Aim To observe the interventional effects of Polygala fallax Hemsl.(PFH)on diabetic kidney disease(DKD)rats and the regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis.Methods Thirty-six SD rats were ran-domly divided into the control group,DKD group,fer-rostatin-1(Fer-1)group,PFH-L group,PFH-M group,and PFH-H group,with six rats in each group.Model-ing was induced by a one-time intraperitoneal injection of 35 mg·kg-1 streptozocin(STZ)in combination with high-sugar and high-fat feed.Ferrostatin-1(25μmol·kg-1)was injected intraperitoneally in Fer-1 group.The PFH-L,PFH-M,and PFH-H groups were gavaged with 50,100 and 200 mg·kg-1 of alcoholic extracts of PFH respectively,and the control and DKD groups were gavaged with an equal volume of distilled water once a day for eight weeks.At the end of drug administration,blood glucose,24h-UP,BUN and Scr levels were measured in each group of rats.HE stai-ning and Masson staining were used to observe renal histopathological changes.ELISA was employed to de-termine the levels of total iron,MDA and GSH activity.IHC was used to observe the expression of Nrf2,SLC7A11,and GPX4 in renal tissues.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of COL1A1,α-SMA,TGF-,FTH-1,TFR-1,Nrf2,SLC7A1 1,GPX4,in renal tissues.RT-qPCR was used to detect the ex-pression levels of Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4 mRNA in re-nal tissues.Results Compared with the control group,blood glucose,24h-UP,BUN,Scr increased(P＜0.05);glomerular volume increased,tubular dilata-tion and collagen fiber deposition were obvious;total i-ron,MDA content increased and GSH activity de-creased(P＜0.05);there was increased protein ex-pression of COL1A1,α-SMA,TGF-β,TFR-1 and de-creased protein expression of FTH-1(P＜0.01);there was decreased mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4 in DKD group rats(P＜0.01).Compared with the DKD group,blood glucose,24h-UP,BUN and Scr decreased(P＜0.05);renal tissue le-sions were significantly reduced;total iron and MDA content decreased,and GSH activity increased(P＜0.05);COL1A1,α-SMA,TGF-β,and TFR-1 protein expression decreased and FTH-1 protein expression in-creased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4 mRNA and protein expression increased in Fer-1 and PFH dose groups(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusions PFH attenuates renal histopathological injury in DKD rats,and the mechanism may be related to the regula-tion of the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway.

Aim To observe the interventional effects of Polygala fallax Hemsl.(PFH)on diabetic kidney disease(DKD)rats and the regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis.Methods Thirty-six SD rats were ran-domly divided into the control group,DKD group,fer-rostatin-1(Fer-1)group,PFH-L group,PFH-M group,and PFH-H group,with six rats in each group.Model-ing was induced by a one-time intraperitoneal injection of 35 mg·kg-1 streptozocin(STZ)in combination with high-sugar and high-fat feed.Ferrostatin-1(25μmol·kg-1)was injected intraperitoneally in Fer-1 group.The PFH-L,PFH-M,and PFH-H groups were gavaged with 50,100 and 200 mg·kg-1 of alcoholic extracts of PFH respectively,and the control and DKD groups were gavaged with an equal volume of distilled water once a day for eight weeks.At the end of drug administration,blood glucose,24h-UP,BUN and Scr levels were measured in each group of rats.HE stai-ning and Masson staining were used to observe renal histopathological changes.ELISA was employed to de-termine the levels of total iron,MDA and GSH activity.IHC was used to observe the expression of Nrf2,SLC7A11,and GPX4 in renal tissues.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of COL1A1,α-SMA,TGF-,FTH-1,TFR-1,Nrf2,SLC7A1 1,GPX4,in renal tissues.RT-qPCR was used to detect the ex-pression levels of Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4 mRNA in re-nal tissues.Results Compared with the control group,blood glucose,24h-UP,BUN,Scr increased(P＜0.05);glomerular volume increased,tubular dilata-tion and collagen fiber deposition were obvious;total i-ron,MDA content increased and GSH activity de-creased(P＜0.05);there was increased protein ex-pression of COL1A1,α-SMA,TGF-β,TFR-1 and de-creased protein expression of FTH-1(P＜0.01);there was decreased mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4 in DKD group rats(P＜0.01).Compared with the DKD group,blood glucose,24h-UP,BUN and Scr decreased(P＜0.05);renal tissue le-sions were significantly reduced;total iron and MDA content decreased,and GSH activity increased(P＜0.05);COL1A1,α-SMA,TGF-β,and TFR-1 protein expression decreased and FTH-1 protein expression in-creased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4 mRNA and protein expression increased in Fer-1 and PFH dose groups(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusions PFH attenuates renal histopathological injury in DKD rats,and the mechanism may be related to the regula-tion of the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway.

