Pulmonary fibrosis（PF） is a progressive and life-threatening disease with limited therapeutic options， highlighting the urgent need for innovative drug discovery strategies. To address this challenge， the authors propose the formula-originated rational intelligent screening&translation（FIRST）， a systematic framework for developing anti-fibrotic monomers derived from classical traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）. The strategy integrates three key dimensions， including tissue-oriented intelligent screening of active compounds， structural optimization based on drug-target spatial interactions and plant biosynthetic pathways， and cross-scale validation of drug. We further highlight its applications in discovering tissue-oriented novel drugs from clinically validated TCM， the development and mechanistic elucidation of anti-fibrotic therapeutics， as well as the clinical translation and secondary development of candidate drugs. This strategy paves the way for first-in-class， formula-derived monomeric drugs with defined structures， clarified mechanisms， and proven safety， offering a transformative avenue to meet the urgent therapeutic needs of PF and setting a new paradigm for TCM-based drug innovation.

Pulmonary fibrosis（PF） is a progressive and life-threatening disease with limited therapeutic options， highlighting the urgent need for innovative drug discovery strategies. To address this challenge， the authors propose the formula-originated rational intelligent screening&translation（FIRST）， a systematic framework for developing anti-fibrotic monomers derived from classical traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）. The strategy integrates three key dimensions， including tissue-oriented intelligent screening of active compounds， structural optimization based on drug-target spatial interactions and plant biosynthetic pathways， and cross-scale validation of drug. We further highlight its applications in discovering tissue-oriented novel drugs from clinically validated TCM， the development and mechanistic elucidation of anti-fibrotic therapeutics， as well as the clinical translation and secondary development of candidate drugs. This strategy paves the way for first-in-class， formula-derived monomeric drugs with defined structures， clarified mechanisms， and proven safety， offering a transformative avenue to meet the urgent therapeutic needs of PF and setting a new paradigm for TCM-based drug innovation.

OBJECTIVE To improve the quality evaluation method of Platycodonis Radix, to study the differences in the quality of three-years-old Platycodonis Radix under different harvesting periods, and to determine the optimal harvesting period of Platycodonis Radix. METHODS The leachate, ash, moisture, refractive index and the content of six saponins were used as the quality evaluation indexes. The differences between the herbs of Platycodonis Radix at different harvesting periods were characterized with the help of mathematical and statistical methods. And link the entropy weight method, gray correlation analysis and TOPSIS method were combined to obtain the statistical analysis of the relevant indexes and the quality ranking information of the herbs in different harvesting periods. RESULTS There were significant differences between the quality evaluation indexes of three-years-old Platycodonis Radix at different harvesting periods. The added multi-indicator testing had improved the quality evaluation system of Platycodonis Radix and enhanced the "Drug properties-Effectiveness" linkage of the herbs. And the results of the comprehensive quality evaluation model showed that the herbs harvested around October 21 (Frost’s Descent) were ranked best in terms of comprehensive index. CONCLUSION In order to ensure the quality of Platycodonis Radix, the best harvesting period for three-years-old Platycodonis Radix is determined around the "Frost’s Descent" season, taking into account the characteristics of the herbs' appearance and the material basis of herbs.

The interventional therapy of vascular stent implantation is a popular treatment method for cardiovascular stenosis and blockage. However, traditional stent manufacturing methods such as laser cutting are complex and cannot easily manufacture complex structures such as bifurcated stents, while three-dimensional (3D) printing technology provides a new method for manufacturing stents with complex structure and personalized designs. In this paper, a cardiovascular stent was designed, and printed using selective laser melting technology and 316L stainless steel powder of 0-10 µm size. Electrolytic polishing was performed to improve the surface quality of the printed vascular stent, and the expansion behavior of the polished stent was assessed by balloon inflation. The results showed that the newly designed cardiovascular stent could be manufactured by 3D printing technology. Electrolytic polishing removed the attached powder and reduced the surface roughness Ra from 1.36 µm to 0.82 µm. The axial shortening rate of the polished bracket was 4.23% when the outside diameter was expanded from 2.42 mm to 3.63 mm under the pressure of the balloon, and the radial rebound rate was 2.48% after unloading. The radial force of polished stent was 8.32 N. The 3D printed vascular stent can remove the surface powder through electrolytic polishing to improve the surface quality, and show good dilatation performance and radial support performance, which provides a reference for the practical application of 3D printed vascular stent.
Humans ; Stainless Steel ; Powders ; Cardiovascular System ; Constriction, Pathologic

