ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate and evaluate the staged efficacy and safety of the representative empirical prescription of the “Zhu Ke Jiao” theory， Qijia Rougan prescription， combined with entecavir in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. MethodsA multicenter randomized controlled clinical study was conducted， and 101 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B-related hepatic fibrosis （CHB-HF） who met the diagnosis and inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to an observation group （Qijia Rougan prescription + entecavir） and a control group （entecavir）. The treatment duration was 24 weeks. Liver stiffness measurement （LSM）， fibrosis-4 index （FIB-4）， portal vein diameter， hepatitis B serology， biochemical indicators， hepatic fibrosis markers in serum ［hyaluronic acid （HA）， laminin （LN）， procollagen Ⅲ peptide （PⅢP）， and type Ⅳ collagen （Ⅳ-C）］， and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores were used as efficacy evaluation indicators. Efficacy assessments and explorations of different staged subgroups of Qijia Rougan prescription were conducted according to LSM values based on the Metavir pathological staging standard. ResultsA total of 98 cases were included for statistical analysis， with 49 cases in the observation group and 49 in the control group. The general data of the patients in both groups were comparable. Compared with the same group before treatment， the observation group showed a significant reduction in LSM and FIB-4 （P<0.01）， as well as notable improvements in LN， Ⅳ-C， and various TCM syndrome scores （P<0.05， P<0.01）. When compared to the control group after treatment， the observation group demonstrated significant improvements in LSM， FIB-4， and various TCM syndrome score indicators （P<0.05， P<0.01）， indicating that the observation group performed better than the control group. Subgroup analysis of the regression of hepatic fibrosis stages showed that compared to the same group before treatment， the observation group had better improvement in regression of stages F2 and F3 （P<0.05）. When compared to the control group after treatment， the observation group exhibited superior improvement in regression of stage F3 （P<0.05）. No adverse events occurred in either group during the treatment period. ConclusionCompared with entecavir alone， the combination of Qijia Rougan prescription and entecavir significantly improves the degree of hepatic fibrosis and clinical TCM symptoms in patients. The optimal intervention period is primarily during stage F3， which is a potential “interception” point of the “Zhu Ke Jiao” theory.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which the Zishen Huoxue prescription （ZSHXP） ameliorates cognitive dysfunction in rats with vascular dementia （VD） induced by the bilateral common carotid artery ligation （2-VO model rats） through regulating the glucose-regulated protein 78 （GRP78）/protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase （PERK）/activating transcription factor 4 （ATF4） signaling pathway. MethodsA VD rat model was established via the 2-VO method. A total of 72 male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into six groups： Sham group， Model group， donepezil hydrochloride group （0.45 mg·kg^-1）， and ZSHXP groups at low （8.90 g·kg^-1）， medium （17.80 g·kg^-1）， and high （35.60 g·kg^-1） doses，with 12 rats in each group. The Morris Water Maze test was utilized to assess spatial learning and memory abilities of rats， and the Novel Object Recognition test was used to evaluate cognitive performance. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and Nissl staining were applied to observe the histological and morphological changes in hippocampal tissues. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） was used to observe the morphological changes of endoplasmic reticulum in rat hippocampal neurons. Immunofluorescence staining was adopted to detect the colocalization of neuronal nuclei antigen （NeuN） with GRP78 and βⅢ Tubulin with gasdermin D （GSDMD） in hippocampal neurons. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress （ERS）-related proteins including GRP78， PERK， ATF4， phosphorylated protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase （p-PERK）， C/EBP homologous protein （CHOP）， NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， Caspase-1 and GSDMD. ResultsCompared with the sham operation group， the model group showed a significantly prolonged escape latency （P<0.01）， a significant decrease in the number of platform crossings and the residence time in the target quadrant （P<0.01）， and a markedly reduced recognition index （P<0.01）. Histological observations revealed that the hippocampal neurons in the model group were disorderly arranged with reduced quantity， deformed and shrunken cell bodies， and pyknotic and hyperchromatic nuclei. The number of Nissl bodies decreased significantly. The number of endoplasmic reticula reduced obviously， accompanied by abnormal dilation and swelling， and the loss of normal folding structure. The fluorescence colocalization of NeuN with GRP78 and βⅢ Tubulin with GSDMD in the hippocampus was significantly increased in the model group. The protein expression levels of GRP78， p-PERK/PERK， ATF4， CHOP， NLRP3， GSDMD and Caspase-1 in the model