OBJECTIVE: To investigate the action mechanism of formononetin (FN) in regulating T helper type 1 (Th1) cell differentiation and macrophage polarization through JAK/STAT signaling pathways in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP). METHODS: Forty non-obese diabetic (NOD) male mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control, EAP model control, low-dose FN (LFN, 50 mg/kg) and high-dose FN (HFN, 100 mg/kg). The EAP model was established in the latter three groups by subcutaneous injection of prostate antigens (PAgs) combined with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). After modeling, the mice in the LFN and HFN groups were treated intragastrically with FN at 50 and 100 mg/kg/d, respectively, and those in the normal and model controls groups with carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC-Na). At 42 days after treatment, all the animals were killed and relevant tissues collected for observation of the pathological changes in the prostate tissue by HE staining, detection of Th1 cell differentiation and macrophage polarization in the prostate by immunofluorescence double staining (labeling CD4 and interferon-γ ［IFN-γ］, inducible nitric oxide synthase ［iNOS］ and CD206), measurement of the ratio of Th1 cells/macrophages in the spleen by flow cytometry and the levels of IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the serum by ELISA, and determination of the expressions of phosphorylated (p)-Janus kinase (JAK)1, JAK1, p-JAK2, JAK2, p-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT1) in the prostate tissue by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the model controls, the mice treated with low- and high-dose FN exhibited more orderly arrangement of glandular epithelial cells, significantly reduced prostatic tissue inflammation scores (P<0.05), and decreased proportion of Th1 cells and expression of M1 macrophages (P<0.05), but increased expression of M2 macrophages in the prostate and spleen tissues (P<0.05). Besides, the levels of inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ (P<0.05) and TNF-α (P<0.05) in the serum of the mice in the LFN and HFN groups were remarkably reduced, and so were the ratios of p-JAK1/JAK1, p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT1/STAT1 in the prostate tissues at the molecular level (P<0.05), indicating the therapeutic effect of FN on EAP by regulating JAK/STAT signaling pathways, promoting inflammation resolution, and restoring immune balance. CONCLUSION FN alleviates EAP by inhibiting JAK/STAT signaling pathways and regulating Th1 cell differentiation and macrophage polarization.
Animals ; Male ; Prostatitis/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Mice ; Isoflavones/therapeutic use* ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Autoimmune Diseases/metabolism* ; Macrophages ; Inflammation ; Th1 Cells ; Janus Kinases/metabolism* ; Cell Differentiation ; Disease Models, Animal ; STAT Transcription Factors/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To identify the underlying mechanism by which quercetin (Que) alleviates sepsis-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: In vivo, C57BL/6 mice were assigned to sham, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and CLP+Que (50 mg/kg) groups (n=15 per group) by using a random number table. The sepsisrelated ARDS mouse model was established using the CLP method. In vitro, the murine alveolar macrophages (MH-S) cells were classified into control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS+Que (10 μmol/L), and LPS+Que+acetylcysteine (NAC, 5 mmol/L) groups. The effect of Que on oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in mice lungs and MH-S cells was determined, and the mechanism with reactive oxygen species (ROS)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was also explored both in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS: Que alleviated lung injury in mice, as reflected by a reversal of pulmonary histopathologic changes as well as a reduction in lung wet/dry weight ratio and neutrophil infiltration (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Additionally, Que improved the survival rate and relieved gas exchange impairment in mice (P<0.01). Que treatment also remarkedly reduced malondialdehyde formation, superoxide dismutase and catalase depletion, and cell apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, Que treatment diminished the release of inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-6 both in vivo and in vitro (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Mechanistic investigation clarifified that Que administration led to a decline in the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in addition to the suppression of ROS expression (P<0.01). Furthermore, in LPS-induced MH-S cells, ROS inhibitor NAC further inhibited ROS/p38 MAPK pathway, as well as oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell apoptosis on the basis of Que treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION Que was found to exert anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects by suppressing the ROS/p38 MAPK pathway, thereby conferring protection for mice against sepsis-related ARDS.
Animals ; Sepsis/drug therapy* ; Quercetin/therapeutic use* ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome/enzymology* ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Male ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Lung/drug effects* ; Mice ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Macrophages, Alveolar/pathology* ; Inflammation/pathology* ; Protective Agents/therapeutic use*

Intestinal fibrosis is a significant clinical challenge in inflammatory bowel diseases, but no effective anti-fibrotic therapy is currently available. Glucagon receptor (GCGR) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP1R) are both peptide hormone receptors involved in energy metabolism of epithelial cells. However, their role in intestinal fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Herein GCGR and GLP1R were found to be reduced in the stenotic ileum of patients with Crohn's disease as well as in the fibrotic colon of mice with chronic colitis. The downregulation of GCGR and GLP1R led to the accumulation of the metabolic byproduct lactate, resulting in histone H3K9 lactylation and exacerbated intestinal fibrosis through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Dual activating GCGR and GLP1R by peptide 1907B reduced the H3K9 lactylation in epithelial cells and ameliorated intestinal fibrosis in vivo. We uncovered the role of GCGR/GLP1R in regulating EMT involved in intestinal fibrosis via histone lactylation. Simultaneously activating GCGR/GLP1R with the novel dual agonist peptide 1907B holds promise as a treatment strategy for alleviating intestinal fibrosis.

