Based on the pharmacokinetics theory, this study investigated the pharmacokinetic characteristics of albiflorin, paeoniflorin, wogonoside, and wogonin in normal and febrile rats and summarized absorption and elimination rules of Dayuanyin in them to provide reference for further development and clinical application of Dayuanyin. Blood samples were taken from the fundus venous plexus of normal and model rats after intragastric administration of Dayuanyin at different time points. The concentration of each substance in blood was determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS) technique at different time points. DAS 2.0, a piece of pharmacokinetics software, was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters of each component. The results show that the 4 components had good linear relationship in their respective ranges, and the results of methodological investigation met the requirements. The pharmacokinetic parameters of C_(max), T_(max), t_(1/2), AUC_(0-t), AUC_(0-∞), and MRT_(0-t) were calculated by the DAS 2.0 non-compartmental model. Compared with those in the normal group, C_(max) and AUC_(0-t) of the 4 components in the model group were significantly increased. There were significant differences in the pharmacokinetic characteristics between the normal and model groups, suggesting that the absorption and elimination of Dayuanyin may be affected by the changes of internal environment of the body in different physiological states.
Animals ; Rats ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Fever/metabolism* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Glucosides/pharmacokinetics* ; Monoterpenes

OBJECTIVE: Poxviruses are zoonotic pathogens that infect humans, mammals, vertebrates, and arthropods. However, the specific role of ticks in transmission and evolution of these viruses remains unclear. METHODS: Transcriptomic and metatranscriptomic raw data from 329 sampling pools of seven tick species across five continents were mined to assess the diversity and abundance of poxviruses. Chordopoxviral sequences were assembled and subjected to phylogenetic analysis to trace the origins of the unblasted fragments within these sequences. RESULTS: Fifty-eight poxvirus species, representing two subfamilies and 20 genera, were identified, with 212 poxviral sequences assembled. A substantial proportion of AT-rich fragments were detected in the assembled poxviral genomes. These genomic sequences contained fragments originating from rodents, archaea, and arthropods. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that ticks play a significant role in the transmission and evolution of poxviruses. These viruses demonstrate the capacity to modulate virulence and adaptability through horizontal gene transfer, gene recombination, and gene mutations, thereby promoting co-existence and co-evolution with their hosts. This study advances understanding of the ecological dynamics of poxvirus transmission and evolution and highlights the potential role of ticks as vectors and vessels in these processes.
Animals ; Poxviridae/physiology* ; Ticks/virology* ; Phylogeny ; Transcriptome ; Evolution, Molecular ; Poxviridae Infections/virology* ; Genome, Viral

Objective:To investigate effects of mesalazine(MS)on proliferation,apoptosis and inflammatory injury of cell model of ulcerative colitis(UC)induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS),as well as transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)/Smad signaling pathway effect in this study.Methods:Human colonic epithelial cells NCM-460 cultured in vitro were induced UC model by LPS,and divided into Con group(no treatment),LPS group(1 mg/L LPS),MS group(0.1,0.2,0.4 mg/L MS+1 mg/L LPS)and inhibitor group(10 μmol/L TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway inhibitor LY2109761+0.2 mg/L MS+1 mg/L LPS).Cell morphology,proliferation,apoptosis and levels of inflammatory factors and TGF-β1/Smad pathway-related markers were examined by inverted microscope,EdU assay,Hoechst 33258 staining,ELISA and Western blot.Results:LPS treatment highly induced cell proliferation rate and Smad7 pro-tein level compared with Con group,while apoptotic cells,inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6,soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R)release,as well as TGF-β1,p-Smad2,p-Smad3 protein expressions were increased;the above effects induced by LPS was reversed by MS in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05).Compared with 0.2 mg/L MS group,NCM-460 cells proliferation rate and Smad7 expression were increased,while apoptotic cells,TNF-α and IL-6,sIL-2R releases,and TGF-β1,p-Smad2,p-Smad3 protein expressions were decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:MS can attenuate LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammatory injury in NCM-460 cells,and this protection was possibly through suppressing TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are major outer membrane components of Gram-negative bacteria. Unlike most Gram-negative bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii can still survive and acquire polymyxin resistance after complete loss of LPS. Previous studies of LPS-deficient Acinetobacter baumannii mostly focused on LPS-deficient strains induced by polymyxin, whose background was complex and unstable. To investigate LPS loss-mediated polymyxin resistant-Acinetobacter baumannii, this study constructed a stable and clear background LPS-deficient strain by knocking out lpxC gene in Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 19606 with CIRSPR/Cas9, and then studied the phenotypic changes of the lpxC-deficient strain including morphology, growth rate, antibiotic susceptibility, virulence, membrane permeability, and membrane potential. Animal experiments were approved by the Animal Care and Welfare Committee Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, CAMS and PUMC (approval number: IMB-20240119D₉). The results indicated that the lpxC gene of Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 19606 was successfully knocked out. After losing the lpxC, the strain underwent the morphological change from rod-shaped to spherical. Furthermore, it leads to reduced growth rate, enhanced membrane permeability, decreased membrane potential, lower virulence, and increased antibiotic susceptibility to β-lactams, quinolones, aminoglycosides, macrolides, glycopeptides. The lpxC deletion results in significant changes in membrane homeostasis and adaptability of Acinetobacter baumannii. Understanding the phenotypic changes of colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii mediated by LPS loss is useful for exploring the resistance mechanism of Acinetobacter baumannii and developing new therapeutic strategies.