group were significantly elevated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the donepezil hydrochloride group and the ZSHXP medium- and high-dose groups had a significantly shortened escape latency （P<0.01） and an increased number of platform crossings （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The residence time in the target quadrant was increased in the donepezil hydrochloride group and all ZSHXP groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with a significantly improved recognition index （P<0.01）. In the donepezil hydrochloride group and all ZSHXP groups， the number of hippocampal neurons increased with a more compact arrangement and reduced nuclear hyperchromasia. The number of Nissl bodies increased with morphological structures tending to be normal. In the ZSHXP high-dose group， the number of endoplasmic reticula increased and the folding structure was restored. The fluorescence colocalization of NeuN with GRP78 and βⅢ Tubulin with GSDMD in the hippocampus was significantly weakened in the treatment groups. In the donepezil hydrochloride group， the protein expressions of GRP78， ATF4 and CHOP were increased （P<0.01）， while the expression of p-PERK/PERK was decreased （P<0.05）. In the ZSHXP low-dose group， the expressions of GRP78， p-PERK/PERK and CHOP were elevated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The ZSHXP medium- and high-dose groups showed a significant decrease in the protein expressions of p-PERK/PERK， ATF4 and CHOP （P<0.01）， and the high-dose group had a markedly reduced GRP78 protein expression （P<0.01）. In the donepezil hydrochloride group， the Caspase-1 protein expression was increased （P<0.01） and the NLRP3 protein expression was decreased （P<0.01）. In the ZSHXP low-dose group， the GSDMD expression was elevated （P<0.01） while the NLRP3 protein expression was reduced （P<0.01）. After treatment with medium and high doses of ZSHXP， the protein expression levels of NLRP3， GSDMD and Caspase-1 were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. ConclusionThe ameliorative effect of ZSHXP on cognitive function in 2-VO model rats may be associated with its regulation of the GRP78/PERK/ATF4 signaling pathway， which ameliorates ERS and inhibits neuronal pyroptosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which the Zishen Huoxue prescription （ZSHXP） ameliorates cognitive dysfunction in rats with vascular dementia （VD） induced by the bilateral common carotid artery ligation （2-VO model rats） through regulating the glucose-regulated protein 78 （GRP78）/protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase （PERK）/activating transcription factor 4 （ATF4） signaling pathway. MethodsA VD rat model was established via the 2-VO method. A total of 72 male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into six groups： Sham group， Model group， donepezil hydrochloride group （0.45 mg·kg^-1）， and ZSHXP groups at low （8.90 g·kg^-1）， medium （17.80 g·kg^-1）， and high （35.60 g·kg^-1） doses，with 12 rats in each group. The Morris Water Maze test was utilized to assess spatial learning and memory abilities of rats， and the Novel Object Recognition test was used to evaluate cognitive performance. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and Nissl staining were applied to observe the histological and morphological changes in hippocampal tissues. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） was used to observe the morphological changes of endoplasmic reticulum in rat hippocampal neurons. Immunofluorescence staining was adopted to detect the colocalization of neuronal nuclei antigen （NeuN） with GRP78 and βⅢ Tubulin with gasdermin D （GSDMD） in hippocampal neurons. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress （ERS）-related proteins including GRP78， PERK， ATF4， phosphorylated protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase （p-PERK）， C/EBP homologous protein （CHOP）， NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， Caspase-1 and GSDMD. ResultsCompared with the sham operation group， the model group showed a significantly prolonged escape latency （P<0.01）， a significant decrease in the number of platform crossings and the residence time in the target quadrant （P<0.01）， and a markedly reduced recognition index （P<0.01）. Histological observations revealed that the hippocampal neurons in the model group were disorderly arranged with reduced quantity， deformed and shrunken cell bodies， and pyknotic and hyperchromatic nuclei. The number of Nissl bodies decreased significantly. The number of endoplasmic reticula reduced obviously， accompanied by abnormal dilation and swelling， and the loss of normal folding structure. The fluorescence colocalization of NeuN with GRP78 and βⅢ Tubulin with GSDMD in the hippocampus was significantly increased in the model group. The protein expression levels of GRP78， p-PERK/PERK， ATF4， CHOP， NLRP3， GSDMD and Caspase-1 in the model group were significantly elevated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the donepezil hydrochloride group and the ZSHXP medium- and high-dose groups had a significantly shortened escape latency （P<0.01） and an increased number of platform crossings （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The residence time in the target quadrant was increased in the donepezil