Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent inflammation and joint damage, accompanied by the accumulation of plasma cells, which contributes to its pathogenesis. Understanding the genetic alterations occurring during plasma cell differentiation in RA can deepen our comprehension of its pathogenesis and guide the development of targeted therapeutic interventions. Here, our study elucidates the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying plasma cell differentiation by demonstrating that PRDX1 interacts with DOK3 and modulates its degradation by the autophagy-lysosome pathway. This interaction results in the inhibition of plasma cell differentiation, thereby alleviating the progression of collagen-induced arthritis. Additionally, our investigation identifies Salvianolic acid B (SAB) as a potent small molecular glue-like compound that enhances the interaction between PRDX1 and DOK3, consequently impeding the progression of collagen-induced arthritis by inhibiting plasma cell differentiation. Collectively, these findings underscore the therapeutic potential of developing chemical stabilizers for the PRDX1-DOK3 complex in suppressing plasma cell differentiation for RA treatment and establish a theoretical basis for targeting PRDX1-protein interactions as specific therapeutic targets in various diseases.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect and mechanism of Jingangteng capsules in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD）. METHODS Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into normal group and modeling group. The modeling group was fed a high-fat diet to establish a NAFLD model. The successfully modeled rats were then randomly divided into model group， atorvastatin group[positive control， 2 mg/（kg·d）]， and Jingangteng capsules low- and high-dose groups [0.63 and 2.52 mg/（kg·d）]， with 6 rats in each group. The pathological changes of the liver were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and oil red O staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to determine the serum levels of triglycerides （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， alanine transaminase （ALT）， aspartate transaminase （AST）， tumour necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， IL-6， IL-18. 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing and metabolomics techniques were applied to explore the effects of Jingangteng capsules on gut microbiota and metabolisms in NAFLD rats. Based on the E-mail：591146765@qq.com metabolomics results， Western blot analysis was performed to detect proteins related to the nuclear factor kappa-B （NF-κB）/NOD-like receptor family protein 3 （NLRP3） signaling pathway in the livers of NAFLD rats. RESULTS The experimental results showed that Jingangteng capsules could significantly reduce the serum levels of TG， TC， LDL-C， AST， ALT， TNF-α， IL-1β， IL-6， IL-18， while increased the level of HDL-C， and alleviated the hepatic cellular steatosis and inflammatory infiltration in NAFLD rats. They could regulate the gut microbiota disorders in NAFLD rats， significantly increased the relative abundance of Romboutsia and Oscillospira， and significantly decreased the relative abundance of Blautia （P＜0.05）. They also regulated metabolic disorders primarily by affecting secondary bile acid biosynthesis， fatty acid degradation， O-antigen nucleotide sugar biosynthesis， etc. Results of Western blot assay showed that they significantly reduced the phosphorylation levels of NF-κB p65 and NF-κB inhibitor α， and the protein expression levels of NLRP3， caspase-1 and ASC （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS Jingangteng capsules could improve inflammation， lipid accumulation and liver injury in NAFLD rats， regulate the disorders of gut microbiota and metabolisms， and inhibit NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway. Their therapeutic effects against NAFLD are mediated through the inhibition of the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

This study aimed to explore the therapeutic mechanisms of Colquhounia Root Tablets(CRT) in treating diabetic kidney disease(DKD) by integrating biomolecular network mining with animal model verification. By analyzing clinical transcriptomics data, an interaction network was constructed between candidate targets of CRT and DKD-related genes. Based on the topological eigenvalues of network nodes, 101 core network targets of CRT against DKD were identified. These targets were found to be closely related to multiple pathways associated with type 2 diabetes, immune response, and metabolic reprogramming. Given that immune-inflammatory imbalance driven by metabolic reprogramming is one of the key pathogenic mechanisms of DKD, and that many core network targets of CRT are involved in this pathological process, receptor for advanced glycation end products(RAGE)-reactive oxygen species(ROS)-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-protein kinase B(AKT)-nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)-NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3) signaling axis was selected as a candidate target for in-depth research. Further, a rat model of DKD induced by a high-sugar, high-fat diet and streptozotocin was established to evaluate the pharmacological effects of CRT and verify the expression of related targets. The experimental results showed that CRT could effectively correct metabolic disturbances in DKD, restore immune-inflammatory balance, and improve renal function and its pathological changes by inhibiting the activation of the RAGE-ROS-PI3K-AKT-NF-κB-NLRP3 signaling axis. In conclusion, this study reveals that CRT alleviates the progression of DKD through dual regulation of metabolic reprogramming and immune-inflammatory responses, providing strong experimental evidence for its clinical application in DKD.
Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies/metabolism* ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products/genetics* ; NF-kappa B/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Rats ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Humans ; Plant Roots/chemistry* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tablets/administration & dosage*