Caries is an infectious disease in which the invasion of pathogens and their metabolites can activate the recognition and defense system of the pulpodentinal complex. In-depth understanding of the immune responses mediated by the pulpodentinal complex will help to estimate the real state of the dental pulp during the progression of caries and to take reasonable clinical treatment strategies, which can be more targeted and less invasive. Based on the physiology of the pulpodentinal complex, the present article introduce its immunocompetence and mechanism, reactive changes, clinical intervention and its significance during the caries progression, as to improve diagnostics as well as treatment strategies for caries.

Objective:To analyze the influence of operator′s experience on the quality and success rate of root canal treatment with new nickel-titanium instruments, providing support for improving the success rate of root canal treatment with new nickel-titanium instruments in clinic.Methods:Cases of root canal treatment and non-surgical root canal retreatment with 6-12 months recall performed by residents (resident group) with experience of 1-3 years and endodontic specialists (specialist group) with experience of 5-7 years were collected from the electronic medical system of the Department of Endodontics, School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, from September 2020 to August 2021. All cases were prepared by engine-driven glide path files and controlled memory nickel-titanium finishing files. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze the differences and influencing factors of complications, filling quality and success rate of root canal treatment between the two groups.Results:A total of 277 cases performed by 24 residents and 3 specialists were included, 169 in the resident group and 108 in the specialist group. The clinical incidence of flare-ups was significantly higher in the resident group [3.6% (6/169)] than in the specialist group [0(0/108)] ( P=0.048). There were no significant differences in ledges, root canal transportations, perforations, or instrument separations between the two groups ( P>0.05). The prevalence of satisfactory fillings was 62.7% (106/169) in the resident group, which was significantly lower than that in the specialist group [86.1% (93/108)] ( P<0.05). The success rate of root canal treatment was 91.7% (155/169) and 94.4% (102/108) in the resident group and the specialist group, respectively, with no significant differences (χ 2=0.73, P=0.392). Multivariate analysis showed that the success rate of root canal treatment was related to complications and quality of root fillings ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Higher success rate of root canal treatment could be achieved by residents and endodontic specialists with engine-driven glide path files and controlled memory nickel-titanium files.

