Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a distinct subpopulation of cells characterized by self-renewal capacity, differentiation potential, and critical roles in driving tumor progression, therapeutic resistance, recurrence, and maintenance of the tumor microenvironment. Targeting CSCs has emerged as a pivotal direction in cancer research, offering novel strategies to overcome drug resistance and prevent metastasis and relapse. Lysosomes, traditionally recognized as central organelles for intracellular degradation and recycling, are indispensable for cellular homeostasis. Dysregulation of lysosomal function is intimately linked to various diseases, including cancer. In tumors, aberrant lysosomal activity can promote malignant progression through mechanisms such as altering metabolic pathways, enhancing lysosomal exocytosis, modulating drug resistance, and interfering with autophagy-lysosomal pathways. Recent studies have underscored the involvement of lysosomes in regulating CSC properties. This review synthesizes findings on lysosomal regulation of CSCs through the following aspects. (1) Lysosomes exert complex and critical bidirectional control over CSC stemness maintenance through three degradation pathways that are dependent on their degradative function. (i) The lysophagy pathway. This pathway exhibits dual roles. Activation can sustain CSC functions; for instance, in glioblastoma, hypoxia upregulates Gal-8 via the STAT3/HIF1α signaling axis to induce autophagy, supporting stem cell survival. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, degradation of GSK3β activates the Wnt pathway, enhancing stemness. Conversely, this pathway can suppress stemness by degrading stemness-related proteins such as BMI-1 and OCT4A, thereby impairing CSC self-renewal capacity. (ii) Mitophagy pathway. In non-small cell lung cancer stem cells, mitophagy-related mechanisms, such as the accumulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) activating the TLR9-Notch1-AMPK signaling axis, have been shown to promote CSC proliferation. (iii) Autophagosome-dependent lysosomal degradation pathway. This pathway directly regulates stemness-related proteins in a bidirectional manner. Enhanced degradative function can promote CSC properties, exemplified by the degradation of NUMB to activate Notch signaling. Conversely, attenuated degradative function can also enhance stemness by stabilizing oncoproteins (e.g., protecting Frizzled-1 from degradation to sustain Wnt signaling) or preventing the degradation of tumor suppressors (e.g., inhibiting Notch degradation). (2) Constituent proteins of lysosomes, including membrane proteins and luminal acid hydrolases, participate in regulating CSC stemness. Regarding membrane proteins, LAMP2A facilitates chaperone-mediated autophagy to maintain stemness in glioblastoma and ovarian cancer. V-ATPase, by maintaining an acidic luminal environment, promotes proliferation and drug resistance in glioma stem cells. Among hydrolases, cathepsins B and L are highly expressed in pancreatic and ovarian cancers and correlate with poor prognosis. Furthermore, targeting lysosomes to induce lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) triggers lysosome-mediated cell death, presenting a potential therapeutic strategy for eradicating CSCs.(3) The acidic luminal environment, single-membrane structure, and the presence of transmembrane transporters (e.g., ABCA3) enable lysosomes to passively trap or actively uptake and sequester chemotherapeutic drugs. Subsequent drug extrusion via exocytosis confers drug resistance. In CSCs, this lysosome-mediated drug sequestration, often cooperating with autophagy, establishes multimodal drug resistance. Therefore, targeting lysosomal function represents a potential strategy to overcome therapy resistance. The central role of lysosomes in regulating CSC stemness and resistance positions them as highly promising therapeutic targets. Strategies aimed at disrupting lysosomal function to selectively eliminate CSCs include: inhibiting the lysosome-autophagy system using agents like IITZ or lovastatin; inducing lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) with compounds such as hexamethylene amiloride to compromise membrane stability; and disrupting the acidic luminal environment using drugs like siramesine or the K/H transport compound 2. In conclusion, lysosomes critically regulate CSC stemness maintenance and drug resistance through degradative pathways, membrane protein functions, luminal hydrolase activities, and drug sequestration mechanisms. This redefines the lysosome from a traditional “waste disposal unit” to a “signal integration center” in CSCs. The duality and context-dependency of lysosomal function in CSCs offer novel insights into the heterogeneity observed across different tumors. Targeting lysosomal vulnerabilities—such as inducing LMP, disrupting acidity, or blocking autophagic flux—provides a strategy to bypass canonical CSC resistance mechanisms and directly trigger cell death. This establishes the lysosome as a key target to overcome CSC-mediated therapy resistance, paving the way for developing diverse candidate drugs and innovative combination therapies in oncology.