Notum, a negative feedback regulator of the Wnt signaling, has emerged as a promising target for treating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP). This study showcases an efficient strategy for discovering the anti-Notum constituents from herbal medicines (HMs) as novel anti-GIOP agents. Firstly, a rapid-responding near-infrared fluorogenic substrate for Notum was rationally engineered for high-throughput identifying the anti-Notum HMs. The results showed that Bu-Gu-Zhi (BGZ), a known anti-osteoporosis herb, potently inhibited Notum in a competitive-inhibition manner. To uncover the key anti-Notum constituents in BGZ, an efficient strategy was adapted via integrating biochemical, phytochemical, computational, and pharmacological assays. Among all identified BGZ constituents, three furanocoumarins were validated as strong Notum inhibitors, while 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MP) showed the most potent anti-Notum activity and favorable safety profiles. Mechanistically, 5-MP acted as a competitive inhibitor of Notum via creating strong hydrophobic interactions with Trp128 and Phe268 in the catalytic cavity of Notum. Cellular assays showed that 5-MP remarkably promoted osteoblast differentiation and activated Wnt signaling in dexamethasone (DXMS)-challenged MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. In dexamethasone-induced osteoporotic mice, 5-MP strongly elevated bone mineral density (BMD) and improved cancellous and cortical bone thickness. Collectively, this study constructs a high-efficient platform for discovering key anti-Notum constituents from HMs, while 5-MP emerges as a promising anti-GIOP agent.

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is the mainstay for treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the performance of the embolization material is crucial in TAE. With the development of medical imaging and the birth of "X-ray-free" technologies, we designed a new dual-mode imaging material of dimethoxy tetraphenyl ethylene (DMTPE) via emulsification by mixing poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PNA) with lipiodol and fluorocarbons, which was evaluated for temperature sensitivity, stability, and dual-mode visualization in vitro. Additionally, blood vessel casting embolization and renal artery imaging were assessed in healthy rabbits. In a rabbit model with a VX2 tumor, the effectiveness of TAE for treating HCC was examined, with an emphasis on evaluating long-term outcomes of embolization and its effects on tumor growth, necrosis, and proliferation through imaging techniques. In vitro experiments confirmed that the temperature-sensitive dual-oil-phase Pickering emulsion had good flow, stable contrast, and embolism when the oil-to-oil ratio and water-to-oil ratio were both 7:3 ( v/v) and stabilized with 8% PNA. Similarly, in vivo, arterial embolization confirmed the excellent properties of DMTPE prepared at the abovementioned ratios. It was observed that DMTPE not only has an antitumor effect but can also achieve dual imaging using X-rays and ultrasound, making it a promising excellent vascular embolization material for TAE in tumor treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of HEMO-FISS-QoL(HF-QoL) questionnaire (HF-QoL-C) in the Chinese population with hemorrhoids.Methods:From November 2021 to November 2022, a self-constructed general information questionnaire, HF-QoL-C, and the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36), Goligher classification, and Giordano severity of hemorrhoid symptom questionnaire (GSQ) were used to conduct a questionnaire survey on 760 hemorrhoid patients in the anorectal department of six hospitals. The data was analyzed for reliability and validity using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 26.0 software.Results:The Cronbach's α coefficient of HF-QoL-C and its dimension ranged from 0.831 to 0.960, and the split coefficient was 0.832-0.915. Four common factors were extracted through principal component exploratory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable structural validity( χ2/ df=8.152, RSMEA=0.097, CFI=0.881, IFI=0.881, NFI=0.867). HF-QoL-C was correlated with SF36 and GSQ( r=-0.694, 0.501, both P<0.01). There were differences in the total score and dimensional scores of HF-QoL-C between surgical and drug treated patients, different grades of Goligher classification for hemorrhoidal disease, and different ranges of hemorrhoid prolapse (all P<0.001). No ceiling effect was found in the total score and the scores of each dimension(0.3%-2.0%). There was a floor effect in both psychological function and sexual activity dimensions (16.7%, 35.1%). Conclusion:HF-QoL-C has good reliability and validity, which can be used to measure the quality of life of Chinese hemorrhoid patients.

