Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary fibrogenic cells in the liver, and their activation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. Here, we report that retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXRα), a unique member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a key modulator of HSC activation and liver fibrosis. RXRα exerts its effects by modulating calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ)-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα). In addition, we demonstrate that K-80003, which binds RXRα by a unique mechanism, effectively suppresses HSC activation, proliferation, and migration, thereby inhibiting liver fibrosis in the CCl₄ and amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet animal models. The effect is mediated by AMPKα activation, promoting mitophagy in HSCs. Mechanistically, K-80003 activates AMPKα by inducing RXRα to form condensates with CaMKKβ and AMPKα via a two-phase process. The formation of RXRα condensates is driven by its N-terminal intrinsic disorder region and requires phosphorylation by CaMKKβ. Our results reveal a crucial role of RXRα in liver fibrosis regulation through modulating mitochondrial activities in HSCs. Furthermore, they suggest that K-80003 and related RXRα modulators hold promise as therapeutic agents for fibrosis-related diseases.

Objective To evaluate the characteristics of the mass balance and pharmacokinetics of[14 C]birociclib in Chinese male healthy volunteers after a single oral administration.Methods This study used a 14 C labeled method to investigate the mass balance and biological transformation of birociclib in human.Subjects were given a single oral dose of 360 mg/50 pCi of[14 C]birociclib suspension after meals.The blood,urine,and fecal samples were collected at specified time points/intervals after administration.The radiation levels of 14 C labeled birociclib-related compounds in the blood,plasma,urine,and feces were analyzed using liquid scintillation counting.In addition,a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography and on-line/off-line isotope detectors was used to obtain radioactive isotope metabolite spectra of plasma,urine,and fecal samples,and high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to identify the main metabolites.Results A total of 6 healthy male subjects were enrolled in this study.The median peak time of radioactive components in plasma was 5.00 h and the average terminal elimination half-life was 43.70 h after administration.The radioactive components were basically excreted and cleared from the body within 288.00 hours after administration,and average cumulative recovery rate of radioactive drugs was(94.10±8.19)％.The radioactive drugs were mainly excreted through feces,accounting for(84.60±7.10)％of the dose of radioactive drugs administered.Urine was the secondary excretory pathway,accounting for 9.41％of the dose of radioactive drugs administered.Metabolic analysis indicated that the prototype drug was the main radioactive components in plasma samples.The main metabolites in plasma were RM4(XZP-5286),RM6(XZP-3584),and RM7(XZP-5736).The drugs were mainly cleared from the body in the form of prototype drugs and metabolites.In addition to prototype drugs,a total of 9 metabolites were identified and analyzed in plasma,urine,and fecal samples,all of which were phase 1 metabolites.The main metabolic and clearance pathways of drugs in the body were deethylation,diisopropylat ion,oxidation,etc.Conclusion After a single oral administration of[14C]birociclib suspension to healthy subjects,it was mainly cleared from the body in the form of prototype drugs and metabolites,with feces as the main excretory pathway and urine as the secondary excretory pathway.Drugs mainly undergo metabolic reactions in the body,such as deethylation,diisopropylation,and oxidation.The subjects were well tolerance after administration.

Diabetes has long been considered a risk factor in implant therapy and impaired wound healing in soft and hard oral tissues. Magnesium has been proved to promote bone healing under normal conditions. Here, we elucidate the mechanism by which Mg²⁺ promotes angiogenesis and osseointegration in diabetic status. We generated a diabetic mice model and demonstrated the alveolar bone healing was compromised, with significantly decreased angiogenesis. We then developed Mg-coating implants with hydrothermal synthesis. These implants successfully improved the vascularization and osseointegration in diabetic status. Mechanically, Mg²⁺ promoted the degradation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and the nucleation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) by up-regulating the expression of sestrin 2 (SESN2) in endothelial cells, thus reducing the elevated levels of oxidative stress in mitochondria and relieving endothelial cell dysfunction under hyperglycemia. Altogether, our data suggested that Mg²⁺ promoted angiogenesis and osseointegration in diabetic mice by regulating endothelial mitochondrial metabolism.
Mice ; Animals ; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1/metabolism* ; Magnesium/metabolism* ; Osseointegration ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/metabolism* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism*

Diabetes has long been considered a risk factor in implant therapy and impaired wound healing in soft and hard oral tissues.Magnesium has been proved to promote bone healing under normal conditions.Here,we elucidate the mechanism by which Mg2+ promotes angiogenesis and osseointegration in diabetic status.We generated a diabetic mice model and demonstrated the alveolar bone healing was compromised,with significantly decreased angiogenesis.We then developed Mg-coating implants with hydrothermal synthesis.These implants successfully improved the vascularization and osseointegration in diabetic status.Mechanically,Mg2+ promoted the degradation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1(Keap1)and the nucleation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)by up-regulating the expression of sestrin 2(SESN2)in endothelial cells,thus reducing the elevated levels of oxidative stress in mitochondria and relieving endothelial cell dysfunction under hyperglycemia.Altogether,our data suggested that Mg2+ promoted angiogenesis and osseointegration in diabetic mice by regulating endothelial mitochondrial metabolism.