Objective : To investigate the effects of milk derived pentapeptide prolin⁃glycine⁃proline⁃isoleucine⁃pro⁃ line ( PGPIP) on chronic alcoholic liver injury in mice and its related molecular mechanism . Methods : Forty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group , model group , glutathione(GSH) group , PGPIPN group .The mice model of chronic alcoholic fatty liver was established by 10 d ad libitum oral feeding with the Lieber⁃DeCarli(LD) ethanol liquid diet plus one binge . Drug intervention was given at the same time . Based on the reported RNA sequencing data in gene expression omnibus (GEO) database , the differential expression of liver endoplasmic reticulum stress⁃related genes was analyzed by cluster heat map . Liver hematoxylin⁃eosin (HE) staining was used to analyze the pathological effects of each treatment group on alcoholic liver injury in mice . Oiled Red O staining was used to analyze the effects of each treatment group on the accumulation of liver lipid droplets in mice . Transtransduction protein expression was detected by Western blot . Results : The pathological examination of PGPIP group was similar to that of Control group , and the liver injury of mice was significantly reduced . The accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver of mice in the model group was manifested as mixed lipid droplets of different sizes , and PGPIP treatment significantly reduced the accumulation of liver lipid droplets induced by alcohol . PGPIP had significant effects on the PERK⁃eIF2α⁃ATF4 pathway and the expression of transcriptional activator 6 ( ATF6 ), Cleaved Caspase 3 protein . Conclusion Pentapeptide PGPIP can alleviate chronic alcoholic fatty liver and liver injury in mice . The mechanism may be attributed to reducing the accumulation of lipid droplets in hepatocytes , en⁃ doplasmic reticulum stress , and hepatocyte apoptosis .

Objective:To study the combined use of endoscopic balloon dilation with endoscopic biliary brushings in diagnosis of bile duct strictures.Methods:A prospective single center study was conducted at the Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. All patients with suspected malignant bile duct strictures shown on CT or MRI imaging from January 2018 to January 2020 were reviewed. All patients gave informed consent to the endascopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures. Their clinical and follow-up data were analyzed. All patients underwent endoscopic balloon dilation of bile duct strictures. Before and after balloon dilation, biliary brush cytology was performed, and the results were used to classify the patients into the control group and the experimental group. Pathological examination of the brush cytology samples was carried out by a single chief pathologist. Presence of cancer cells or significant heterogeneous cells indicated a positive brush cytology test. Negative patients who still highly consider cholangiocarcinoma and agree to surgery and whose gross specimen is confirmed to be malignant after surgery should be considered as false negative by brush examination; it is difficult to judge that patients with cholangiocarcinoma have progress after 2 months of follow-up should be considered as false negative by brush examination. Any progression of disease indicated that the brush test was wrong and the test was again classified as false negative. Only when there was no progression of strictures was the possibility of a benign biliary stricture being considered. The advantage test (McNemar test) was used to analyze the difference between the two diagnostic methods.Results:Of 39 patients who were included in this study, there were 26 males and 13 females, with an age of (68.0 ± 5.2) years. Cholangiocarcinoma was diagnosed by histopathology, surgery or at 2 months follow-up in 35 patients. In the control group, 17 patients had a positive brush test (sensitivity rate was 48.6%, 17/35). In the experimental group, 26 patients had a positive brush test (sensitivity rate was 74.2%, 26/35). In addition, 2 patients in the control group had a positive brush test, while in the experimental group, a negative brush test. A total of 28 patients were positive in the two groups. The sensitivity rate of the brush test was 80.0% (28/35). There were significant differences between the two groups ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Endoscopic balloon dilation combined with endoscopic biliary brushings improved the sensitivity of pathological diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, and endoscopic biliary brushings before and after balloon dilation improved the sensitivity of diagnosis.

