AIM:To investigate the effect of paeoniflorin on the inflammatory response of diabetic retinopathy rats by regulating phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/Akt)signaling pathway.METHODS: A total of 70 SPF male SD rats were selected, and 12 rats were randomly selected as the control group(normal saline gavage). The remaining 58 rats were fed with high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ)to establish diabetic rat models. Rats with diabetic retinopathy were randomly divided into model group(normal saline), paeoniflorin low-dose group(100 mg/kg paeoniflorin), paeoniflorin high-dose group(200 mg/kg paeoniflorin)and metformin group(100 mg/kg metformin), with 12 rats in each group. The body mass of the rats in each group were compared. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the rat retina. Automatic biochemical analyzer was used to detect the levels of fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), total cholesterol and triglyceride in the rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the levels of serum superoxide dismutase(SOD), reactive oxygen species(ROS), malondialdehyde(MDA), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)in the rats. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of Occludin, p-PI3K, tight junction protein-1(ZO-1), p-Akt and VE-Cadherin in the rat retina.RESULTS: The expression levels of Occludin, ZO-1 and VE-cadherin in low-dose and high-dose paeoniflora groups were higher than those in the model group, while the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, p-PI3K and p-Akt in serum were lower than those in the model group. The high-dose group of paeoniflorin was significantly better than the low-dose group of paeoniflorin(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Paeoniflorin may reduce inflammatory response in diabetic retinopathy rats by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

AIM:To investigate the effect of paeoniflorin on the inflammatory response of diabetic retinopathy rats by regulating phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/Akt)signaling pathway.METHODS: A total of 70 SPF male SD rats were selected, and 12 rats were randomly selected as the control group(normal saline gavage). The remaining 58 rats were fed with high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ)to establish diabetic rat models. Rats with diabetic retinopathy were randomly divided into model group(normal saline), paeoniflorin low-dose group(100 mg/kg paeoniflorin), paeoniflorin high-dose group(200 mg/kg paeoniflorin)and metformin group(100 mg/kg metformin), with 12 rats in each group. The body mass of the rats in each group were compared. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the rat retina. Automatic biochemical analyzer was used to detect the levels of fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), total cholesterol and triglyceride in the rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the levels of serum superoxide dismutase(SOD), reactive oxygen species(ROS), malondialdehyde(MDA), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)in the rats. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of Occludin, p-PI3K, tight junction protein-1(ZO-1), p-Akt and VE-Cadherin in the rat retina.RESULTS: The expression levels of Occludin, ZO-1 and VE-cadherin in low-dose and high-dose paeoniflora groups were higher than those in the model group, while the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, p-PI3K and p-Akt in serum were lower than those in the model group. The high-dose group of paeoniflorin was significantly better than the low-dose group of paeoniflorin(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Paeoniflorin may reduce inflammatory response in diabetic retinopathy rats by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are widely acknowledged as primary mediators to the initiation and progression of tumors. The association between microbial infection and cancer stemness has garnered considerable scholarly interest in recent years. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is increasingly considered to be closely related to the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Nevertheless, the role of P. gingivalis in the stemness of OSCC cells remains uncertain. Herein, we showed that P. gingivalis was positively correlated with CSC markers expression in human OSCC specimens, promoted the stemness and tumorigenicity of OSCC cells, and enhanced tumor formation in nude mice. Mechanistically, P. gingivalis increased lipid synthesis in OSCC cells by upregulating the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) expression, a key enzyme involved in lipid metabolism, which ultimately resulted in enhanced acquisition of stemness. Moreover, SCD1 suppression attenuated P. gingivalis-induced stemness of OSCC cells, including CSCs markers expression, sphere formation ability, chemoresistance, and tumor growth, in OSCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, upregulation of SCD1 in P. gingivalis-infected OSCC cells was associated with the expression of KLF5, and that was modulated by P. gingivalis-activated NOD1 signaling. Taken together, these findings highlight the importance of SCD1-dependent lipid synthesis in P. gingivalis-induced stemness acquisition in OSCC cells, suggest that the NOD1/KLF5 axis may play a key role in regulating SCD1 expression and provide a molecular basis for targeting SCD1 as a new option for attenuating OSCC cells stemness.