Objective:To report the results of national surveillance on the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of clinical Gram-negative bacteria isolates from bloodstream infections in China in 2022.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria from blood cultures in member hospitals of national bloodstream infection Bacterial Resistant Investigation Collaborative System（BRICS）were collected during January 2022 to December 2022. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted by agar dilution or broth dilution methods recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 software were used to analyze the data.Results:During the study period，9 035 strains of Gram-negative bacteria were collected from 51 hospitals，of which 7 895（87.4%）were Enterobacteriaceae and 1 140（12.6%）were non-fermenting bacteria. The top 5 bacterial species were Escherichia coli（ n=4 510，49.9%）， Klebsiella pneumoniae（ n=2 340，25.9%）， Pseudomonas aeruginosa（ n=534，5.9%）， Acinetobacter baumannii complex（ n=405，4.5%）and Enterobacter cloacae（ n=327，3.6%）. The ESBLs-producing rates in Escherichia coli， Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus spp. were 47.1%（2 095/4 452），21.0%（427/2 033）and 41.1%（58/141），respectively. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli（CREC）and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae（CRKP）were 1.3%（58/4 510）and 13.1%（307/2 340）；62.1%（36/58）and 9.8%（30/307）of CREC and CRKP were resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam combination，respectively. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii（CRAB）complex was 59.5%（241/405），while less than 5% of Acinetobacter baumannii complex was resistant to tigecycline and polymyxin B. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa（CRPA）was 18.4%（98/534）. There were differences in the composition ratio of Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections and the prevalence of main Gram-negative bacteria resistance among different regions，with statistically significant differences in the prevalence of CRKP and CRPA（ χ2=20.489 and 20.252， P<0.001）. The prevalence of CREC，CRKP，CRPA，CRAB，ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were higher in provinicial hospitals than those in municipal hospitals（ χ2=11.953，81.183，10.404，5.915，12.415 and 6.459， P<0.01 or <0.05），while the prevalence of CRPA was higher in economically developed regions（per capita GDP ≥ 92 059 Yuan）than that in economically less-developed regions（per capita GDP <92 059 Yuan）（ χ2=6.240， P=0.012）. Conclusions:The proportion of Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections shows an increasing trend，and Escherichia coli is ranked in the top，while the trend of CRKP decreases continuously with time. Decreasing trends are noted in ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Low prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Escherichia coli and high prevalence in CRAB complex have been observed. The composition ratio and antibacterial spectrum of bloodstream infections in different regions of China are slightly different，and the proportion of main drug resistant bacteria in provincial hospitals is higher than those in municipal hospitals.

Diabetes has long been considered a risk factor in implant therapy and impaired wound healing in soft and hard oral tissues.Magnesium has been proved to promote bone healing under normal conditions.Here,we elucidate the mechanism by which Mg2+ promotes angiogenesis and osseointegration in diabetic status.We generated a diabetic mice model and demonstrated the alveolar bone healing was compromised,with significantly decreased angiogenesis.We then developed Mg-coating implants with hydrothermal synthesis.These implants successfully improved the vascularization and osseointegration in diabetic status.Mechanically,Mg2+ promoted the degradation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1(Keap1)and the nucleation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)by up-regulating the expression of sestrin 2(SESN2)in endothelial cells,thus reducing the elevated levels of oxidative stress in mitochondria and relieving endothelial cell dysfunction under hyperglycemia.Altogether,our data suggested that Mg2+ promoted angiogenesis and osseointegration in diabetic mice by regulating endothelial mitochondrial metabolism.

Diabetes has long been considered a risk factor in implant therapy and impaired wound healing in soft and hard oral tissues.Magnesium has been proved to promote bone healing under normal conditions.Here,we elucidate the mechanism by which Mg2+ promotes angiogenesis and osseointegration in diabetic status.We generated a diabetic mice model and demonstrated the alveolar bone healing was compromised,with significantly decreased angiogenesis.We then developed Mg-coating implants with hydrothermal synthesis.These implants successfully improved the vascularization and osseointegration in diabetic status.Mechanically,Mg2+ promoted the degradation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1(Keap1)and the nucleation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)by up-regulating the expression of sestrin 2(SESN2)in endothelial cells,thus reducing the elevated levels of oxidative stress in mitochondria and relieving endothelial cell dysfunction under hyperglycemia.Altogether,our data suggested that Mg2+ promoted angiogenesis and osseointegration in diabetic mice by regulating endothelial mitochondrial metabolism.