hydrochloride group and all ZSHXP groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with a significantly improved recognition index （P<0.01）. In the donepezil hydrochloride group and all ZSHXP groups， the number of hippocampal neurons increased with a more compact arrangement and reduced nuclear hyperchromasia. The number of Nissl bodies increased with morphological structures tending to be normal. In the ZSHXP high-dose group， the number of endoplasmic reticula increased and the folding structure was restored. The fluorescence colocalization of NeuN with GRP78 and βⅢ Tubulin with GSDMD in the hippocampus was significantly weakened in the treatment groups. In the donepezil hydrochloride group， the protein expressions of GRP78， ATF4 and CHOP were increased （P<0.01）， while the expression of p-PERK/PERK was decreased （P<0.05）. In the ZSHXP low-dose group， the expressions of GRP78， p-PERK/PERK and CHOP were elevated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The ZSHXP medium- and high-dose groups showed a significant decrease in the protein expressions of p-PERK/PERK， ATF4 and CHOP （P<0.01）， and the high-dose group had a markedly reduced GRP78 protein expression （P<0.01）. In the donepezil hydrochloride group， the Caspase-1 protein expression was increased （P<0.01） and the NLRP3 protein expression was decreased （P<0.01）. In the ZSHXP low-dose group， the GSDMD expression was elevated （P<0.01） while the NLRP3 protein expression was reduced （P<0.01）. After treatment with medium and high doses of ZSHXP， the protein expression levels of NLRP3， GSDMD and Caspase-1 were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. ConclusionThe ameliorative effect of ZSHXP on cognitive function in 2-VO model rats may be associated with its regulation of the GRP78/PERK/ATF4 signaling pathway， which ameliorates ERS and inhibits neuronal pyroptosis.

ObjectiveTo prepare a recombinant PETase with a dual-catalytic-triad and to evaluate its efficiency in the biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate （PET）. MethodsBased on the crystal structure of wild-type PETase， point mutations （T88H/L117D） were introduced via site-directed mutagenesis. The recombinant protein was prepared using prokaryotic expression and chromatography purification techniques. The enzymatic hydrolysis of the mutant PETase was assessed by relatively quantifying the products mono （2-hydroxyethyl） terephthalate （MHET） and terephthalic acid （TPA）. ResultsBoth wild-type and mutant PETases accumulated as inclusion bodies， accounting for approximately 20% of the total bacterial protein. After solubilization in urea， the proteins were eluted at 300 mmol/L imidazole during affinity chromatography purification， with concentrations of 1.824 and 1.833 mg/mL and purities of 83.11% and 84.32%， respectively. Subsequent anion-exchange chromatography yielded highly pure enzymes in the 200 mmol/L NaCl fraction： 2.776 mg/mL （96.86% purity） for the wild type and 1.967 mg/mL （95.13% purity） for the mutant. Following refolding， the final concentrations were 0.484 mg/mL for the wild type and 0.991 mg/mL for the mutant. Hydrolysis assays revealed that the mutant released MHET and TPA at （237.67±17.00）% and （197.33±12.01）% of the wild-type levels， respectively. ConclusionThe T88H/L117D dual-catalytic-triad PETase is successfully prepared and it significantly enhanced PET-degrading activity， thus， it′s a promising biocatalyst for PET bioremediation.

Background/Aims: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a primary malignant neoplasm with an extremely poor prognosis. While combined chemoradiotherapy has been demonstrated to delay CCA progression to a certain extent, the absence of specific molecular biomarkers or targets significantly hinders the diagnosis and treatment of CCA. Methods: Through cross-analysis of proteomics and ADMA modificationomics, we identified DDX1 overexpressed in CCA with elevated R602-ADMA modifications. HPLC-MS/MS identified PRMT1 as the methyltransferase and USP10 as the deubiquitinating enzyme for DDX1. Immunofluorescence and nuclear-cytoplasmic partitioning experiments confirmed DDX1’s nuclear localization. GO and KEGG analyses clarify the biological functions of DDX1 in response to hypoxia. RNA-seq transcriptomics analyzed key pathways influenced by DDX1. A hydrodynamic in situ CCA mouse model was established to validate the chemopreventive effects of the PRMT1-specific inhibitor GSK715 on CCA development. Results: DDX1 promotes CCA progression both in vivo and in vitro and can be inhibited by GSK715. Mechanistically, PRMT1 mediates ADMA modification at position R602 of DDX1. This modification promotes DDX1 nuclear localization by recruiting USP10 to deubiquitinate DDX1, while simultaneously inhibiting PRMT1 degradation. DDX1 promotes the transcription of PRMT1 and USP10 by binding to the mRNA 3’UTR region, establishing a positive feedback regulatory pathway. This mechanism promotes the occurrence and development of CCA and can serve as a target for the inhibitor GSK715 to suppress CCA progression. Conclusions Our study identified DDX1-R602-ADMA modification as a novel ADMA modification in CCA. It further confirmed its pivotal role in CCA progression. Targeting the USP10-PRMT1-DDX1 axis may represent a significant therapeutic approach for CCA.