This study aims to investigate the intervention effect of the aqueous extract of Epimedium sagittatum Maxim on the mouse model of bleomycin(BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis, so as to provide data support for the clinical treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Ninety male C57BL/6N mice were randomized into normal(n=10), model(BLM, n=20), pirfenidone(PFD, 270 mg·kg~(-1), n=15), and low-, medium-, and high-dose E. sagittatum extract(1.67 g·kg~(-1), n=15; 3.33 g·kg~(-1), n=15; 6.67 g·kg~(-1), n=15) groups. The model of pulmonary fibrosis was established by intratracheal instillation of BLM(5 mg·kg~(-1)) in the other five groups except the normal group, which was treated with an equal amount of normal saline. On the day following the modeling, each group was treated with the corresponding drug by gavage for 21 days. During this period, the survival rate of the mice was counted. After gavage, the lung index was calculated, and the morphology and collagen deposition of the lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Masson staining, respectively. The levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS) in lung cell suspensions were measured by flow cytometry. The levels of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD), and malondialdehyde(MDA) the in lung tissue were measured. Terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling(TUNEL) was employed to examine the apoptosis of lung tissue cells. The content of interleukin-6(IL-6), chemokine C-C motif ligand 2(CCL-2), matrix metalloproteinase-8(MMP-8), transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1), alpha-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), E-cadherin, collagen Ⅰ, and fibronectin in the lung tissue was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expression levels of F4/80, Ly-6G, TGF-β1, and collagen Ⅰ in the lung tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA levels of CCL-2, IL-6, and MMP-7 in the lung tissue were determined by qRT-PCR. The content of hydroxyproline(HYP) in the lung tissue was determined by alkaline hydrolysation. The expression of α-SMA and E-cadherin was detected by immunofluorescence, and the protein levels of α-SMA, vimentin, E-cadherin in the lung tissue were determined by Western blot. The results showed the aqueous extract of E. sagittatum increased the survival rate, decreased the lung index, alleviated the pathological injury, collagen deposition, and oxidative stress in the lung tissue, and reduced the apoptotic cells. Furthermore, the aqueous extract of E. sagittatum down-regulated the protein levels of F4/80 and Ly-6G and the mRNA levels of CCL-2, IL-6, and MMP-7 in the lung tissue, reduced the content of IL-6, CCL-2, and MMP-8 in the alveolar lavage fluid. In addition, it lowered the levels of HYP, TGF-β1, α-SMA, collagen Ⅰ, fibronectin, and vimentin, and elevated the levels of E-cadherin in the lung tissue. The aqueous extract of E. sagittatum can inhibit collagen deposition, alleviate oxidative stress, and reduce inflammatory response by regulating the expression of the molecules associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition, thus alleviating the symptoms of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.
Mice ; Male ; Animals ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/metabolism* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism* ; Epimedium/metabolism* ; Fibronectins/metabolism* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 7/therapeutic use* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 8/therapeutic use* ; Vimentin/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Lung ; Collagen/metabolism* ; Bleomycin/toxicity* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Cadherins/metabolism*

It is generally believed that high-quality Bupleurum scorzonerifolium roots possess specific morphological characteristics, being red, robust, and long with strong odor. However, the scientific connotation of these characteristics has not been elucidated. According to the theory of "quality evaluation through morphological identification", we studied the correlations between appearance traits(the RGB value of root surface, root length, root diameter, dry weight, and ratio of phloem to xylem) and content of main chemical components(volatile oils, total saponins, total flavonoids, total polysaccharides, and seven saikosaponins) of B. scorzonerifolium roots. Epson Scanner and ImageJ were used to scan the root samples and measure the appearance traits. Ultraviolet spectrophotometry and HPLC were employed to determine the content of chemical components. The correlation, regression, and cluster analyses were performed to study the correlations between the appearance traits and the content of chemical components. The results showed that the content of volatile oils and saikosaponins were significantly correlated with RGB value, root length, and root diameter, indicating that within a certain range, the roots being redder, longer, and thicker had higher content of volatile oils and saikosaponins. According to the appearance traits and chemical component content, the 14 samples from different producing areas were classified into four grades, and the differences in morphological traits and chemical component content were consistent among different grades. The findings in this study demonstrate that appearance traits(RGB value, root length, and root diameter) can be used to evaluate the quality of B. scorzonerifolium roots. Meanwhile, this study lays a foundation for establishing an objective quality evaluation method for B. scorzonerifolium roots.
Bupleurum/chemistry* ; Saponins/analysis* ; Oleanolic Acid/analysis* ; Oils, Volatile/analysis* ; Plant Roots/chemistry*