Objective To explore the cut-off value of three dimensional(3D)vena contracta area(VCA)in diagnosing severe tricuspid regrugitation(TR)under different etiologies and its accuracy and practicality in clinical application.Methods From Mar 2019 to May 2021,ninety-two patients with confirmed TR underwent two dimensional(2D)and 3D transthoracic echocardiography.The correlation and consistency between 3D VCA 3D calculated based on the proximal isokinetic surface area(PISA)effective regurgitant orifice area(EROA)was calculated.Comprehensive 2D multi-parameter method was used as a reference method to calculate the cut-off value of the diagnosis of severe TR.Results A total of 85 patients were ultimately included.3D VCA and 3D PISA EROA had similar and acceptable correlations in both primary TR and secondary TR(primary TR:r=0.831,P<0.01;secondary TR:r=0.806,P<0.01).Bland-Altman analysis showed that 3D VCA overestimated TR compared with 3D PISA EROA(62%overestimated in the total patient population,51%overestimated in primary TR,and 74%overestimated in secondary TR).In secondary TR,the cut-off value of 3D VCA for diagnosing severe TR was 0.45 cm2(sensitivity 89%,specificity 82%);combining clinical symptoms,positive 2D PISA EROA results and 3D VCA results for severe TR,the chi-square value was higher than those only included clinical symptoms or incorporated clinical symptoms and positive 2D PISA EROA results(42.168 vs.26.059 and 16.759,P<0.01).Conclusion 3D VCA would overestimate TR,and had high and incremental diagnostic value for evaluating severe TR in secondary TR.

Objective To explore the mechanism of'homotherapy for heteropathy'Zhigancao Decoction in the treatment of coronary heart disease arrhythmia and pulmonary fibrosis by network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.Methods All the active components of Zhigancao Decoction were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP)and Herbal Compendium(HERB).The SwissTargetPrediction database was used to predict the targets.Cytoscape software was used to construct the drugs-targets network diagram and network topology analysis was performed to obtain the core drug targets.The disease targets of coronary heart disease,arrhythmia and pulmonary fibrosis were obtained in GeneCards and OMIM databases,and the intersection targets of Chinese medicine and disease were obtained by Venny software.The intersection targets were imported into the STRING online database to construct a protein-protein interaction network,and the data were imported into Cytoscape software for visualization and screening of core targets.Gene ontology(GO)function enrichment analysis and kyto encyclo-pedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis were performed on the intersection targets using the Metascape database.Molecular docking verification and heat map visualization were performed on the core intersection target and the core drug target through the CB-DOCK2 online platform.Results A total of 137 active components of Zhigancao Decoction were screened out,and 848 corresponding drug targets were obtained by removing repeated values.A total of 9 962 targets of coronary heart disease,5 735 targets of arrhythmia and 7 722 targets of pulmonary fibrosis were obtained.A total of 362 drug-disease intersection targets were obtained by Venny platform processing.The potential core targets with higher degree values were GAPDH,IL-6,ALB,STAT3,TNF,MMP-9 and so on by network topology analysis.GO functional enrichment analysis showed that the main biological processes(BP)involved in Zhigancao Decoction'homotherapy for heteropathy'were the response to hormones,the positive regulation of circulatory system process,phosphorus metabolism process,the response to exogenous stimulation,and the response to organic matter,the main cellular components(CC)include lipid rafts,receptor complexes,cytoplasmic perinuclear regions,dendrites,membrane sides,etc.,the main molecular functions(MF)include protein kinase activity,kinase binding,protein homopolymerization activity,nuclear receptor activity,heme binding,etc..KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the main signaling pathways involved in Zhigancao Decoction'homotherapy for heteropathy'were lipid and atherosclerosis,calcium signaling pathway,cAMP signaling pathway,insulin resistance,cGMP-PKG signaling pathway,JAK-STAT signaling pathway,NF-κB signaling pathway,etc..The results of molecular docking suggested that there was a good binding activity between the main active component targets of Zhigancao Decoction and the core targets of'homotherapy for heteropathy'.Conclusion Zhigancao Decoction mainly regulates JAK-STAT,NF-κB,cAMP and other signaling pathways,acts on IL-6,STAT3,TNF,MMP-9 and other gene targets,and exerts the effect of'homotherapy for heteropathy'on coronary heart disease arrhythmia and pulmonary fibrosis.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a natural product commonly used in food preservation and pharmaceutical applications. Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, is prevalent globally while the impact of AITC on toxoplasmosis is unclear. We explored the effect of AITC on acute toxoplasmosis. We infected C57BL/6 mice with T. gondii type I RH strain following AITC administration. On the 4th day after infection, which corresponds to the initial stage of infection, we collected serum for the determination of inflammatory cytokine levels. The mice serum of the AITC-administered group contained significantly lower levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-23 subunit p19, IL-4, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The lifespan of the mice in the AITC-administered group was significantly reduced. In vitro experiments showed that AITC promoted the proliferation of intracellular T. gondii accompanied by the inhibition of IL-4, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that AITC facilitated T. gondii infection in the early stage by inhibiting the production of several inflammatory cytokines.