After continuous development and improvement, lung transplantation has become the preferred means to treat a variety of benign end-stage lung diseases. However, the field of lung transplantation still faces many challenges, including shortage of donor resources, preservation and maintenance of donor lungs, and postoperative complications. Lung tissue samples removed after lung transplantation are excellent clinical resources for the study of benign end-stage lung disease and perioperative complications of lung transplantation. However, at present, the collection, storage and utilization of tissue samples after lung transplantation are limited to a single study, and unified technical specifications have not been formed. Based on the construction plan of the biobank for lung transplantation in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, this study reviewed the practical experience in the collection, storage and utilization of lung transplant tissue samples in the aspects of ethical review, staffing, collection process, storage method, quality control and efficient utilization, in order to provide references for lung transplant related research.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Shenting" (GV24) and "Baihui" (GV20) on mitochondrial autophagy in hippocampal neurons and silent information regulator sirtuin 1 (Sirt1)/forkhead box O3 (FOXO3)/PTEN-inducible kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin pathway in rats with learning-memory impairment after cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. METHODS: A total of 35 male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group (9 rats) and a modeling group (26 rats). In the modeling group, middle cerebral artery occlusion method was used to establish the middle cerebral artery ischemia-reperfusion (MCAO/R) model, and 18 rats of successful modeling were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group, 9 rats in each one. EA was applied at "Shenting" (GV24) and "Baihui" (GV20) in the EA group, 30 min a time, once a day for 14 days. After modeling and on 7th and 14th days of intervention, neurologic deficit score was observed; the learning-memory ability was detected by Morris water maze test; the morphology of neurons in CA1 area of hippocampus was detected by Nissl staining; the mitochondrial morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy; the protein expression of Beclin-1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B), P62, Sitrt1, FOXO3, PINK1 and Parkin was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: After modeling, the neurologic deficit scores in the model group and the EA group were higher than that in the sham operation group (P<0.001); on 7th and 14th days of intervention, the neurologic deficit scores in the model group were higher than those in the sham operation group (P<0.001), the neurologic deficit scores in the EA group were lower than those in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). After modeling, the escape latency in the model group and the EA group was prolonged compared with that in the sham operation group (P<0.001); on 9th-13th days of intervention, the escape latency in the model group was prolonged compared with that in the sham operation group (P<0.001), the escape latency in the EA group was shortened compared with that in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001). The number of crossing plateau in the model group was less than that in the sham operation group (P<0.001); the number of crossing plateau in the EA group was more than that in the model group (P<0.05). In the model group, in CA1 area of hippocampus, the number of neurons was less, with sparse arrangement, nuclear fixation, deep cytoplasmic staining, and reduction of Nissl substance; the morphology of mitochondrion was swollen, membrane structure was fragmented, and autophagic lysosomes were formed. Compared with the model group, in the EA group, in CA1 area of hippocampus, the number of neurons was increased, the number of cells of abnormal morphology was decreased, and the number of Nissl substance was increased; the morphology of mitochondrion was more intact and the number of autophagic lysosomes was increased. Compared with the sham operation group, in the model group, the protein expression of Beclin-1, FOXO3, PINK1, Parkin and the LC3BⅡ/Ⅰ ratio in hippocampus were increased (P<0.01, P<0.001), while the protein expression of P62 was decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, in the EA group, the protein expression of Beclin-1, Sirt1, FOXO3, PINK1, Parkin and the LC3BⅡ/Ⅰratio in hippocampus were increased (P<0.001, P<0.01), while the protein expression of P62 was decreased (P<0.001). CONCLUSION EA at "Shenting" (GV24) and "Baihui" (GV20) can relieve the symptoms of neurological deficits and improve the learning-memory ability in MCAO/R rats, its mechanism may relate to the modulation of Sirt1/FOXO3/PINK1/Parkin pathway and the enhancement of mitochondrial autophagy.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Forkhead Box Protein O3/genetics* ; Reperfusion Injury/metabolism* ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics* ; Brain Ischemia/complications* ; Mitochondria/genetics* ; Autophagy ; Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Sirtuin 1/genetics* ; Humans ; Memory Disorders/psychology* ; Signal Transduction