Objective:To explore the practical effect of applied talent training model based on the"Four Combinations"among students majoring in Traditional Chinese Medicine in a Medical College.Methods:The undergraduate students majoring in Traditional Chinese Medicine at a medical college from grade 2021 and 2022 were selected as the research subjects and divided into two groups.Experimental group were students who had participated in various extracurricular competitions and innovation and entrepreneurship projects,while control group were students who had not participated in any competitions or projects.The final intellectual education scores of the two groups of students were compared(excluding the scores of Marxist basic principles).A questionnaire survey was conducted on the satisfaction of talent cultivation models among the above undergraduate students,and the validity and satisfaction analysis of the survey results were conducted.Results:The experimental group had significantly higher intellectual education scores than the control group(P＜0.05).The results of factor analysis indicated that the sample suitability and the questionnaire validity seem plausible(KMO=0.874).The overall satisfaction score of students towards the"Four Combinations"talent cultivation model was 4.16±0.2(out of 5),reflecting their high recognition of the model.Conclusion:The construction of a"Four Combinations"characteristic Traditional Chinese Medicine applied talent cultivation model is beneficial for improving the quality of cultivating high-quality and composite applied talents in Traditional Chinese Medicine,so as to provide high-quality applied talents with solid theoretical foundation and practical innovation capabilities for the Liaoshen region.

Objective:To explore the changes of large-scale functional brain networks and network topological properties in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) whose diagnosis had not changed after 5 years of follow-up.Methods:Totally 521 cases of hospitalized MDD patients were recruited from January 2012 to August 2018, and another 204 cases of gender- and age-matched healthy controls were recruited. All participants completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance scanning and clinical assessment. Their diagnosis were reviewed 5 years after discharge.A total of 258 participants whose diagnosis had not changed were counted into the MDD group for analysis. The differences in large-scale brain network connectivity between the two groups were analyzed by constructing a whole-brain functional network, on the basis of which the altered topological properties of the sensorimotor network (SMN), visual network (VN) and default mode network (DMN) were further analyzed between the two groups.The SPSS 24.0 software was used for data analysis and the independent sample t-test and χ2 test were used for the data comparison of the two groups. Results:Compared with the healthy controls, the MDD group had significantly decreased network clustering, mainly involving the SMN, VN and DMN (edge P<0.001, cluster P<0.05). The MDD group had decreased functional connectivity(FC) strength within the SMN, VN and DMN networks, the FC strength between the SMN and VN networks, between the frontoparietal network (FPN) and the DAN networks were decreased(all P<0.05, FDR corrected). Graph-theory analysis showed that local efficiency, clustering coefficient, and normalized shortest path length were decreased in the MDD group, node efficiency was decreased in the left ventral medial prefrontal cortex and the middle of the bilateral insula, node centrality was decreased in the middle of the bilateral insula and occipital lobe, and the betweenness was decreased in the middle of the right insula (all P<0.05, FDR corrected). Conclusion:MDD exhibits abnormal network functional connectivity, disruption of network topological properties, diminished optimal information processing, and to some extent reflects the severity of depressive symptoms. The decreased ability of information transfer flow in the insula plays an important role for the functional abnormality of the network.