Objective:To observe the effect of Guilu Taohong Formula on semen quality in varicocele(VC)models of rats,and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods:Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups(sham group,model group,Guilu Taohong Formula group and L-carnitine group).After the establishment of models,the rats were treated with intra-gastric administration for eight consecutive weeks.The general condition of the rats was observed.After the gavage,the testicular and epididymal indices were calculated.Semen quality was assessed using an automatic semen analyzer.Apoptosis of testicular cells was assessed by TUNEL staining.And the expression levels of B-cell lymphocytoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax)and cys-teine aspartate protease-3(caspase-3)in testicular tissue were detected by Western blot.Results:Compared with the sham group,testicular index,epididymal index,sperm concentration,the percentage of progressive motility of sperm(PR％)and the expression level of Bcl-2 decreased in model group(P＜0.01).An increased apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells and the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins were observed in model group as well(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the testicular index,epidid-ymal index,sperm concentration,PR％and the expression level of Bcl-2 in Guilu Taohong Formula group increased significantly(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).A decreased apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells and the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins were de-tected in Guilu Taohong Formula group as well(P＜0.01).Similarly,the L-carnitine group showed increased testicular index,epidid-ymal index,sperm concentration,PR％and the expression level of Bcl-2 protein(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),where showed decreased ap-optosis rate of spermatogenic cells and the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins compared with model group(P＜0.01,P＜0.05).Conclusion:Guilu Taohong Formula improves semen quality in VC model rats and reduces the apoptosis rate of spermato-genic cells in testicular tissue,which may be related to the promotion of Bcl-2 protein expression and the inhibition of Bax and caspase-3 protein expression levels.

Objective To investigate the role and molecular mechanism of SOX4 in Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)-mediated gastric mucosal epithelial dysplasia.Methods The expression of SOX4 in gastric tissues and cells was analyzed with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),Western blotting,and immunohistochemical staining.The effects of SOX4 on gastric epithelial cell proliferation and colony formation were determined with CCK-8 and colony formation assays.A PCR array was used to screen downstream target genes involved in H.pylori-induced dysplasia mediated by SOX4.The transcriptional regulation and binding sites of the target gene MLH3 by SOX4 were elucidated with luciferase reporter assay,promoter truncation assay,and chromatin immunoprecipitation(ChIP).Results SOX4 expression was significantly increased in H.pylori-infected gastric tissues(P<0.05).Overexpression of SOX4 markedly enhanced the proliferation and colony formation abilities of normal gastric epithelial cells(P<0.05).Elevated SOX4 led to the dysregulation of MLH3 and other DNA damage repair-related molecules after H.pylori infection in gastric epithelial cells(|logFC|>1,P<0.05).H.pylori promoted MLH3 expression in gastric epithelial cells through SOX4.SOX4 transcriptionally activated MLH3 expression by binding to the 5th site of the MLH3 promoter.The increased expression of SOX4 and MLH3 is associated with poor prognosis of gastric cancer patients.Conclusion SOX4 is closely associated with H.pylori-induced dysplasia in gastric epithelial cells.Upregulation of SOX4 promotes H.pylori-related dysplasia by transcriptionally activating MLH3,leading to the imbalance of proliferation and colony formation in gastric epithelial cells.