BACKGROUND: Iron deposition plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD), yet the distribution pattern of iron deposition in the subcortical nuclei has been inconsistent across previous studies. We aimed to assess the difference patterns of iron deposition detected by quantitative iron-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between patients with PD and patients with atypical parkinsonian syndromes (APSs), and between patients with PD and healthy controls (HCs). METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases to identify studies investigating the iron content in PD patients using the iron-sensitive MRI techniques (R2 * and quantitative susceptibility mapping [QSM]), up until May 1, 2023. The quality assessment of case-control and cohort studies was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, whereas diagnostic studies were assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2. Standardized mean differences and summary estimates of sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated for iron content, using a random effects model. We also conducted the subgroup-analysis based on the MRI sequence and meta-regression. RESULTS: Seventy-seven studies with 3192 PD, 209 multiple system atrophy (MSA), 174 progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and 2447 HCs were included. Elevated iron content in substantia nigra (SN) pars reticulata ( P <0.001) and compacta ( P <0.001), SN ( P <0.001), red nucleus (RN, P <0.001), globus pallidus ( P <0.001), putamen (PUT, P = 0.021), and thalamus ( P = 0.029) were found in PD patients compared with HCs. PD patients showed lower iron content in PUT ( P <0.001), RN ( P = 0.003), SN ( P = 0.017), and caudate nucleus ( P = 0.017) than MSA patients, and lower iron content in RN ( P = 0.001), PUT ( P <0.001), globus pallidus ( P = 0.004), SN ( P = 0.015), and caudate nucleus ( P = 0.001) than PSP patients. The highest diagnostic accuracy distinguishing PD from HCs was observed in SN (AUC: 0.85), and that distinguishing PD from MSA was found in PUT (AUC: 0.90). In addition, the best diagnostic performance was achieved in the RN for distinguishing PD from PSP (AUC: 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative iron-sensitive MRI could quantitatively detect the iron content of subcortical nuclei in PD and APSs, while it may be insufficient to accurately diagnose PD. Future studies are needed to explore the role of multimodal MRI in the diagnosis of PD. REGISTRISION PROSPERO (CRD42022344413).
Humans ; Parkinson Disease/diagnostic imaging* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Iron/metabolism*

ObjectiveTo develop the Evidence Grading Scale for Ancient classical prescriptions in Traditional Chinese medicine， assess its reliability and validity， and apply it in practice to provide multi-source evidence for clinical practice guidelines development. MethodsLiterature retrieval was conducted to extract and screen existing evaluation dimensions， then the initial items were summarized using thematic analysis. Experts in the clinical medicine， medical history and literature participated in the Delphi questionnaire survey to evaluate and refine the items. An expert consensus meeting was conducted to finalize the included items， refine the method for items evaluation and evidence grading. The evidence quality rating scale for ancient classical traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） prescriptions was then established and tested for reliability and validity. ResultsThrough literature review， extraction， screening and summarization， a total of 3 dimensions and 12 initial items were formed. Questionnaires were sent to 69 experts to evaluate the initial items， with a questionnaire response rate of 100% and an expert authority coefficient of 0.92. All 12 items were retained for they had importance scores above 4. The Evidence Grading Scale on Ancient classical prescriptions in Traditional Chinese medicine includes 3 dimensions with 12 items. The 3 dimensions includes ancient evidence， inheritance status， and modern application. Each dimension contains 4 items， and each item has a full score of 5 points. The evidence was rated as high-level， moderate-level， and low-level according to the final scores. The content validity index （CVI） of the 12 items was ＞0.9， the average CVI of the scale was 0.98， and the intraclass correlation coefficient （ICC） was 0.90. ConclusionThe Evidence Grading Scale on Ancient classical prescriptions in Traditional Chinese medicine has good reliability and validity， which is practical for use in the development of TCM clinical guidelines and can better support clinical decision-making.