Porphyromonas gingivalis/pathogenicity* ; Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase/metabolism* ; Humans ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology* ; Mouth Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Animals ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/microbiology* ; Mice, Nude ; Mice ; Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein/metabolism* ; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. is a characteristic oil crop rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly α-linolenic acid, which has important development and utilization value. The Dof transcription factor is one of the plant-specific transcription factor families, which is widely involved in important biological processes such as plant growth, development, and metabolic regulation. In order to explore the key Dof transcription factors involved in the oil biosynthesis and systematically analyze their regulatory mechanisms of P. frutescens seeds, a total of 56 PfDof gene family members were identified from the genome and transcriptome data of P. frutescens and classified into four subfamilies according to sequence characteristics. All PfDofs contained highly conserved C₂-C₂ zinc finger domains, with gene duplication being the primary mechanism driving their evolution and expansion. Genes within the same subgroup exhibited similar gene structures and conserved motifs. The 56 PfDofs were predicted as unstable hydrophilic proteins, with α-helixes and random coils as their predominant structural components. The RNA-seq results revealed that 11 PfDofs exhibited differential expression during different developmental stages of P. frutescens seeds. RT-qPCR was performed to further validate the expression patterns of these 11 members across various tissue samples (root, stem, leaf, and flower) of P. frutescens and at different developmental stages of its seeds. The results showed that PfDof29 exhibited the highest expression level in seeds, which was consistent with the transcriptome data. Subcellular localization studies demonstrated that PfDof29 was localized to the nucleus and had a transcriptional activation activity. Overexpression of PfDof29 in Nicotiana tabacum resulted in a significant increase in total oil content of tobacco leaves, accompanied by reductions in starch and soluble sugar content, while the protein content remained unchanged. Additionally, the metabolic balance between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the transgenic tobacco leaves was altered, with a significant increase in α-linolenic acid content. The expression levels of the fatty acid desaturase genes NtFAD2, NtFAD3, and NtFAD8 were significantly upregulated. A yeast one-hybrid assay revealed that PfDof29 could directly bind to the promoter region of PfFAD8, thereby regulating its expression. This study provides an initial understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of PfDof transcription factors in the synthesis and accumulation of oil in P. frutescens. These findings offer new insights into the enhancement of oil content and quality of P. frutescens seeds.
Transcription Factors/physiology* ; Perilla frutescens/metabolism* ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; alpha-Linolenic Acid/biosynthesis* ; Lipids/biosynthesis* ; Seeds/genetics*

Liver diseases have become a major challenge threating the global health, posing a heavy burden on both social and personal well-being. In recent years, the development of the gut-liver axis theory has provided new research perspectives and intervention strategies for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. Natural products, recognized as biological molecules with diverse sources, rich activities, and minimal side effects, demonstrate great potential in regulating intestinal flora and improving liver health. Studies have shown that natural products such as saponins, polyphenols, polysaccharides, and alkaloids can regulate the composition and metabolites of intestinal flora, thereby intervening in liver diseases. In this paper, we systematically review the role of natural products in the regulation of the intestinal flora-gut-liver axis and summarize recent research progress in the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. Furthermore, we outline the challenges and limitations currently facing the study in this field. Finally, this paper makes an outlook on the clinical application of natural products in treating liver diseases and discusses future research directions, aiming to give new insights into the mechanisms by which natural products regulate the intestinal flora-gut-liver axis and the applications of these products in the prevention and treatment of liver diseases.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Liver Diseases/prevention & control* ; Biological Products/pharmacology* ; Polyphenols/pharmacology* ; Saponins/pharmacology* ; Intestines/microbiology* ; Alkaloids/pharmacology* ; Polysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Liver