Objective:To investigate whether endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 ( ERAP1) is a susceptible gene for pre-eclampsia (PE) and the possible mechanism in the pathogenesis. Methods:This retrospective study included 990 PE patients (case group) and 1 240 healthy pregnant women (control group) in six prefecture-level tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province, including the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University and Zaozhuang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, from September 2018 to April 2021. Peripheral blood were collected for DNA extraction. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the ERAP1 gene (rs30187, rs27044, and rs469783 loci) were analyzed by Taqman probe polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two missense mutant plasmids, rs30187(c.1583A>G) and rs27044(c.2188C>G), were constructed by point mutation induction based on wild-type plasmids. Six groups (knock-down control, knock-down, over-expression control, over-expression, variant 1 and 2 groups) were set up in this study. After transfecting Htr8 cells with different transfection molecules, the expression of ERAP1 at mRNA and protein levels were detected. Besides, the effects of different transfections on cell function were detected using Transwell migration assay, Transwell invasion assay, cell scratch assay, and CCK-8 assay. Statistical analysis was performed using two independent samples t-test, rank sum test, and Chi-square test. Results:(1) There were significant differences in the genetic distribution of rs30187 (Genotype: χ2=29.25, Allele: χ2=4.68) and rs469783 (Genotype: χ2=7.01, Allele: χ2=6.45) as well as the genotype distribution of rs27044 ( χ2=28.95) between the case group and the control group (all P<0.05). Statistical analysis of the genetic model revealed that rs30187 and rs27044, both recessive models, were statistically different between the two groups with a higher frequency of CC genotypes in the case group ( χ2=20.82 and 19.97, both P<0.05), but a lower frequency in CC dominant gene pattern for rs469783 ( χ2=5.82, P=0.016). (2) Compared with the knock-down control group, the knock-down group showed significantly inhibited expression of ERAP1 (mRNA: 0.5±0.1 vs 1.0±0.0, t=7.49; protein: 0.4±0.1 vs 0.7±0.1, t=2.81; both P<0.05), reduced cell migration rate after 48 h of scratching [(16.5%±1.8%) vs (23.8%±2.4%), t=3.33, P=0.031] and decreased number of cells crossing Transwell chambers after 24 h of culture (423.7±21.3 vs 499.0±24.6, t=3.29, P=0.031). Compared with the over-expression group, variant 1 group and variant 2 group showed significantly inhibited expression of ERAP1 at mRNA (both P<0.001) and protein ( P=0.003 and 0.006) levels after transfection, decreased number of cells crossing Transwell chambers ( P=0.001 and 0.032) and down-regulated cell migration rate after 48 h of scratching [variant 1: P=0.004; variant 2: (21.1±4.6)% vs (28.3±1.1)%, t=2.10, P=0.099]. ERAP1 expression at both mRNA ( P<0.001) and protein ( P=0.008) levels, as well as cell proliferation ( P<0.001) and invasion ability ( P<0.001), were all enhanced in the over-expression group than those in the over-expression control group. Moreover, the migration rate of cells after 48 h of scratching ( P=0.002) and the number of cells crossing Transwell chambers after 24 h of culture ( P=0.001) were also increased. Conclusions:The rs30187, rs27044, and rs46978 on ERAP1 gene were all associated with PE susceptibility, with more carriers of the CC genotype in PE patients at rs30187 and rs27044 loci and more carriers of the CC genotype in healthy gravida at rs469783 locus. ERAP1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of PE by affecting the migratory and invasive ability of trophoblast cells.

We established an indirect ELISA method using Trichinella spiralis trehalase(TsTRE)protein expressed in prokaryotic cells.The TsTRE gene was amplified by RT-PCR and ligated into the pCold I plasmid,which was expressed in E.coli BL21 competent cells.The rTsTRE protein was purified through affinity column chromatography.The TsTRE protein was localized with immunofluorescence techniques,and the immunogenicity of rTsTRE was detected by westernblotting.Subse-quently,rTsTRE protein was used as a coating antigen to establish an indirect ELISA.We optimized the antigen-coating con-centration,serum dilution concentration,antigen-coating incubation time,type of blocking solution,blocking incubation time,HRP-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG serum dilution concentration,HRP-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG serum incubation time and response time of TMB.Subsequently,the critical value,repeatability,sensitivity,specificity and clinical detection rate of the ELISA were evaluated.Immunofluorescence indicated that trehalase was abundant in the rod-shaped body,tail and epidermis of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae.Western-blot indicated that rTsTRE protein combined with the positive serum of mice infected with T.spiralis for 42 d;the band was approximately 60 kDa.The established indirect ELISA had a positive threshold of 0.384;the intra-run and inter-run coefficients of variation were 5.504％-7.630％ and 4.664％-9.929％,and did not exceed 10％.The lowest detectable titer was 1:1 280.No cross reaction was observed with antibodies to Clonorchissinensis,Schistosoma ja-ponicum,Ascaris suum,Toxocara gondii and Toxocara canis,and the clinical negative detection rate was 0％.Thus,we suc-cessfully expressed the rTsTRE protein.Moreover,the established indirect ELISA method using the TsTRE protein as the coating antigen had good repeatability,sensitivity,specificity and clinical detectability,and can be applied to the detection of clinical samples.