospitals from December 2010 to September 2012 were enrolled. The cluster and factor methods were applied to synthetically analyze the data concerning the patients' information of four diagnostic methods in TCM, and the TCM syndromes commonly seen in patients with CHF and the preliminary diagnostic scheme were summarized.Results In these 1 451 cases, there were 43 items having been experienced standardization, including clinical symptoms and manifestations of tongue and pulse, and in the information concerning four diagnosis in TCM, there were 14 items whose incidences > 10%. The incidence of chest distress was the highest 89.18% (1 294 cases), followed by shortness of breath 66.16% (960 cases), and the lowest constipation 12.20% (177 cases). There were 4 commonly seen syndromes of CHF as follows: qi deficiency blood stasis syndrome (the major diagnostic bases: palpitation, shortness of breath, dark and red tongue with white fur, thin pulse; and the minor bases: chest distress and thin fur), yang deficiency water diffusion syndrome (major bases: edema of lower limbs, cough, expectoration, difficult urination, chilly, poor appetite, greasy fur, string pulse; minor bases: body strength weakness), phlegm heat obstructing lung syndrome (major bases: chest pain, cough and dyspnea in semi-reclining position, constipation, light tongue with yellow fur, deep, slippery or rapid pulse; minor bases: dizziness), and qi yin deficiency blood stasis syndrome (major bases: dry mouth, night sweating, frequent urination at night, teeth-marked tongue, purplish tongue, uneven or irregular pulse; minor bases: loose stool, headache, purplish lips, swollen tongue with little fur, moderate or weak pulse). The load intervals of each of the symptoms in CHF qi deficiency blood stasis syndrome were from -0.520 to 0.881, all the absolute values were greater than 0.520, and the common degrees extracted were 64.3% - 83.6%, which meant the 5 common factors could extract the original index information all over the common degree 64.3%. In yang deficiency water diffusion syndrome, the load intervals of each of symptoms were from0.732 to 0.983, all the absolute values were greater than 0.732, and the common degrees extracted were 58.2% - 96.9%; in phlegm heat obstructing lung syndrome, the load intervals of each of symptoms were 0.670 - 0.992, the all absolute values were greater than 0.670, and the common degrees extracted were 52.0% - 98.5%. In qi yin deficiency blood stasis syndrome, the load intervals of each of symptoms were 0.576 - 0.926, all the absolute values were greater than 0.576, and the common degrees extracted were 54.2% - 87.1%.Conclusion By application of data mining technology combined with clinical practice, the common TCM syndromes of patients with CHF can be analyzed objectively and comprehensively.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by its gradual progression. At present, the cause and mechanism of AD are yet unclear, and there is no effective therapy for treating it. With development of global aging, the prevalence rate of AD is increasing. The life quality of elderly people is affected severely by AD that is ultimately life-threatening. Recently, study on treating AD with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has deepened.