Chemical investigation of the roots of Uvaria grandiflora by repeated column chromatography(CC)over silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, and HPLC resulted in the isolation of twelve compounds. Their structures were identified as: epicatechin-(4β→1′, 2→O→2′)-phloroglucinol(1), proanthocyanidin A-1(2), proanthocyanidin A-2(3), epicatechin(4), phlorizin(5), eriodictyol(6), erythro-guaiacylglycerol-8-O-4′-(coniferyl alcohol)ether(7), threo-guaiacylglycerol-8-O-4′-(coniferyl alcohol)ether(8), erythro-guaiacylglycerol-8-O-4′-(sinapyl alcohol)ether(9), threo-syringylglycerol-8-O-4′-(sinapyl alcohol)ether(10), burselignan(11)and icariol A2(12). Compounds 1 to 12 were all isolated from this plant for the first time, and compound 1 was a new natural product.

To study alkaloid constituents in Corydalis decumbens,thirteen compounds were isolated from 95％ ethanol extracts of Corydalis decumbens (Thunb) Pers.by silica gel,RP-C1s,Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographer,recry stallization,thin-layer chromatography and HPLC.Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data combined with physiochemical properties as tetrahydropalmatine (1),oxyhydrastinine (2),doryanine (3),palmatine (4),bicuculline (5),canadine (6),tetrahydrocoptisine(7),corydaldine (8),epicorynoxidine (9),N-methylcorydaldine (10),(+)-corlumine (11),N-methyl-6,7-dimethoxyisoquinolone (12) and oxysanguinarine (13).Compounds 2,3,6,7,and 9-13 were isolated from this plant for the first time.In addition,compounds 2,3,and 9-13 were obtained firstly from this genus.Pharmacological experiments showed that tetrahydropalmatine (1) might have analgesic or sedative effects,and the bicuculline (5) could probably induce epilepsy.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to clarify whether the fusion of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with tumor cells can promote tumor angiogensis.

METHODSHuman glioma stem/progenitor cells (GSPCs) (SU3 cells) were transfected with red fluorescent protein (RFP) gene. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were harvested from nude mice with whole-body green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene expression. Then the two kinds of cells were co-cultured in vitro. At the same time SU3-RFP was transplanted into the brain of GFP-expressing nude mice to establish xenograft tumors. The co-cultured cells, GFP/RFP double positive (yellow) cells and blood vessels obtained from the xenograft tumors were observed under fluorescent microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope.

RESULTSAfter five passages in vitro, MSCs maintained the proliferative activity and highly expressed CD105. CD105 was also expressed in the femurs of GFP-expressing nude mice, tumor cells, blood vessels of SU3 xenograft tumors, and clinical malignant gliomas. When MSCs were co-cultured with SU3-RFP, the ratio of yellow cells co-expressing RFP and GFP was significantly increased after extended time and continuous passages. According to the flow cytometry, yellow cells co-expressing RFP and GFP were 83.7% of the cultured cells. In tissue slices of the xenograft tumors, bundles of yellow vessel-like structure and cross-sectioned yellow vascular wall structures including vascular wall stroma cells were observed with RFP and GFP expression, and were identified as de novo formed vessels derived from fusion of MSCs with SU3-RFP cells.

CONCLUSIONCell fusion occurs between tumor cells and host MSCs and it promotes tumor angiogenesis.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; physiology ; Cell Communication ; Cell Fusion ; Cells, Cultured ; Glioma ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Humans ; Luminescent Proteins ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Neoplasms ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Stem Cells ; Transfection ; Transplantation, Heterologous

Objective To establish a new congenic inbred mouse strain carrying and expressing EGFP and Foxn1nugene for cancer research including human glioma as well .Methods According to criterion of GB14923-2010, the male Foxn1nu nude mice backcross the female C57BL/6-Tg (CAG-EGFP) transgenic mice for 10 times, Then identify the phenotype using the methods and equipment as below: fluorescent flashlight and matching glasses; multifunction vivo imager; fluorescence microscopy.Results The congenic inbred mouse strain named Foxn1nu.B6-CAG-EGFP/SU ( Soochow University ) .All the 14 biochemical loci are homozygous and same with Balb/c mouse in addition to the Pep3 loci (“b” type instead of “a” type).Peripheral blood lymphocyte count shows the lymphocytes occupy 15%of nucleated cells;T lymphocytes occupy 0.3%, meet the requirement of inbred strain of EGFP nude mice .Conclusions Established a new congenic inbred strain -Foxn1nu.B6-CAG-EGFP/SU which both express EGFP stably, and own immunodeficiency with lack of T lymphocytes .The phenotype “b” of biochemical loci “Pep3” is the unique characteristic that distinguish SU to Foxn1nu.