Objective:To explore the association of blood and urinary cadmium levels with lipid profile levels and dyslipidemia in Chinese adults aged 18 to 79 years.Methods:Based on the China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM) program, a cross-sectional survey was conducted from 2017 to 2018 using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method, including a total of 10 713 adults aged 18 to 79 years. Data was obtained through questionnaires, physical examinations, biological sample collection, and laboratory testing. Multiple linear mixed effect model (MLMM) and generalized linear mixed effect model (GLMM) were used to analyze the association of blood and creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels with lipid profile levels as well as dyslipidemia among adults.Results:The age of 10 713 participants was (47.23±0.24) years, with 5 372 males accounting for 61.3% of the national population. The weighted mean±standard error (SE) of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was (5.21±0.03), (1.86±0.03), (2.96±0.03), and (1.43±0.01) mmol/L, respectively. The prevalence rate of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, mixed hyperlipidemia, low HDL-C, and high LDL-C was 16.0%, 21.6%, 6.6%, 13.5%, and 10.0%, respectively. MLMM showed that, after adjusting for relevant confounders, log-transformed blood cadmium levels were positively associated with increased levels of TC, TG and LDL-C ( P<0.05). When blood cadmium levels were categorized into quartiles, compared to the lowest exposure group ( Q1), participants in the highest blood cadmium exposure group ( Q4) had increases of 0.19 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.32) mmol/L in TC and 0.25 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.43) mmol/L in TG. GLMM indicated that, after adjusting for confounders, higher blood cadmium exposure levels were associated with increased risks of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, mixed hyperlipidemia, and high LDL-C ( P<0.05). Further analysis by quartiles showed that, compared to the blood cadmium Q1 exposure group, the OR value (95% CI) for the Q4 group was 1.53 (1.12, 2.08) for hypercholesterolemia, 1.54 (1.09, 2.17) for hypertriglyceridemia, 2.24 (1.47, 3.40) for mixed hyperlipidemia, and 1.49 (1.07, 2.09) for high LDL-C. Conclusion:The cadmium internal exposure levels are associated with blood lipid profile levels as well as the incidence of dyslipidemia in Chinese adults aged 18 to 79.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS)is a complex three-dimensional deformity involving coronal,sagittal,and axial planes,with a prevalence that should not be overlooked.With advancements in technology and in-depth research,an increasing number of hospitals and physicians are exploring standardized diagnostic and treatment approaches for AIS.Comprehensive and in-depth understanding is required for AIS,including its etiology,screening and diagnosis,classification,assessment and examination,treatment options,exploration of current focus,and evaluation of quality of life.Such understanding ensures that the diagnostic and treatment are scientific,standardized,and timely.Based on the principles of evidence-based medicine,a consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of AIS is reached after multiple discussions among spinal surgery experts,aiming to provide reference and guidance for clinical practice.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which 2，3，5，4'-tetrahydroxyldiphenylethylene-2-O-glucoside （THSG） mitigates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion （CI/R） injury by regulating mitochondrial calcium overload and promoting mitophagy. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomized into sham， model， SAS （40 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium- and high-dose （10， 20， 40 mg·kg^-1， respectively） THSG groups， with 10 rats in each group. The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion （MCAO/R） model was established by the modified Longa suture method. An oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation （OGD/R） model was constructed in PC12 cells. Neurological deficits were assessed via Zea Longa scoring， and cerebral infarct volume was measured by 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. Structural and functional changes of cortical neurons in MCAO/R rats were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining. PC12 cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay， and mitochondrial calcium levels were quantified by Rhod-2 AM. Immunofluorescence was used to detect co-localization of PTEN-induced kinase 1 （PINK1） and leucine zipper/EF-hand-containing transmembrane protein 1 （LETM1） in neurons. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） was employed to observe mitochondrial morphology in neurons. Western blot was employed to analyze the expression of translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20 （TOMM20）， autophagy-associated protein p62， microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 （LC3）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-9 （Caspase-9）， B-cell lymphoma 2-associated protein X （Bax）， and cytochrome C （Cyt C）. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the model group exhibited increased infarct volume （P<0.01） and neurological deficit scores （P<0.01）， neuronal structure was disrupted with reduced Nissl bodies. （P<0.01）， mitochondrial swelling/fragmentation， decreased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）， upregulated protein levels of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ， TOMM20， Caspase-9， Bax， and Cyt C （P<0.01）， downregulated protein level of p62 （P<0.05）， weakened PC12 viability （P<0.01）， and elevated mitochondrial calcium level （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， THSG and SAS groups showed reduced infarct volumes （P<0.05，P<0.01） and neurological deficit scores （P<0.05，P<0.01）， mitigated mitochondrial damage， and increased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）. Medium/high-dose THSG and SAS alleviated the neurological damage， increased Nissl bodies （P<0.05，P<0.01）， downregulated the protein levels of p62， TOMM20， Caspase-9， Bax， and Cyt C （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and elevated the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ level （P<0.05，P<0.01）. High-dose THSG enhanced PC12 cell viability （P<0.01）， increased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）， and reduced mitochondrial calcium （P<0.01）. ConclusionTHSG may exert the neuroprotective effect on CI/R injury by activating the PINK1-LETM1 signaling pathway， reducing the mitochondrial calcium overload， and promoting mitophagy.