The sternalis muscle is a rare supernumerary muscle representing a normal anatomical variant in the anterior thoracic musculature. Due to wide variation in its morphology and relative unfamiliarity among radiologists, it has been implicated in the misdiagnosis of breast masses on mammography. A 23-year-old male with no significant medical history was referred to our institution for further management of painless bilateral breast enlargement since adolescence. Physical examination revealed breasts of slightly prominent size but there was no palpable breast lump. Mammography work-up found symmetrical, well-defined soft tissue masses projected over the posteromedial aspect of both breasts. Imaging findings were consistent with bilateral sternalis muscles, unusually hypertrophic in size due to intense upper body weight training by the patient. This case highlights the importance of recognizing the usual and unusual presentations of the sternalis muscles on mammography to avoid any unnecessary work-up.

The sternalis muscle is a rare supernumerary muscle representing a normal anatomical variant in the anterior thoracic musculature. Due to wide variation in its morphology and relative unfamiliarity among radiologists, it has been implicated in the misdiagnosis of breast masses on mammography. A 23-year-old male with no significant medical history was referred to our institution for further management of painless bilateral breast enlargement since adolescence. Physical examination revealed breasts of slightly prominent size but there was no palpable breast lump. Mammography work-up found symmetrical, well-defined soft tissue masses projected over the posteromedial aspect of both breasts. Imaging findings were consistent with bilateral sternalis muscles, unusually hypertrophic in size due to intense upper body weight training by the patient. This case highlights the importance of recognizing the usual and unusual presentations of the sternalis muscles on mammography to avoid any unnecessary work-up.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from Asteris Radix et Rhizoma and their anti-inflammatory activities.METHODS The extract from Asteris Radix et Rhizoma was isolated and purified by column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.Their anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by RAW264.7 model.RESULTS Thirteen compounds were isolated and identified as(Z)-9,10,11-trihydroxy-12-octadecenoic acid(1),tianshic acid(2),6,6-dimethyl-2-methlenebicyclo[3.1.1]hept-3-O-(6-O-apiofuranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside(3),ent-16β,17-dihydroxy-kauran-19-oic acid(4),ent-17-hydroxy-19-kauranoic acid(5),7β,17-dihydroxy-16α-ent-kauran-19-oic acid 19-O-β-D-glucopyranoside ester(6),paniculoside Ⅳ(7),thomimarine A(8),cyclo-(S-Pro-R-Leu)(9),4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid 1-methyl ether(10),methyl 3,5-di-O-caffeoyl quinate(11),5-acetyl-3β-hydroxy-2β-(1-hydroxyisopropyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofurane(12),4-ally-2,6-dimethoxyphenyl glucoside(13).Compounds 1 and 3-12 had inhibition on the release of NO in RAW264.7 cells,and 4-6,8,10-12 were better than the positive control.CONCLUSION Compounds 1,6,8-9 are isolated from Compositae family for the first time,and 2-5,7,10 and 11-13 are first isolated from this plant.Compounds 1,3-12 have anti-inflammatory activities.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from Asteris Radix et Rhizoma and their anti-inflammatory activities.METHODS The extract from Asteris Radix et Rhizoma was isolated and purified by column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.Their anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by RAW264.7 model.RESULTS Thirteen compounds were isolated and identified as(Z)-9,10,11-trihydroxy-12-octadecenoic acid(1),tianshic acid(2),6,6-dimethyl-2-methlenebicyclo[3.1.1]hept-3-O-(6-O-apiofuranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside(3),ent-16β,17-dihydroxy-kauran-19-oic acid(4),ent-17-hydroxy-19-kauranoic acid(5),7β,17-dihydroxy-16α-ent-kauran-19-oic acid 19-O-β-D-glucopyranoside ester(6),paniculoside Ⅳ(7),thomimarine A(8),cyclo-(S-Pro-R-Leu)(9),4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid 1-methyl ether(10),methyl 3,5-di-O-caffeoyl quinate(11),5-acetyl-3β-hydroxy-2β-(1-hydroxyisopropyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofurane(12),4-ally-2,6-dimethoxyphenyl glucoside(13).Compounds 1 and 3-12 had inhibition on the release of NO in RAW264.7 cells,and 4-6,8,10-12 were better than the positive control.CONCLUSION Compounds 1,6,8-9 are isolated from Compositae family for the first time,and 2-5,7,10 and 11-13 are first isolated from this plant.Compounds 1,3-12 have anti-inflammatory activities.