Objective:To construct a new thrombus risk assessment model and evaluate its predictive ability for venous thromboembolism(VTE)in the patients with malignant tumors,and to provide the basis for the early predition of the malignant tumor patients with high risk for VTE.Methods:A total of 128 untreated malignant tumor patients were included,of which 40 were diagnosed with VTE within 2 months of malignant tumor diagnosis and categorized as VTE group.A total of 88 patients who did not develop VTE were categorized as non-VTE group.The clinical risk factors and laboratory indicators of the patients in two groups were compared and analyzed;the types of thrombotic events of the patients were analyzed;the diagnostic values of thrombin-antithrombin-complex(TAT),α2-plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complex(PIC),D-dimer(D-dimer),and fibrin degradation products(FDP)in malignant tumors complicated by VTE were assessed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis;Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the correlations of the clinical risk factors and biomarkers with the malignant tumors complicated with VTE.A new thrombus risk assessment model was constructed,consisting of TAT≥0.70 μg·L-1,poor differentiation,and cardiovascular risk factors.The predictive probability of the model for malignant tumors complicated by VTE was evaluated based on the significance,goodness of fit,calibration curve,and C value of the model.The clinical application value of the new thrombus risk assessment model,COMPASS-CAT risk score(CRS),and Khorana risk score(KRS)in assessing malignant tumor patients complicated by VTE was compared using the C value and decision curve analysis(DCA).Results:The plasma levels of TAT(P＜0.001),PIC(P＜0.001),D-dimer(P＜0.05),and FDP(P＜0.01)of the patients in VTE group were higher than those in non-VTE group.Compared with the patients without cardiovascular risk factors,poor differentiation,and lymphatic metastasis,the malignant tumor patients with cardiovascular risk factors(P＜0.001),poor differentiation(P＜0.001),and lymphatic metastasis(P＜0.05)were more likely to develop VTE.Most VTE events(65％)were isolated deep vein thromboembolism(DVT).The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC),sensitivity,and specificity of TAT and PIC were higher than those of D-dimer and FDP.TAT≥0.70 μg·L-1(P＜0.05),poor differentiation(P＜0.01),and cardiovascular risk factors(P＜0.01)were the independent risk factors for VTE in the malignant tumor patients.A new thrombus risk assessment model consisting of TAT≥0.70 μg·L-1,poor differentiation,and cardiovascular risk factors was constructed.The new risk assessment model had a high goodness of fit(P=0.805)and good predictive ability during internal validation(x2=75.266,P＜0.001).The ROC curve analysis results showed that the C values for the new thrombus risk prediction model,CRS,and KRS were 0.908,0.676,and 0.541,respectively.The DCA curve analysis results showed that the new thrombus risk assessment model had a higher net benefit rate compared with CRS and KRS.Conclusion:TAT and PIC have greater diagnostic efficiency than D-dimer in the early prediction of the malignant tumor patients with high-risk VTE.For the patients included in this study,the new thrombus risk assessment model,constructed from TAT≥0.70 μg·L-1,poor differentiation,and cardiovascular risk factors,has superior diagnostic efficiency and clinical predictive value compared with CRS and KRS.

Objective:The epidemiological and host animal pathogen data of leptospirosis in the population of Zhejiang Province in 2023 were analyzed, providing scientific basis for formulating prevention and control strategies of leptospirosis.Methods:The data of human leptospirosis in the population were collected from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention, and analyzed using descriptive epidemiological methods. The data on isolation, culture, and nucleic acid testing of Leptospira pathogens from mouse kidneys, frog kidneys, pig kidneys, and duck kidneys as well as duck serum antibody data were collected from Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention "Leptospirosis Surveillance Project of Zhejiang Province". The carrying and changing status of Leptospira epidemic microbiota in populations and host animals were analyzed. Results:In 2023, a total of 83 cases of leptospirosis were reported in Zhejiang Province, with a incidence rate of 0.126 2/ 100 000, aged (62.66 ± 11.31) years, including 68 males and 15 females. Leptospirosis cases were reported in 11 cities, mainly concentrated in the southern cities of Wenzhou City, Lishui City and Taizhou City(a total of 68 cases), accounting for 81.93% of the total number of cases. August to October were high incidence months for leptospirosis (a total of 70 cases), accounting for 84.34% of the total number cases. The male to female ratio of patients was 4.53 ∶ 1.00, and all were adults ≥20 years old, the middle and old people aged 45 - 79 years were the high-risk population (a total of 77 cases), accounting for 92.77% of the total number of cases. The patient's occupation was mainly farmers, with a total of 54 cases, accounting for 65.06% of the total number cases. The shortest time from onset to initial diagnosis for patients with leptospirosis was 0 day, and the longest was 13 days. The shortest time from initial diagnosis to confirmed diagnosis was 0 day, and the longest was 16 days. The 72.29% of the leptospirosis cases (60 cases) had a history of field labor or suspected contact with contaminated water within one month before the onset of the disease, and 18.07% of the leptospirosis cases (15 cases) had a history of contact with animals such as mice, frogs, pigs, cows, dogs, fish or ducks, or their excreta within one month before the onset of the disease. The average nucleic acid positive rate of host animals with leptospirosis was 5.92% (31/524) in mouse kidney, 6.74% (36/534) in frog kidney, and 0.66% (1/151) in pig kidney. The isolation and culture of leptospirosis from duck kidney, nucleic acid detection, and antibody detection in duck blood were all negative. The leptospirosis bacteria detected in human population were serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae (3 samples) and Hebdomadis (4 samples), and the bacteria group detected in host animals was serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae (3 samples). Conclusions:The outbreak of leptospirosis in Zhejiang Province mainly occurs in the summer and autumn, with the affected areas mainly concentrated in the southern region of Zhejiang Province. The affected population is mainly middle-aged and elderly males, and the population carrying Leptospira is still mainly composed of the serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae and the Hebdomadis, with the host animal being the serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae.