The circadian clock plays a critical role in regulating various physiological processes, including gene expression, metabolic regulation, immune response, and the sleep-wake cycle in living organisms. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are crucial regulatory mechanisms to maintain the precise oscillation of the circadian clock. By modulating the stability, activity, cell localization and protein-protein interactions of core clock proteins, PTMs enable these proteins to respond dynamically to environmental and intracellular changes, thereby sustaining the periodic oscillations of the circadian clock. Different types of PTMs exert their effects through distincting molecular mechanisms, collectively ensuring the proper function of the circadian system. This review systematically summarized several major types of PTMs, including phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation and oxidative modification, and overviewed their roles in regulating the core clock proteins and the associated pathways, with the goals of providing a theoretical foundation for the deeper understanding of clock mechanisms and the treatment of diseases associated with circadian disruption.
Protein Processing, Post-Translational/physiology* ; Circadian Rhythm/physiology* ; Humans ; Animals ; CLOCK Proteins/physiology* ; Circadian Clocks/physiology* ; Phosphorylation ; Acetylation ; Ubiquitination ; Sumoylation

This study aims to comprehensively analyze the material basis of toad visceral oil(hereafter referred to as toad oil), and explore the pharmacological effect of toad oil on atopic dermatitis(AD). Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap/orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) were employed to comprehensively identify the chemical components in toad oil. The animal model of AD was prepared by the hapten stimulation method. The modeled animals were respectively administrated with positive drug(0.1% hydrocortisone butyrate cream) and low-and high-doses(1%, 10%) of toad oil by gavage. The effect of toad oil on AD was evaluated with the AD score, ear swelling rate, spleen index, and pathological section results as indicators. A total of 99 components were identified by UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS, including 14 bufadienolides, 7 fatty acids, 6 alkaloids, 10 ketones, 18 amides, and other compounds. After methylation of toad oil samples, a total of 20 compounds were identified by GC-MS. Compared with the model group, the low-and high-dose toad oil groups showed declined AD score, ear swelling rate, and spleen index, alleviated skin lesions, and reduced infiltrating mast cells. This study comprehensively analyzes the chemical composition and clarifies the material basis of toad oil. Meanwhile, this study proves that toad oil has a good therapeutic effect on AD and is a reserve resource of traditional Chinese medicine for external use in the treatment of AD.
Animals ; Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Male ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Bufonidae ; Oils/administration & dosage* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

OBJECTIVES: To report the development, validation, and findings of the Multi-dimensional Attention Rating Scale (MARS), a self-report tool crafted to evaluate six-dimension attention levels. METHODS: The MARS was developed based on Classical Test Theory (CTT). Totally 202 highly educated healthy adult participants were recruited for reliability and validity tests. Reliability was measured using Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability. Structural validity was explored using principal component analysis. Criterion validity was analyzed by correlating MARS scores with the Toronto Hospital Alertness Test (THAT), the Attentional Control Scale (ACS), and the Attention Network Test (ANT). RESULTS: The MARS comprises 12 items spanning six distinct dimensions of attention: focused attention, sustained attention, shifting attention, selective attention, divided attention, and response inhibition.As assessed by six experts, the content validation index (CVI) was 0.95, the Cronbach's alpha for the MARS was 0.78, and the test-retest reliability was 0.81. Four factors were identified (cumulative variance contribution rate 68.79%). The total score of MARS was correlated positively with THAT (r = 0.60, P < 0.01) and ACS (r = 0.78, P < 0.01) and negatively with ANT's reaction time for alerting (r = -0.31, P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS The MARS can reliably and validly assess six-dimension attention levels in real-world settings and is expected to be a new tool for assessing multi-dimensional attention impairments in different mental disorders.