Objective To investigate the application value of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)met-agenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS)in elderly patients with severe pneumonia.Methods A total of 48 elderly patients with severe pneumonia admitted to the intensive care unit from January to August 2024 were selected and randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,with 24 patients in each group.BALF samples were collected within 24 hours of ICU admission from both groups,with lavage per-formed at the most radiologically evident lesion site.The control group underwent traditional culture at the hospital,while the observation group had one specimen sent for mNGS testing and another specimen subjected to traditional culture at the hospital.Comparison of detection results between mNGS and traditional culture in the observation group,pathogen distribution,infection markers(on days 4 and 7 of ICU admission),and prog-nostic outcomes were compared between the groups.Results The observation group showed higher positive detection rates and higher rates of detecting ≥2 pathogens by mNGS compared to both traditional culture in the same group and the control group(P＜0.05).Excluding Acinetobacter baumannii,Candida albicans,Can-dida glabrata,and Raoultella planticola,the observation group detected higher quantities of fungi,viruses,and rare pathogens than the control group.On days 4 and 7 of ICU admission,the observation group had signifi-cantly lower body temperature,white blood cell count,C reactive protein,and procalcitonin levels compared to the control group(P＜0.05).The observation group also demonstrated shorter ICU stays,reduced mechanical ventilation duration,and total lower hospitalization costs than the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion BALF mNGS facilitates early identification of mixed and rare pathogens,improves detection rates,broadens microbial coverage,and shortens testing time.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of enriched environment (EE) combined with acupuncture at head point (HA) on behavior in rats with autism spectrum disorder. MethodsHealthy female Wistar rats were given peritoneal injection of sodium valproate at 12.5 days of gestation. Twenty-four male offspring rats were randomly selected and then randomly divided into model group (n = 6), EE group (n = 6), HA group (n = 6) and EE combined with HA group (the combined group, n = 6). Six male offspring rats born from female mice injected with the same amount of saline intraperitoneally were as control group. After four weeks of treatment, all the five groups were tested with three-chamber test and marble burying test, and the sociability index, the social novelty index and the number of buried marbles were recorded. The levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 in peripheral blood were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsAfter treatment, compared with the model group, the sociability index and the social novelty index improved (P < 0.05), the number of buried marbles reduced (P < 0.05), and the levels of IL-6 and IL-1β in peripheral blood decreased in EE group, HA group and the combined group (P < 0.05); while the combined group was the best (P < 0.01). ConclusionBoth EE or acupuncture at HA could improve behavioral symptoms, and reduce the expression of inflammatory factors in rats with autism spectrum disorder. The combination of the two methods showed the best result.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the efficacy of exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells on animal models of acute liver failure. METHODS:PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,The Cochrane Library,CBM,CNKI,WanFang,and VIP databases were retrieved from inception to January 16,2023.A series of animal experiments on the treatment of acute liver failure animal models by exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells were collected.Two evaluators screened the literature and extracted the data independently.The bias risk was evaluated by the SYRCLE tool.The extracted data were analyzed by Revmen 5.4.1 software and Stata 17.0 software. RESULTS:A total of 241 articles were retrieved and 9 animal experiments were included,with 219 animals:110 animals in the model group and 109 animals in the exosome group.The results showed that the survival rate of animals in the exosome group improved significantly[RR=9.34,95%CI(3.91,22.29),P<0.001],the levels of serum alanine transaminase[SMD=-5.31,95%CI(-7.43,-3.19),P<0.001]and aspartate aminotransferase[SMD=-4.47,95%CI(-5.85,-3.10),P<0.001]were reduced obviously.The expressions of interleukin-1β[SMD=-11.54,95%CI(-18.12,-4.95),P=0.000 6],interleukin-6[SMD=-5.75,95%CI(-8.08,-3.41),P<0.001]and tumor necrosis factor-α[SMD=-4.46,95%CI(-6.83,-2.09),P=0.000 2],were suppressed obviously. CONCLUSION:Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells effectively inhibit the inflammatory response,ameliorate liver function of animals with acute liver failure,and improve their survival rate.The results of subgroup analysis showed that the shorter survival time of animals(≤24 hours),the lower dose of transplanted exosomes(<1 mg/kg)and the source of exosomes(adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells)may affect the efficacy of the exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells in the animal model of acute liver failure.This conclusion and its clinical transformation still need to be confirmed by randomized controlled studies with large sample sizes and high quality.