Objective To investigate the protective effects and possible mechanisms of sofalcone on small intestinal mucosal damage induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs)in rats.Methods In the first group of animal experiments,rats were randomly divided into five groups:normal control group,diclofenac group(diclofenac 7.5 mg·kg-1),and sofalcone high-doses groups(sofalcone 10 mg·kg-1+diclofenac 7.5 mg·kg-1),sofalcone medium-doses groups(sofalcone 5 mg·kg-1+diclofenac 7.5 mg·kg-1),and sofalcone low-doses groups(sofalcone 2 mg·kg-1+diclofenac 7.5 mg·kg-1).Each group received daily gavage for seven days.Serum D-lactate levels were measured,and histological damage to the small intestine was assessed through HE staining and pathological scoring.In the second group,rats were separated into three groups:normal control group,diclofenac group(diclofenac 7.5 mg·kg-1),and sofalcone group(sofalcone 2 mg·kg-1+diclofenac 7.5 mg·kg-1).Concurrently,the rats'body mass,24-hour diet,and water intake were monitored.Additionally,serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6,IFN-γ,TNF-α,inflammatory markers CRP and D-lactate,as well as measurements of tissue reactive oxygen species(ROS),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),and mitochondrial membrane potential were conducted using appropriate kits.Western blotting was applied to assess the expression levels of intercellular junction proteins(Occludin,Claudin-1,α-Catenin),programmed necrosis pathway-associated proteins including receptor-interacting protein kinase 1(RIPK1),RIPK3,and mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase(MLKL)along with p-MLKL.Results In the first experiment,the diclofenac group exhibited significant histological damage to the small intestine,with elevated levels of D-lactic acid and pathological scores compared to the normal control group(P<0.01).Following intervention with sofalcone,both the histological damage and the levels of D-lactic acid and pathological scores in the small intestine were notably reduced(P<0.05 or P<0.01).However,there was no substantial difference in pathological scores among different doses of sofaclone groups(P>0.05).In the second experiment,compared with normal control group,rats in the diclofenac group showed decreased body mass,24-hour average diet and water intake,along with elevated levels of IL-6,IFN-γ,TNF-α,CRP,D-lactic acid,tissue ROS,LDH activity,RIPK1,RIPK3,and p-MLKL/MLKL protein expression levels,as well as mitochondrial membrane potential(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Moreover,Occludin,Claudin-1,and α-Catenin protein expression levels were reduced(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Following sofalcone intervention,the previously mentioned parameters were reversed(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Notably,there was no statistically significant difference observed in the reduction of RIPK1 protein expression(P>0.05).Conclusions Sofalcone reduces NSAID-induced small intestinal mucosal injury in rats by inhibiting the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL-dependent programmed necrosis pathway.

Objective To investigate the protective effects and possible mechanisms of sofalcone on small intestinal mucosal damage induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs)in rats.Methods In the first group of animal experiments,rats were randomly divided into five groups:normal control group,diclofenac group(diclofenac 7.5 mg·kg-1),and sofalcone high-doses groups(sofalcone 10 mg·kg-1+diclofenac 7.5 mg·kg-1),sofalcone medium-doses groups(sofalcone 5 mg·kg-1+diclofenac 7.5 mg·kg-1),and sofalcone low-doses groups(sofalcone 2 mg·kg-1+diclofenac 7.5 mg·kg-1).Each group received daily gavage for seven days.Serum D-lactate levels were measured,and histological damage to the small intestine was assessed through HE staining and pathological scoring.In the second group,rats were separated into three groups:normal control group,diclofenac group(diclofenac 7.5 mg·kg-1),and sofalcone group(sofalcone 2 mg·kg-1+diclofenac 7.5 mg·kg-1).Concurrently,the rats'body mass,24-hour diet,and water intake were monitored.Additionally,serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6,IFN-γ,TNF-α,inflammatory markers CRP and D-lactate,as well as measurements of tissue reactive oxygen species(ROS),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),and mitochondrial membrane potential were conducted using appropriate kits.Western blotting was applied to assess the expression levels of intercellular junction proteins(Occludin,Claudin-1,α-Catenin),programmed necrosis pathway-associated proteins including receptor-interacting protein kinase 1(RIPK1),RIPK3,and mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase(MLKL)along with p-MLKL.Results In the first experiment,the diclofenac group exhibited significant histological damage to the small intestine,with elevated levels of D-lactic acid and pathological scores compared to the normal control group(P<0.01).Following intervention with sofalcone,both the histological damage and the levels of D-lactic acid and pathological scores in the small intestine were notably reduced(P<0.05 or P<0.01).However,there was no substantial difference in pathological scores among different doses of sofaclone groups(P>0.05).In the second experiment,compared with normal control group,rats in the diclofenac group showed decreased body mass,24-hour average diet and water intake,along with elevated levels of IL-6,IFN-γ,TNF-α,CRP,D-lactic acid,tissue ROS,LDH activity,RIPK1,RIPK3,and p-MLKL/MLKL protein expression levels,as well as mitochondrial membrane potential(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Moreover,Occludin,Claudin-1,and α-Catenin protein expression levels were reduced(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Following sofalcone intervention,the previously mentioned parameters were reversed(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Notably,there was no statistically significant difference observed in the reduction of RIPK1 protein expression(P>0.05).Conclusions Sofalcone reduces NSAID-induced small intestinal mucosal injury in rats by inhibiting the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL-dependent programmed necrosis pathway.