Humans ; Adult ; Male ; Attention/physiology* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Young Adult ; Psychometrics

PURPOSE: To investigate the protective effect of sub-hypothermic mechanical perfusion combined with membrane lung oxygenation on ischemic hypoxic injury of yorkshire brain tissue caused by traumatic blood loss. METHODS: This article performed a random controlled trial. Brain tissue of 7 yorkshire was selected and divided into the sub-low temperature anterograde machine perfusion group (n = 4) and the blank control group (n = 3) using the random number table method. A yorkshire model of brain tissue injury induced by traumatic blood loss was established. Firstly, the perfusion temperature and blood oxygen saturation were monitored in real-time during the perfusion process. The number of red blood cells, hemoglobin content, NA⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ ions concentrations and pH of the perfusate were detected. Following perfusion, we specifically examined the parietal lobe to assess its water content. The prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were then dissected for histological evaluation, allowing us to investigate potential regional differences in tissue injury. The blank control group was sampled directly before perfusion. All statistical analyses and graphs were performed using GraphPad Prism 8.0 Student t-test. All tests were two-sided, and p value of less than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: The contents of red blood cells and hemoglobin during perfusion were maintained at normal levels but more red blood cells were destroyed 3 h after the perfusion. The blood oxygen saturation of the perfusion group was maintained at 95% - 98%. NA⁺ and K⁺ concentrations were normal most of the time during perfusion but increased significantly at about 4 h. The Ca²⁺ concentration remained within the normal range at each period. Glucose levels were slightly higher than the baseline level. The pH of the perfusion solution was slightly lower at the beginning of perfusion, and then gradually increased to the normal level. The water content of brain tissue in the sub-low and docile perfusion group was 78.95% ± 0.39%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (75.27% ± 0.55%, t = 10.49, p < 0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. Compared with the blank control group, the structure and morphology of pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex and CA1 region of the hippocampal gyrus were similar, and their integrity was better. The structural integrity of granulosa neurons was destroyed and cell edema increased in the perfusion group compared with the blank control group. Immunofluorescence staining for glail fibrillary acidic protein and Iba1, markers of glial cells, revealed well-preserved cell structures in the perfusion group. While there were indications of abnormal cellular activity, the analysis showed no significant difference in axon thickness or integrity compared to the 1-h blank control group. CONCLUSIONS Mild hypothermic machine perfusion can improve ischemia and hypoxia injury of yorkshire brain tissue caused by traumatic blood loss and delay the necrosis and apoptosis of yorkshire brain tissue by continuous oxygen supply, maintaining ion homeostasis and reducing tissue metabolism level.
Animals ; Perfusion/methods* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Brain Injuries/etiology* ; Swine ; Male ; Hypothermia, Induced/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) activity of total alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans Benth. (TAG) in vivo and in vitro and to elucidate their potential mechanisms of action through transcriptomic analysis. METHODS: TAG extraction was conducted, and the primary components were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effects of TAG (100, 150, and 200 µg/mL) on various tumor cells, including SMMC-7721, HepG2, H22, CAL27, MCF7, HT29, and HCT116, were assessed. Effects of TAG on HCC proliferation and apoptosis were detected by colony formation assays and cell stainings. Caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax protein levels were detected by Western blotting. In vivo, a tumor xenograft model was developed using H22 cells. Totally 40 Kunming mice were randomly assigned to model, cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg), TAG low-dose (TAG-L, 0.5 mg/kg), and TAG high-dose (TAG-H, 1 mg/kg) groups, with 10 mice in each group. Tumor volume, body weight, and tumor weight were recorded and compared during 14-day treatment. Immune organ index were calculated. Tissue changes were oberseved by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, as well as quatitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), were performed to detect mRNA and metabolite expressions. RESULTS: HPLC successfully identified the components of TAG extraction. Live cell imaging and analysis, along with cell viability assays, demonstrated that TAG inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721, HepG2, H22, CAL27, MCF7, HT29, and HCT116 cells. Colony formation assays, Hoechst 33258 staining, Rhodamine 123 staining, and Western blotting revealed that TAG not only inhibited HCC proliferation but also promoted apoptosis (P<0.05). In vivo experiments showed that TAG inhibited the growth of solid tumors in HCC in mice (P<0.05). Transcriptomic analysis and RT-qPCR indicated that the inhibition of HCC by TAG was associated with the regulation of the key gene CXCL13. CONCLUSION TAG inhibits HCC both in vivo and in vitro, with its inhibitory effect linked to the regulation of the key gene CXCL13.
Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; Humans ; Alkaloids/therapeutic use* ; Gelsemium/chemistry* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Mice ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Objective To study the effects of different SBRT-VMAT plans for non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)with unilateral ipsilateral double metastatic lesions on received dose,monitor unit(MU),conformity index(CI)and gradient index(GI)of the lung,so as to provide references for therapy planning of the patient above.Methods A total of 11 NSCLC patients with unilateral ipsilateral double metastatic lesions were selected,with three plans developed for each patient by the volumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT).The inner target areas ITV1 and ITV2 were contoured based on the maximum projection image of the 4D-CT localization mode,which were uniformly expanded externally by 3 mm to obtain the plan target area PTV1 and PTV2,and then PTV1 was added with PTV2 to get PTV12.The first planning mode had the centers of PTV1 and PTV2 target areas as the treatment centers,and two separate plans of plan-1 and plan-2 were developed and then combined into a plan-sum plan for dose evaluation;the second planning mode had the centers of PTV1 and PTV2 target areas as the treatment center,resepctively,and a multicenter plan(plan-D)was formed.The third planning mode had the center of PTV12 target area as the treatment center,and a single-center plan(plan-S)was designed.To meet the requirements of prescribed dose,plan-1 and plan-2 of plan-sum were normalized to PTV1 and PTV2 95％volume and plan-S and plan-D were normalized to PTV 12 95％volume.The three planning modes were compared in terms of received dose,MU,CI and GI of the lung.SPSS 25.0 software was carried out for statistical analysis.Results Plan-S had no significant differences with Plan-sum except V5(P＞0.05),whose V10,V20,V30 and mean dose were significantly lower than those of plan-sum(P＜0.05);plan-D had its received dose and mean dose statistically lower than those of plan-sum(P＜0.05);plan-S and plan-D had no obvious differences in received dose of the lung(P＞0.05).Plan-sum had the CI significantly lower than those of plan-S and plan-D(P＜0.05);plan-S and plan-D had no statistically differences in CI(P＞0.05).Plan-D had the GI significantly lower than plan-S and plan-sum(P＜0.05).Plan-S and plan-sum had no significant differences in GI(P＞0.05).Plan-D and plan-sum had no statistical differences in MU(P＞0.05),which had the MUs significantly higher than that of plan-S(P＜0.05).Conclusion A multicenter planning mode may be used for optimizing dose distribution and enhancing conformity in case the patient can tolerate prolonged immobilization in a fixed position,and a singlecenter planning mode should be adopted to shorten treatment time when the patient is in poor physical conditions.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(10):49-53]

The Piezo protein is a non-selective mechanosensitive cation channel that exhibits sensitivity to mechanical stimuli such as pressure and shear stress. It converts mechanical signals into bioelectric activity within cells, thus triggering specific biological responses. In the digestive system, Piezo protein plays a crucial role in maintaining normal physiological activities, including digestion, absorption, metabolic regulation, and immune modulation. However, dysregulation in Piezo protein expression may lead to the occurrence of several pathological conditions, including visceral hypersensitivity, impairment of intestinal mucosal barrier function, and immune inflammation.Therefore, conducting a comprehensive review of the physiological functions and pathological roles of Piezo protein in the digestive system is of paramount importance. In this review, we systematically summarize the structural and dynamic characteristics of Piezo protein, its expression patterns, and physiological functions in the digestive system. We particularly focus on elucidating the mechanisms of action of Piezo protein in digestive system tumor diseases, inflammatory diseases, fibrotic diseases, and functional disorders. Through the integration of the latest research findings, we have observed that Piezo protein plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various digestive system diseases. There exist intricate interactions between Piezo protein and multiple phenotypes of digestive system tumors such as proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. In inflammatory diseases, Piezo protein promotes intestinal immune responses and pancreatic trypsinogen activation, contributing to the development of ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and pancreatitis. Additionally, Piezo1, through pathways involving co-action with the TRPV4 ion channel, facilitates neutrophil recruitment and suppresses HIF-1α ubiquitination, thereby mediating organ fibrosis in organs like the liver and pancreas. Moreover, Piezo protein regulation by gut microbiota or factors like age and gender can result in increased or decreased visceral sensitivity, and alterations in intestinal mucosal barrier structure and permeability, which are closely associated with functional disorders like irritable bowel sydrome (IBS) and functional consitipaction (FC). A thorough exploration of Piezo protein as a potential therapeutic target in digestive system diseases can provide a scientific basis and theoretical support for future clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Objective To explore the potential mechanism of action of paeoniflorin in diabetes mellitus,the related targets and pathways were preliminarily discussed,based on the network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.Methods Analyze the potential targets of paeoniflorin using the Swiss Target Prediction database.Genecards and OMIM databases yielded the genes of diabetes-related illnesses.After taking the intersection of the two,protein-protein interaction network(PPI)was established using STRING and Cytoscape programs to search for key genes with strong correlation and complete gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis.Use AutoDockTools and Pymol programs to complete protein molecule docking validation.Results The pharmacologically-related study revealed 63 targets associated with paeoniflorin,4 758 genes related to diabetes,and 50 intersection targets.15 key genes including vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA),epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),V-Ha-ras harvey(HRAS),V-src sarcoma(SRC)and heat shock protein hs 90-alpha(HSP90AA1)were screened.RAs-associated protein 1,Ras,calcium and other signaling pathways were obtained by KEGG pathway analysis.Molecular docking results showed that paeoniflorin had good binding ability with key genes.Conclusion Paeoniflorin can treat diabetes through multiple targets and pathways,and this mechanism can provide a basis for the application of paeoniflorin in anti diabetes and drug research and development.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) R132H is the most common mutated gene in grade II-III gliomas and oligodendrogliomas. Instead of activating telomerase (a reverse transcriptase which using RNA as a template to extend telomere length), the majority of IDH1^R132H mutant glioma maintain telomere length through an alternative mechanism that relies on homologous recombination (HR), which is known as alterative lengthening of telomere (ALT).The phenotype of ALT mechanism include: ALT associated promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) bodies (APBs); extrachromosomal telomeric DNA repeats such as C- and T-loops; telomeric sister chromatid exchange (T-SCE), etc. The mechanism of ALT activation is not fully understood. Recent studies have shown that mutation IDH1 contributes to ALT phenotype in glioma cells in at least three key ways. Firstly, the IDH1^R132H mutation mediates RAP1 down-regulation leading to telomere dysfunction, thus ensuring persistent endogenous telomeric DNA damage, which is important for ALT activation. Spontaneous DNA damage at telomeres may provide a substrate for mutation break-induced replication (BIR)‑mediated ALT telomere lengthening, and it has been demonstrated that RAP1 inhibits telomeric repeat-containing RNA, transcribed from telomeric DNA repeat sequences (TERRA) transcription to down-regulate ALT telomere DNA replication stress and telomeric DNA damage, thereby inhibiting ALT telomere synthesis. Similarly, in ALT cells, knockdown of telomere-specific RNaseH1 nuclease triggers TERRA accumulation, which leads to increased replication pressure. Overexpression of RNaseH1, on the other hand, attenuates the recombination capacity of ALT telomeres, leading to telomere depletion, suggesting that RAP1 can regulate the level of replication pressure and thus ALT activity by controlling TERRA expression. Secondly, the IDH1^R132H also alters the preference of the telomere damage repair pathway by down-regulating XRCC1, which inhibits the alternative non-homologous end joining (A-NHEJ) pathway at telomeres and alters cellular preference for the HR pathway to promote ALT. Finally, the IDH1^R132H has a decreased affinity for isocitric acid and NADP+ and an increased affinity for α ketoglutarate (α‑KG) and NADPH, so that the mutant IDH1^R132H catalyzes the hydrogenation of α‑KG to produce 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG)in a NADPH-dependent manner. Because 2-HG is structurally similar to α‑KG, which maintains the trimethylation level of H3k9me3 by competitively inhibiting the activity of the α‑KG-dependent histone demethylase KDM4B, and recruits heterochromatin protein HP1α to heterochromatinize telomeres, and promote ALT phenotypes in cooperation with the inactivating of ATRX. In addition, it has been shown that APBs contain telomeric chromatin, which is essentially heterochromatin, and HP1α is directly involved in the formation of APBs. Based on these studies, this article reviews the mechanism of IDH1^R132H mediated telomere dysfunction and the preference of DNA repair pathway at telomeres in cooperate with ATRX loss to promote ALT, which may provide references for clinical targeted therapy of IDH1^R132H mutant glioma.

To construct a hybrid decision-making model that integrates knowledge-driven and data-driven approaches, and to apply it to the etiological diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia (VT).