Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles refer to spherical lipid bilayer vesicles isolated from plants that contain lipids,proteins,RNAs,and various small molecules.These nanovesicles exhibit di-verse biological activities,including anti-inflammatory,anti-tumor,antioxidant,and drug delivery prop-erties.However,the functional characteristics of nanovesicles derived from rhizoma polygonati remain un-explored.In this study,exosome-like nanovesicles derived from rhizoma polygonati(referred to as RP-EVs)were successfully isolated using ultracentrifugation and density gradient centrifugation.Their physi-cochemical properties and anti-inflammatory functions were systematically characterized.Our results show that RP-EVs are predominantly negatively charged,with an average particle size of 166.5±3.3 nm,and are spherical lipid vesicles.Cellular uptake assays demonstrated that RP-EVs can be phagocytized by macrophages.qPCR and ELISA experiments revealed that RP-EVs can inhibit the elevation of interleukin 6(IL-6),interleukin 1 β(IL-1 β),and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)induced by lipopolysac-charide(LPS)stimulation(****P＜0.0001).Additionally,reactive oxygen species(ROS)and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)scavenging assays confirmed that RP-EVs exhibit antioxidant proper-ties(*P＜0.05).Further investigation of the underlying mechanisms through immunofluorescence and Western blotting revealed that RP-EVs inhibit the nuclear translocation(**P＜0.01)and phosphoryla-tion(***P＜0.001)of nuclear factor kappa-B p65(NF-κB p65)via the IκBα/NF-κB signaling path-way,thereby regulating the expression of inflammatory mediators.In animal experiments,intraperitoneal injection of RP-EVs into mice for 48 hours showed predominant localization in the liver and spleen.Fi-nally,an acute inflammatory mouse model was established via intraperitoneal injection of LPS.qPCR and ELISA analyses demonstrated that RP-EVs alleviated the expression of inflammatory factors in both the serum and spleen of LPS-treated mice(*P＜0.05).In conclusion,this study isolated RP-EVs and elu-cidated their anti-inflammatory properties and potential mechanisms.These findings provide valuable in-sights into the functional exploration of nanoparticle vesicles derived from traditional Chinese medicine and suggest a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases.

AIM:This study aims to investigate the role of histone methyltransferase SET and MYND domain containing 2(SMYD2)in facilitating renal fibrosis through the macrophage-myofibroblast transition in diabetic kidney dis-ease(DKD).METHODS:(1)C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally administered 55 mg/kg of streptozotocin to induce diabetes mellitus(DM).The experimental groups were categorized as follows:normal control,DM(20 weeks),DM(28 weeks),and DM(36 weeks).Blood glucose(BG),serum creatinine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels were determined using a biochemical analyzer.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and Masson staining were performed to assess morphological and fibrotic changes in renal tissues.Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein levels of SMYD2,histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation(H3K4me3),arginase-1,matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9),collagen type Ⅰ(Col Ⅰ)and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA).Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to examine the localization and expression of F4/80,α-SMA,SMYD2,CD86,CD206 and CD163.(2)Mouse monocyte/macrophage RAW264.7 cells were cultured in vitro and assigned to groups as follows:normal glucose(NG)+negative control siRNA(siNC),high glucose(HG)+siNC,NG+SMYD2 siRNA(siSMYD2),and HG+siSMYD2.Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of relevant proteins.RESULTS:(1)Compared with normal control group,the levels of BG,SCr and BUN were significantly elevated in DM(28 weeks)and DM(36 weeks)groups(P＜0.05).Renal tissue exhibited tubular atro-phy,dilation,and collagen fiber deposition.The levels of H3K4me3,arginase-1,MMP9,Col Ⅰ and α-SMA proteins were up-regulated(P＜0.05).The CD86,CD206,CD163 and F4/80 were primarily localized in the interstitial macrophages of the renal tubules,α-SMA was predominantly detected in the renal interstitium,and SMYD2 was mainly expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells and the renal interstitium.