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a common spinal deformity in adolescents, with potential causes etiologies associated with mesenchymal stem cells, genetic factors, histological features, and biomechanical aspects. Biomechanically, the pelvis, serving as the central and majort load-bearing structure, exhibits morphological and alignment abnormalities highly correlated with the development of AIS. Recent studies have extensively explored three-dimensional pelvic parameters and kinematics, demonstrating that abnormal pelvic characteristics may contribute to AIS onset and progression and are increasingly incorporated into clinical interventions. This review summarizes sagittal and coronal features of the spine-pelvis, as well as the influence of three-dimensional kinematic features on the pathogenesis of AIS, providing insights for advancing the study of spine-pelvis features related to AIS.
Humans ; Scoliosis/pathology* ; Adolescent ; Spine/pathology* ; Pelvis/pathology* ; Biomechanical Phenomena

OBJECTIVE: EPF3 is a fibrinolysin monomer isolated and purified from Pheretima vulgaris Chen, an earthworm used in traditional Chinese medicine as Dilong for treating blood stasis syndrome. Its composition, anticoagulant and fibrinolytic activities, and relevant mechanisms have been confirmed through in vitro experiments. However, whether it has antithrombotic effects in vivo and can be absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract is unknown. This study evaluates the antithrombotic effect in zebrafish and investigates the gastrointestinal stability and intestinal absorption mechanism of this protein in vitro. METHODS: The antithrombotic effect of EPF3 in vivo was verified using the zebrafish thrombus model induced by arachidonic acid and FeCl₃. Then, the protein bands of EPF3 incubated with simulated gastric fluid (SGF), simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), and homogenate of Caco-2 cells (HC2C) were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to evaluate its gastrointestinal stability. Finally, the transport behavior and absorption mechanism of EPF3 were studied using Caco-2 cell monolayer. RESULTS: EPF3 could significantly enhance the returned blood volume and blood flow velocity in zebrafish with platelet aggregation thrombus induced by arachidonic acid. It could also prolong the formation time of tail artery thrombus and increase the blood flow velocity in zebrafish with vessel injury thrombus induced by FeCl₃. EPF3 was stable in SIF and HC2C and unstable in SGF. The permeability of EPF3 in Caco-2 monolayer was time-dependent and concentration-dependent. The efflux ratio was less than 1.2 during transport, and the transport behavior was not affected by inhibitors. EPF3 could reversibly reduce the expression of tight junction-related proteins, including zonula occludens-1, occludin, and claudin-1 in Caco-2 cells. CONCLUSION EPF3 could play a thrombolytic and antithrombotic role in zebrafish. It could be transported and absorbed into the intestine through cellular bypass pathway by opening the intestinal epithelium tight junction. This study provides a scientific explanation for the antithrombotic effect of earthworm and provides a basis for the feasibility of subsequent development of EPF3 as an antithrombotic enteric-soluble preparation. Please cite this article as: Zhong WL, Yang JQ, Liu H, Wu YL, Shen HJ, Li PY, Du SY. Antithrombotic effect in zebrafish of a fibrinolytic protein EPF3 from Dilong (Pheretima vulgaris Chen) and its transport mechanism in Caco-2 monolayer through cell bypass pathway. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(4): 415-428.
Animals ; Zebrafish ; Humans ; Caco-2 Cells ; Fibrinolytic Agents/pharmacology* ; Thrombosis/drug therapy* ; Intestinal Absorption

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study. METHODS: A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m ²) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m ²) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m ²) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m ² ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Adult ; Mortality ; Cause of Death ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight/mortality*

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of 4M1E refined management method in reducing dispensing time of outpatient prescription in outpatient pharmacies under the implementation of a long-term prescription policy.Methods The hospital started to implement 4M1E refinement management in July 2022.Ten thousand prescriptions were randomly selected for each of the pre-implementation(from January to June 2022)and post-implementation(from July to December 2022)human-machine hybrid dispensing windows.The dispensing time of a single prescription,the volume of prescriptions dispensed and the number of drugs prescribed during peak periods,the use of intelligent equipment,and patient satisfaction before and after imple-mentation were compared.Results After implementation,the single prescription drug dispensing time at the mixed human-ma-chine dispensing window was reduced from(96.88±1 401.17)s to(55.84±526.24)s(P<0.01);The number of prescriptions dispensed in the window increased from(135.20±21.06)to(147.19±21.24)prescriptions per 2 h,and the number of drugs pre-scribed increased from(871.74±215.61)to(1 008.53±267.87)prescriptions per 2 h during peak hours.The rate of straight prescription and the rate of equipment automation have been greatly improved.Outpatient satisfaction was higher than before man-agement.The data showed statistical differences(P<0.05).Conclusion Under long-term prescription pressure,hospital outpa-tient pharmacies can greatly reduce prescription dispensing time and improve patient satisfaction after applying the 4M1E fine management method.

Objective Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has precise traits and advantages in the scientific prevention and remedy practice of diabetic gastroparesis(DGP).The review gathered and reviewed the research on the therapy of DGP with TCM in current years.It was once located that it performed an essential function by regulating Cajal interstitial cells,enteric nervous system,gastrointestinal hormones and gut microbiota.The research development of the mechanism and effect of TCM in the treatment of DGP were respectively reviewed from the above factors,providing thoughts and scientific foundation for the prevention and treatment of DGP.

Objective:To investigate the expression of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2B1 (HNRNPA2B1) in human esophageal cancer tissues and its clinical significance.Methods:Single-cell data for esophageal cancer were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (GSE160269 dataset, last updated on November 29, 2020) to analyze the expression of HNRNPA2B1. Transcriptional sequencing data for esophageal cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, including the fragments per kilobase of transcript per million mapped reads (FPKM) quantitative data (173 samples, consisting of 162 esophageal cancer tissues and 11 adjacent normal tissues), and survival data in the phenotype category were downloaded. Analysis of FPKM quantitative data from the TCGA database for esophageal cancer was performed. The top 250 genes most correlated with HNRNPA2B1 were selected and the R4.3.0 clusterProfiler package was used to conduct Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses on the selected gene set. FPKM quantitative data from the TCGA database for esophageal cancer were imported into the CIBERSORTx website to obtain immune cell abundance scores, and the correlation between HNRNPA2B1 and the degree of immune cell infiltration was analyzed. The clinicopathological data of patients from esophageal cancer tissue microarrays including 114 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues and 66 cases of adjacent normal tissues were collected. The patients underwent surgery from January 2006 to December 2008, and the follow-up period extended until July 2015. Cytokeratin (CK) and HNRNPA2B1 expression in esophageal cancer tissue microarrays were detected by using multi-color immunohistochemical (mIHC) staining, and multispectral tissue imaging was conducted. The R4.3.0 survival package and survminer package in TCGA database were used to calculate the optimal cut-off value of HNRNPA2B1 expression and the proportion of CK + HNRNPA2B1 + cells in tissue microarrays was used to calculate the cut-off value of HNRNPA2B1 expression based on which patients were categorized into high and low expression groups. The overall survival (OS) of both groups was compared and the factors influencing OS were analyzed by using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results:In the GSE160269 dataset of single-cell data for esophageal cancer, the expression level of HNRNPA2B1 in tumor epithelial cells was higher than that in normal epithelial cells, and HNRNPA2B1 was highly expressed in various immune cell subtypes. The high expression level of HNRNPA2B1 was positively correlated with regulatory T cells, naive B cells and memory CD4 + T cells. GO enrichment analysis revealed that HNRNPA2B1 was primarily involved in the biological process of nuclear division, cellular components were mainly enriched in chromosomal regions, and molecular functions were mainly enriched in ATP hydrolysis activity. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that HNRNPA2B1 was primarily involved in biological processes such as the cell cycle, spliceosome, and DNA replication. Results from mIHC and multispectral tissue imaging demonstrated that CK was predominantly expressed in the cell membranes of tumor cells and normal esophageal epithelial cells, while HNRNPA2B1 was primarily expressed in the nuclei of tumor cells and normal esophageal cells. The expression level of HNRNPA2B1 in esophageal cancer tissues was higher than that in the normal paracancerous tissues ( U = 2 984.00, P < 0.05). Results of tissue microarrays and the survival analysis on the data in the TCGA database indicated that esophageal cancer patients with low HNRNPA2B1 expression had a better OS compared to those with high expression (both P < 0.05). Cox multivariate regression analysis revealed that age ( HR = 1.919, 95% CI: 1.158-3.182, P = 0.011), TNM stage ( HR = 2.404, 95% CI: 1.374-4.207, P = 0.002), T stage ( HR = 2.349, 95% CI: 1.150-4.789, P = 0.019), and the expression of HNRNPA2B1 in tumor epithelial cells ( HR = 2.160, 95% CI: 1.280-3.647, P = 0.004) were independent factors influencing OS in esophageal cancer patients. Conclusions:The high expression of HNRNPA2B1 protein in esophageal cancer tissues may play a role in the developement and progression of esophageal cancer, serving as a crucial biological indicator for prognostic assessment of esophageal cancer.