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of vitrectomy combined with intravitreal injection of dexamethasone sustained-release agent for the treatment of idiopathic macular membrane(IMEM).METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 72 patients(72 eyes)diagnosed with IMEM at Xi'an People's Hospital from January 2019 to January 2023. They were divided into Group A and Group B according to different treatment method. Group A, consisting of 36 eyes, underwent vitrectomy, epiretinal membrane(ERM)removal surgery, and dexamethasone intraocular injection treatment; group B(36 eyes)only received vitrectomy and ERM removal surgery. Follow up for 12 mo, the best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), intraocular pressure, central macular thickness(CMT), and changes in macular retinal structure before and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 mo after surgery were compared.RESULTS: There were significant differences in BCVA between the two groups at 1, 3, and 6 mo postoperatively(all P<0.05), with group A showing a more significant improvement in visual acuity; there was no significant difference in BCVA between the two groups at 12 mo after surgery(P=0.056). There were significant differences in CMT between the two groups at 1, 3, and 6 mo postoperatively(all P<0.05), with a more significant decrease in CMT of the group A compared with the group B; there was no significant difference in CMT between the two groups at 12 mo after surgery(P=0.165). The comparison of intraocular pressure before and after surgery were all statistically significant(Ftime=2.763, Ptime<0.05; Fintergroup=26.800, Pintergroup<0.05; Finteraction=5.091, Pinteraction<0.05). Group A showed significant structural changes in the macula and retina after surgery.CONCLUSION: Vitreous surgery combined with single intravitreal injection of slow-release dexamethasone in patients with late stage IMEM can rapidly improve macular morphology and help restore visual function within 6 mo after surgery.

Objective This study explored the effects of Epimedium koreanum Nakai(EK)on liver function in normal,kidney yang deficiency(KYANGDS),and kidney yin deficiency(KYINDS)rats based on the theory of"You Gu Wu Yun."The study also investigated the connection between EK-induced liver injury and symptoms.Methods Seventy-two male SD rats were divided into normal,KYANGDS,and KYINDS groups using the random number table method.The KYANGDS model was established through intramuscular injection of 20 mg/kg of hydrocortisone,whereas the KYINDS model was established through daily gavage of 160 mg/kg of thyroid tablet suspension for 14 consecutive days.After successful modeling,the rats were divided into the normal,EK low-dose,EK high-dose,KYANGDS,KYANGDS+EK low-dose,KYANGDS+EK high-dose,KYINDS,KYINDS+EK low-dose,and KYINDS+EK high-dose groups using the random number table method.Animals in the drug groups were administered low(0.26 g/kg)and high(0.77 g/kg)EK extract doses through continuous gavage.The other groups received drinking water once a day for 28 consecutive days.Changes in body mass were monitored during the administration period,and serum alkaline phosphatase(ALP),alanine transaminase(ALT),aspartate transaminase(AST),direct bilirubin,indirect bilirubin(IBil),and total bilirubin(TBil)were measured at the end of administration using biochemical analyzers.The liver weight,visceral body ratio,and visceral brain ratio were measured.Hematoxylin and eosin staining were performed to observe the pathological changes in the liver.Results Compared with the normal group,the EK high-dose group showed a decrease in body weight on the 21st day during the drug administration period and an increase in IBil(P<0.05);the KYANGDS group had lower body weight at each measurement time point from the third to the 28th day,higher ALP,and lower liver weight(P<0.05).Compared with the KYANGDS group,the KYANGDS+EK high-dose group had decreased ALP levels(P<0.05).The pathological damage of liver tissue in each KYANGDS administration group improved,the presence of fat vacuoles were reduced,and pathological scores show a decreasing trend.Compared with the KYINDS group,KYINDS+EK high-dose group exhibited a higher IBil level and a lower visceral brain ratio(P<0.05).Conclusion EK has a small effect on the liver function of rats with KYANGDS within the dose range;however,it has a specific hepatogenic impact on normal and KYINDS rats,and EK-induced liver injury and the symptoms may be associated with each other.