Background: Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are at risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) complications and mortality. This study examined factors associated with moderate, severe, or critical COVID-19 infection among KTRs during the Omicron-predominant period. Methods: This single-center retrospective study included KTRs aged ≥18 years diag-nosed with COVID-19 between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023. Mild infection was defined as symptomatic illness without lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI);moderate infection as LRTI without hypoxia; severe infection as oxygen saturation <94% on room air; and critical infection as respiratory failure, septic shock, or multiple organ dysfunction. We compared the characteristics of KTRs with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 versus those with moderate to critical disease. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with moderate to critical illness. Results: Most KTRs (94.4%) had received three or more vaccine doses. Of 603 episodes of COVID-19 infection during the study period, 554 (91.9%) were asymptomatic or mild, while 49 (8.1%) were moderate to critical. Multivariate analysis revealed that older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.037; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.006–1.069) and longer symptom duration before seeking care (aOR, 1.288; 95% CI, 1.155–1.436) were associated with higher odds of moderate to critical disease. Protective factors included receiving a vaccine booster within the past year (aOR, 0.414; 95% CI, 0.212–0.809) and higher glomerular filtration rate (aOR, 0.971; 95% CI, 0.956–0.986). Conclusions KTRs should seek care early if infected with COVID-19 and keep their COVID-19 vaccine boosters updated within 1 year of the last dose.

Tujia ethnic group medicine Xuetong is derived from Kadsura heteroclita, the stem of which has the medicinal value for anti-rheumatoid arthritis, liver protection, anti-tumor, anti-oxidation effects, and has been widely used in Hunan and Guangdong in China. The selection of reliable and stable reference genes is the basis for subsequent molecular research on K. heteroclita. In this study, GAPDH, TUA, Actin, UBQ, EF-1α, 18S-rRNA, CYP, UBC, TUB, H2A, and RPL were selected as candidate reference genes in Kadsura heteroclita. The gene expression levels of the 11 candidate reference genes of K. heteroclita in its 6 different parts(stem-inside of the cambium, stem-outside of the cambium, fruit, flower, root, and leaf) and under different intervention conditions [drought stress, salt stress, and methyl jasmonate(MeJA) treatment] were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR). The expression stability of the 11 candidate reference genes was comprehensively analyzed and evaluated by geNorm, NormFinder, ΔCT algorithm, and RefFinder software. The results showed that the expression of UBC and RPL was relatively stable in 6 different parts, and UBC and GAPDH genes were relatively stable under different intervention conditions. To verify the reliability of reference genes for K. heteroclita, this study further examined the relative expression levels of KhFPS, KhIDI, KhCAS, KhSQE, KhSQS, KhSQS-2, KhHMGS, KhHMGR, KhMVD, KhMVK, KhDXR, KhDXS, KhPMVK, and KhGGPS in different parts and under different intervention conditions, which might relate to the synthesis of the main component(Xuetongsu) of K. heteroclita. The results showed that with UBC and RPL or UBC and GAPDH as the reference genes, the expression trends of these 14 genes were basically consistent in different parts or under different intervention conditions for K. heteroclita. In conclusion, UBC can be used as a reference gene of K. heteroclita for its different parts and different intervention conditions, which lays a foundation for further research on the biosynthetic pathway of main components in K. heteroclita.
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Reference Standards ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

This study aims to explore the synergistic effects of the main components in salvianolic acids for Injection(SAFI) on key pathological events in cerebral ischemia, elucidating the pharmacological characteristics of SAFI in neuroprotection. Two major pathological gene modules related to endothelial injury and neuroinflammation in cerebral ischemia were mined from single-cell data. According to the topological distance calculated in network medicine, potential synergistic component combinations of SAFI were screened out. The results showed that the combination of caffeic acid and salvianolic acid B scored the highest in addressing both endothelial injury and neuroinflammation, demonstrating potential synergistic effects. The cell experiments confirmed that the combination of these two components at a ratio of 1∶1 significantly protected brain microvascular endothelial cells(bEnd.3) from oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)-induced reperfusion injury and effectively suppressed lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced neuroinflammatory responses in microglial cells(BV-2). This study provides a new method for uncovering synergistic effects among active components in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and offers novel insights into the multi-component, multi-target acting mechanisms of TCM.
Brain Ischemia/metabolism* ; Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Benzofurans/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Drug Synergism ; Caffeic Acids/pharmacology* ; Polyphenols/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Alkenes/pharmacology* ; Endothelial Cells/drug effects* ; Depsides