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which 2，3，5，4'-tetrahydroxyldiphenylethylene-2-O-glucoside （THSG） mitigates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion （CI/R） injury by regulating mitochondrial calcium overload and promoting mitophagy. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomized into sham， model， SAS （40 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium- and high-dose （10， 20， 40 mg·kg^-1， respectively） THSG groups， with 10 rats in each group. The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion （MCAO/R） model was established by the modified Longa suture method. An oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation （OGD/R） model was constructed in PC12 cells. Neurological deficits were assessed via Zea Longa scoring， and cerebral infarct volume was measured by 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. Structural and functional changes of cortical neurons in MCAO/R rats were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining. PC12 cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay， and mitochondrial calcium levels were quantified by Rhod-2 AM. Immunofluorescence was used to detect co-localization of PTEN-induced kinase 1 （PINK1） and leucine zipper/EF-hand-containing transmembrane protein 1 （LETM1） in neurons. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） was employed to observe mitochondrial morphology in neurons. Western blot was employed to analyze the expression of translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20 （TOMM20）， autophagy-associated protein p62， microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 （LC3）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-9 （Caspase-9）， B-cell lymphoma 2-associated protein X （Bax）， and cytochrome C （Cyt C）. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the model group exhibited increased infarct volume （P<0.01） and neurological deficit scores （P<0.01）， neuronal structure was disrupted with reduced Nissl bodies. （P<0.01）， mitochondrial swelling/fragmentation， decreased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）， upregulated protein levels of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ， TOMM20， Caspase-9， Bax， and Cyt C （P<0.01）， downregulated protein level of p62 （P<0.05）， weakened PC12 viability （P<0.01）， and elevated mitochondrial calcium level （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， THSG and SAS groups showed reduced infarct volumes （P<0.05，P<0.01） and neurological deficit scores （P<0.05，P<0.01）， mitigated mitochondrial damage， and increased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）. Medium/high-dose THSG and SAS alleviated the neurological damage， increased Nissl bodies （P<0.05，P<0.01）， downregulated the protein levels of p62， TOMM20， Caspase-9， Bax， and Cyt C （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and elevated the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ level （P<0.05，P<0.01）. High-dose THSG enhanced PC12 cell viability （P<0.01）， increased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）， and reduced mitochondrial calcium （P<0.01）. ConclusionTHSG may exert the neuroprotective effect on CI/R injury by activating the PINK1-LETM1 signaling pathway， reducing the mitochondrial calcium overload， and promoting mitophagy.

Objective To identify disulfidptosis-related gene(DRG)in acute myocardial infarction(AMI)by bioinformatics,analyze the molecular pattern of DRGs in AMI,and construct a DRGs-related prediction model.Methods AMI-related datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database,and DRGs with differential expression were screened in AMI.CIBERSORT method was used to analyze the immune infiltration.Based on the differentially expressed DRGs,the AMI patients were classified into distinct subtypes via consensus clustering,followed by immune infiltration analysis,differential expression analysis,gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analysis,and gene set variation analysis.Weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA)was then performed to construct subtype-associated modules and identify hub genes.Finally,least absolute shrinkage and selection operator,random forest,and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination were used to screen feature genes to construct a DRGs-related prediction model.The model's diagnostic efficacy was evaluated by nomogram and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis,followed by external validation.Results Nine differentially expressed DRGs were identified between AMI patients and controls.Based on the expression levels of these nine DRGs,AMI patients were divided into two DRGs subtypes,C1 and C2.Increased infiltration of monocytes,M0 macrophages,and neutrophils was observed in AMI patients and C1 subtype(all P<0.05),indicating a close correlation between DRGs and immune cells.There were 257 differentially expressed genes between the C1 and C2 subtypes,which were related to biological processes such as myeloid leukocyte activation and positive regulation of cytokines.Fcγ receptor-mediated phagocytosis and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway activity were enhanced in C1 subtype.WGCNA analysis suggested that the brown module exhibited the strongest correlation with DRG subtypes(r=0.67),from which 23 differentially expressed genes were identified.The feature genes screened by three machine learning methods were interpolated to obtain a DRGs-related prediction model consisting of three genes(AQP9,F5 and PYGL).Nomogram and ROC curves(AUC_train=0.891,AUC_test=0.840)showed good diagnostic efficacy.Conclusions DRGs were closely related to the occurrence and progression of AMI.The DRGs-related prediction model consisting of AQP9,F5 and PYGL may provide targets for the diagnosis and personalized treatment of AMI.