(2)Compared with NG+siNC group,the protein levels of SMYD2,H3K4me3,arginase-1,CD163,Col Ⅰ,α-SMA,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)and p-Smad3 in the cells of HG+siNC group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Knockdown of SMYD2 resulted in a reduction of these indicators(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:The SMYD2 protein appears to facilitate renal fibrosis in DKD by promoting the macrophage-myofibroblast transition,potentially through the modulation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles refer to spherical lipid bilayer vesicles isolated from plants that contain lipids,proteins,RNAs,and various small molecules.These nanovesicles exhibit di-verse biological activities,including anti-inflammatory,anti-tumor,antioxidant,and drug delivery prop-erties.However,the functional characteristics of nanovesicles derived from rhizoma polygonati remain un-explored.In this study,exosome-like nanovesicles derived from rhizoma polygonati(referred to as RP-EVs)were successfully isolated using ultracentrifugation and density gradient centrifugation.Their physi-cochemical properties and anti-inflammatory functions were systematically characterized.Our results show that RP-EVs are predominantly negatively charged,with an average particle size of 166.5±3.3 nm,and are spherical lipid vesicles.Cellular uptake assays demonstrated that RP-EVs can be phagocytized by macrophages.qPCR and ELISA experiments revealed that RP-EVs can inhibit the elevation of interleukin 6(IL-6),interleukin 1 β(IL-1 β),and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)induced by lipopolysac-charide(LPS)stimulation(****P＜0.0001).Additionally,reactive oxygen species(ROS)and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)scavenging assays confirmed that RP-EVs exhibit antioxidant proper-ties(*P＜0.05).Further investigation of the underlying mechanisms through immunofluorescence and Western blotting revealed that RP-EVs inhibit the nuclear translocation(**P＜0.01)and phosphoryla-tion(***P＜0.001)of nuclear factor kappa-B p65(NF-κB p65)via the IκBα/NF-κB signaling path-way,thereby regulating the expression of inflammatory mediators.In animal experiments,intraperitoneal injection of RP-EVs into mice for 48 hours showed predominant localization in the liver and spleen.Fi-nally,an acute inflammatory mouse model was established via intraperitoneal injection of LPS.qPCR and ELISA analyses demonstrated that RP-EVs alleviated the expression of inflammatory factors in both the serum and spleen of LPS-treated mice(*P＜0.05).In conclusion,this study isolated RP-EVs and elu-cidated their anti-inflammatory properties and potential mechanisms.These findings provide valuable in-sights into the functional exploration of nanoparticle vesicles derived from traditional Chinese medicine and suggest a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases.

AIM:This study aims to investigate the role of histone methyltransferase SET and MYND domain containing 2(SMYD2)in facilitating renal fibrosis through the macrophage-myofibroblast transition in diabetic kidney dis-ease(DKD).METHODS:(1)C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally administered 55 mg/kg of streptozotocin to induce diabetes mellitus(DM).The experimental groups were categorized as follows:normal control,DM(20 weeks),DM(28 weeks),and DM(36 weeks).Blood glucose(BG),serum creatinine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels were determined using a biochemical analyzer.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and Masson staining were performed to assess morphological and fibrotic changes in renal tissues.Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein levels of SMYD2,histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation(H3K4me3),arginase-1,matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9),collagen type Ⅰ(Col Ⅰ)and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA).Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to examine the localization and expression of F4/80,α-SMA,SMYD2,CD86,CD206 and CD163.(2)Mouse monocyte/macrophage RAW264.7 cells were cultured in vitro and assigned to groups as follows:normal glucose(NG)+negative control siRNA(siNC),high glucose(HG)+siNC,NG+SMYD2 siRNA(siSMYD2),and HG+siSMYD2.Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of relevant proteins.RESULTS:(1)Compared with normal control group,the levels of BG,SCr and BUN were significantly elevated in DM(28 weeks)and DM(36 weeks)groups(P＜0.05).Renal tissue exhibited tubular atro-phy,dilation,and collagen fiber deposition.The levels of H3K4me3,arginase-1,MMP9,Col Ⅰ and α-SMA proteins were up-regulated(P＜0.05).The CD86,CD206,CD163 and F4/80 were primarily localized in the interstitial macrophages of the renal tubules,α-SMA was predominantly detected in the renal interstitium,and SMYD2 was mainly expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells and the renal interstitium.