Humans ; Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis* ; Transcriptome ; Computational Biology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; ROC Curve ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Nomograms ; Disulfidptosis

Dormant tumor cells constitute a population of cancer cells that reside in a non-proliferative or low-proliferative state, typically arrested in the G0/G1 phase and exhibiting minimal mitotic activity. These cells are commonly observed across multiple cancer types, including breast, lung, and ovarian cancers, and represent a central cellular component of minimal residual disease (MRD) following surgical resection of the primary tumor. Dormant cells are closely associated with long-term clinical latency and late-stage relapse. Due to their quiescent nature, dormant cells are intrinsically resistant to conventional therapies—such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy—that preferentially target rapidly dividing cells. In addition, they display enhanced anti-apoptotic capacity and immune evasion, rendering them particularly difficult to eradicate. More critically, in response to microenvironmental changes or activation of specific signaling pathways, dormant cells can re-enter the cell cycle and initiate metastatic outgrowth or tumor recurrence. This ability to escape dormancy underscores their clinical threat and positions their effective detection and elimination as a major challenge in contemporary cancer treatment. Hypoxia, a hallmark of the solid tumor microenvironment, has been widely recognized as a potent inducer of tumor cell dormancy. However, the molecular mechanisms by which tumor cells sense and respond to hypoxic stress—initiating the transition into dormancy—remain poorly defined. In particular, the lack of a systems-level understanding of the dynamic and multifactorial regulatory landscape has impeded the identification of actionable targets and constrained the development of effective therapeutic strategies. Accumulating evidence indicates that hypoxia-induced dormancy tumor cells are accompanied by a suite of adaptive phenotypes, including cell cycle arrest, global suppression of protein synthesis, metabolic reprogramming, autophagy activation, resistance to apoptosis, immune evasion, and therapy tolerance. These changes are orchestrated by multiple converging signaling pathways—such as PI3K-AKT-mTOR, Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK, and AMPK—that together constitute a highly dynamic and interconnected regulatory network. While individual pathways have been studied in depth, most investigations remain reductionist and fail to capture the temporal progression and network-level coordination underlying dormancy transitions. Systems biology offers a powerful framework to address this complexity. By integrating high-throughput multi-omics data—such as transcriptomics and proteomics—researchers can reconstruct global regulatory networks encompassing the key signaling axes involved in dormancy regulation. These networks facilitate the identification of core regulatory modules and elucidate functional interactions among key effectors. When combined with dynamic modeling approaches—such as ordinary differential equations—these frameworks enable the simulation of temporal behaviors of critical signaling nodes, including phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK), phosphorylated S6 (p-S6), and the p38/ERK activity ratio, providing insights into how their dynamic changes govern transitions between proliferation and dormancy. Beyond mapping trajectories from proliferation to dormancy and from shallow to deep dormancy, such dynamic regulatory models support topological analyses to identify central hubs and molecular switches. Key factors—such as NR2F1, mTORC1, ULK1, HIF-1α, and DYRK1A—have emerged as pivotal nodes within these networks and represent promising therapeutic targets. Constructing an integrative, systems-level regulatory framework—anchored in multi-pathway coordination, omics-layer integration, and dynamic modeling—is thus essential for decoding the architecture and progression of tumor dormancy. Such a framework not only advances mechanistic understanding but also lays the foundation for precision therapies targeting dormant tumor cells during the MRD phase, addressing a critical unmet need in cancer management.