(2)Compared with NG+siNC group,the protein levels of SMYD2,H3K4me3,arginase-1,CD163,Col Ⅰ,α-SMA,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)and p-Smad3 in the cells of HG+siNC group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Knockdown of SMYD2 resulted in a reduction of these indicators(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:The SMYD2 protein appears to facilitate renal fibrosis in DKD by promoting the macrophage-myofibroblast transition,potentially through the modulation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Objective To monitor rodent species in the southern Fujian ports of China and investigate the natural pathogens they carry. Methods Rodents were captured using night-trapping and cage method across 17 port areas in southern Fujian in 2023. Morphological identification was performed to classify the captured specimens. Tissues from the liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and bladder were harvested for nucleic acid extraction. Nested and conventional PCR method were used to detect seven pathogens: Yersinia pestis, Hantavirus, pathogenic Leptospira, Borrelia burgdorferi, Bartonella, Orientia tsutsugamushi, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The Chi-square test was used to analyze the distribution of rodents and the status of natural pathogen infections across the study sites. Results A total of 161 rodents across five species belonging to two orders, two families, and three genera were captured. Suncus murinus was the dominant species(72.67 %), followed by Rattus tanezumi(13.04 %). Six pathogens were detected, with an overall positivity rate of 18.01%. Bartonella had the highest positivity rate(11.18%), followed by pathogenic Leptospira(4.97%), Borrelia burgdorferi(2.48%), Orientia tsutsugamushi(1.86%), Seoul virus(1.24%), and Anaplasma phagocytophilum(0.62%). Co-infections were noted in five rodents, representing 17.24% of those that tested positive, and one rodent was infected with four pathogens. No Y. pestis or Hantaan virus was detected in the captured rodents. Conclusions The rodents in the southern Fujian ports are naturally infected with multiple pathogens, including Bartonella, pathogenic Leptospira, and Seoul virus. Enhanced monitoring of rodent populations and the implementation of preventive and control measures for rodent-borne diseases are essential.

Objective To investigate the effects of saphenous nerve combined with posterior capsular block of knee joint on stress response,analgesic effect and joint function recovery of patients after total knee arthroplasty.Methods A total of 98 patients who received total knee arthroplasty in our hospital from January 2021 to January 2022 were selected and divided into the observation group(received saphenous nerve combined with posterior capsular block of knee joint)and the control group(received saphenous nerve block)by random number table,with 49 patients in each group.The visual analogue scale(VAS)score of resting and dynamic pain 6 hours,12 hours and 24 hours after surgery of patients in the two groups were compared.The range of knee joint motion before surgery,3 days,5 days and 7 days after surgery of patients in the two groups were compared.The stress indexes[cortisol(Cor),adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)],and pain mediator indexs[calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP),beta-endorphins(β-EP),6-keto prostaglandin E1α(6-Keto-pGE1α),substance P(SP)]before surgery,4 hours,12 hours,24 hours,and 48 hours after surgery of patients in the two groups were compared.The occurrence of adverse reactions during treatment of patients in the two groups were recorded.Results There were statistically significant differences in the resting and dynamic VAS scores at different time points of patients in the two groups in terms of time factors,inter-group factors and interaction factors(P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in the range of knee joint motion at different time points of patients in the two groups in terms of time factors,inter-group factors and interaction factors(P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in the Cor and ACTH contents at different time points of patients in the two groups in terms of time factors,inter-group factors and interaction factors(P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in the contents of β-EP,SP,CGRP and 6-keto-PGE1α at different time points of patients in the two groups in terms of time factors,inter-group factors and interaction factors(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Saphenous nerve combined with posterior capsular block of knee joint for total knee arthroplasty can reduce patients' stress response,enhance postoperative analgesic effect,and improve the early motor function,with high safety.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility of using bedside ultrasound and serum biomarkers for the prediction of sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction(SIMD)and mortality in septic shock patients.Methods:The patients diagnosed as septic shock were enrolled in the study from January 2019 to July 2021 in PICU at Shanghai Children′s Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine.Bedside ultrasound results were recorded at day 1, 2, 3, 7 and 10.Blood samples were collected at the same time, markers of myocardial injury were detected, and prognosis was recorded at 28 days.According to the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), children with septic shock were divided into SIMD group and non-SIMD group.Those with LVEF <50% or decreased by ≥10% from baseline level were defined as SIMD.Differences in cardiac ultrasound parameters and biomarkers between two groups were compared.Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent risk factors for SIMD and the independent risk factors for death at 28 days after septic shock.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the efficacy of different indicators in predicting SIMD and the death outcome of children with septic shock on 28 days.Results:A total of 57 children were enrolled, including 28 cases in SIMD group and 29 cases in non-SIMD group.Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in pediatric critical illness score, N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP), LVEF and left ventricular short axis shortening rate between two groups ( P<0.05). Logistic analysis demonstrated that LVEF( OR=0.890, 95% CI 0.818-0.969, P=0.007)and NT-proBNP ( OR=1.000, 95% CI 1.000-1.000, P=0.015)could independently predict SIMD.There were 42 cases in survival group and 15 in non-survival group according to the prognosis on 28 days.Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in pediatric risk mortality score Ⅲ, pediatric sequential organ failure assessment, cardiac troponin I, and mitral annular plane systolic excursion(MAPSE)( P<0.05). Logistic analysis showed that only MAPSE independently predicted mortality( OR=85.670, 95% CI 1.685-4 356.736, P=0.026). Compared with MAPSE(AUC=0.727), MAPSE combined with pediatric risk mortality score Ⅲ, pediatric sequential organ failure assessment, cardiac troponin I(AUC=0.926) could be better to predict the 28 days prognosis of patients with septic shock on 28 days. Conclusion:NT-proBNP increases significantly in the early stage of SIMD.MAPSE shows no difference between SIMD and non-SIMD patients.MAPSE is correlated with the prognosis of patient with septic shock.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of nuclear score combined with cyclin D1 immunocytochemistry in classifying indeterminate thyroid nodules with fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytological diagnosis of Bethesda category Ⅲ-Ⅴ. Methods: A consecutive cohort of 118 thyroid FNA specimens with indeterminate diagnosis (TBSRTC category Ⅲ-Ⅴ) and available histopathologic follow-up data were collected between December 2018 and April 2022 at the Department of Pathology, Beijing Hospital, China. These cases were subjected to cytological evaluation and cyclin D1 immunocytochemistry. The optimal cut-off points of a simplified nuclear score and the percentage of cyclin D1-positive cells for the diagnosis of malignancy or low-risk neoplasm were determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the ROC curve (AUC). The specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of nuclear score and cyclin D1 immunostaining were evaluated from the crosstabs based on cut-off points. The diagnostic accuracy of simplified nuclear score combined with cyclin D1 immunostaining was estimated using ROC curve analysis. Results: Nuclear grooves, intra-nuclear inclusions and chromatin clearing were more commonly found in malignancy/low-risk neoplasms than benign lesions (P=0.001, P=0.012 and P=0.001 respectively). A cut-off point of≥2 for the simplified nuclear score was sensitive for defining malignancy/low-risk neoplasm, and its PPV, NPV, sensitivity and specificity were 93.6%, 87.5%, 99.0% and 50.0% respectively. A positive cut-off point of 10% positive thyroid cells in cyclin D1 immunostaining demonstrated sensitivity of 88.5%, specificity of 100%, PPV of 100% and NPV of 53.8% for correctly detecting thyroid malignancy or low-risk neoplasm. The sensitivity and PPV of simplified nuclear score combined with cyclin D1 immunostaining were 93.3% and 100%, respectively. Both specificity and NPV were maintained at high levels (100% and 66.7%, respectively). The diagnostic accuracy of simplified nuclear score combined with cyclin D1 immunostaining in detecting thyroid malignancy/low-risk neoplasm was increased to 94.1% compared to using either of them alone. Conclusions: Combing simplified nuclear score and cyclin D1 immunostaining on FNA cytology specimens can increase the diagnostic accuracy in classifying thyroid nodules of indeterminate cytological categories. Thus, this supplementary approach provides a simple, accurate, and convenient diagnostic method for cytopathologists so that may reduce unnecessary thyroidectomies.
Humans ; Thyroid Nodule/pathology* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Cyclin D1 ; Immunohistochemistry ; Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies