OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion on small intestinal mucosal immune barrier in rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) and explore its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Of 38 newborn rats from 4 healthy SPF pregnant rats, 12 neonatal rats were randomly selected in a normal group. IBS-D model was prepared by the combined measures for the rest rats, including neonatal maternal separation, acetic acid enema and chronic restraint stress. Twenty-four successfully-modeled rats were randomized into a model group and a moxibustion group, 12 rats in each one. In the moxibustion group, suspending moxibustion was delivered at bilateral "Tianshu" (ST25) and "Shangjuxu" (ST37), 20 min each time, once daily and for 7 consecutive days. Separately, before acetic acid enema (aged 35 days), after modeling (aged 45 days) and after intervention (aged 53 days), the body mass, loose stool rate (LSR) and and the minimum volume threshold when abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scored 3 were observed in the rats of each group. After intervention (aged 53 days), using HE and PAS staining, the morphology of duodenum was observed, the length of villus and the depth of crypt were measured, the ratio of the length of villus to the depth of crypt was calculated; and the numbers of mucosal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and goblet cells were counted. With ELISA adopted, the contents of γ-interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in duodenal mucosa of rats were detected. The proportion of T cell subsets in duodenal mucosa was detected using flow cytometry. The microvilli and tight junctions of duodenal mucosal epithelial cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the integrity of duodenal mucosa observed by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, for the rats in the model group, the body mass, the minimum volume threshold when AWR scored 3, the length of duodenal villus and the the ratio of the length of villus to the depth of crypt, as well as the proportion of CD₈⁺ T subset were all reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05), the counts of goblet cells in duodenal mucosa decreased (P<0.01); LRS, the proportion of CD₄⁺ T subset and CD₄⁺/CD₈⁺, as well as the contents of IFN-γ, IL-4 and sIgA in duodenal mucosa and IFN-γ/IL-4 were all elevated (P<0.01); and the numbers of IELs rose (P<0.01). The morphology of duodenal mucosa was irregular, the villi got shorter, sparse and scattered, with uneven density. The morphology of epithelial cells was destroyed and the tight junctions damaged, with larger spaces. When compared with the model group, in the moxibustion group, the body mass, the minimum volume threshold when AWR scored 3, the length of duodenal villus and the ratio of the length of villus to the depth of crypt, as well as the counts of goblet cells in duodenal mucosa increased (P<0.01); LRS, the proportion of CD₄⁺ T subset, and CD₄⁺/CD₈⁺, as well as the contents of IFN-γ, IL-4 and sIgA in duodenal mucosa and IFN-γ/IL-4 were reduced (P<0.01); and the numbers of IELs was dropped (P<0.01). The morphology of duodenal mucosa was more regular, the villi were grew, got longer and arranged regularly, with even density. The morphology of epithelial cells was slightly destroyed, and the tight junctions partially damaged. CONCLUSION Moxibustion at "Tianshu" (ST25) and "Shangjuxu" (ST37) can reduce visceral hypersensitivity in IBS-D rats and relieve abdominal pain, diarrhea and other symptoms. Its effect mechanism may be related to the repair of small intestinal mucosal immune barrier and the improvement in the immune function in IBS-D.
Animals ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/immunology* ; Rats ; Moxibustion ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology* ; Female ; Diarrhea/therapy* ; Intestine, Small/immunology* ; Male ; Humans ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Disease Models, Animal

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the thoracic malignant tumor and accounts for about 15% of lung malignancies and transfer often occurs by the time of diagnosis. Extensive stage-small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) accounts for about 2/3 of all SCLC. For many years, radiotherapy has occupied an important position in the treatment of SCLC, especially in the treatment of ES-SCLC, because SCLC is more sensitive to radiotherapy. However, in recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitor has shown more excellent antitumor activity in the treatment of ES-SCLC and become the mainstream argument for the treatment of ES-SCLC. However, will radiotherapy be buried by the times among the therapeutic approaches for ES-SCLC? In this article, we will review the clinical progress of radiotherapy, immunotherapy and combination therapy for ES-SCLC.
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Humans ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/therapy* ; Lung Neoplasms/therapy* ; Immunotherapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Radiotherapy/methods* ; Combined Modality Therapy

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive and functional deterioration, with pathological features such as amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregates in the extracellular spaces of parenchymal neurons and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles formed by the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein. Despite a thorough investigation, current treatments targeting the reduction of Aβ production, promotion of its clearance, and inhibition of tau protein phosphorylation and aggregation have not met clinical expectations, posing a substantial obstacle in the development of drugs for AD. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI), computational biology (CB), and systems biology (SB) have emerged as promising methodologies in AD research. Their capacity to analyze extensive and varied datasets facilitates the identification of intricate patterns, thereby enriching our comprehension of AD pathology. This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the utilization of AI, CB, and SB in the diagnosis of AD, including the use of imaging omics for early detection, drug discovery methods such as lecanemab, and complementary therapies like phototherapy. This review offers novel perspectives and potential avenues for further research in the realm of translational AD studies.

Vascular damage plays a significant role in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the induction of neuronal injury by vascular damage remain unclear. The present study aimed to examine the impact of fibrinogen (Fg) on tau pathology. The results showed that Fg deposits in the brains of tau P301S transgenic mice interact with tau, enhancing the cytotoxicity of pathological tau aggregates and promoting tau phosphorylation and aggregation. Notably, Fg-modified tau fibrils caused enhanced neuronal apoptosis and synaptic damage compared to unmodified fibrils. Furthermore, intrahippocampal injection of Fg-modified tau fibrils worsened the tau pathology, neuroinflammation, synaptic damage, neuronal apoptosis, and cognitive dysfunction in tau P301S mice compared to controls. The present study provides compelling evidence linking Fg and tau, thereby connecting cerebrovascular damage to tau pathology in AD. Consequently, inhibiting Fg-mediated tau pathology could potentially impede the progression of AD.
Animals ; tau Proteins/metabolism* ; Alzheimer Disease/metabolism* ; Fibrinogen/metabolism* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Mice ; Disease Models, Animal ; Memory Disorders/metabolism* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Brain/metabolism* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Protein Aggregation, Pathological/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Phosphorylation

Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition caused by damage or dysfunction in the nervous system. While the spleen may influence neuropathic pain, its role has been poorly understood. This study demonstrates that the spleen plays a crucial role in regulating neuropathic pain through the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) - paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) neural circuit in a chronic constriction injury (CCI) mouse model. Splenectomy, splenic denervation, or splenic sympathectomy significantly increased the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and reduced macrophage infiltration in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of CCI mice. Pseudorabies virus injections into the spleen revealed connections to the BNST and PVN in the brain. Chemogenetic inhibition of the BNST-PVN circuit increased macrophage infiltration in the DRG and decreased the MWT; these effects were reversed by splenectomy, splenic denervation, or sympathectomy. These findings underscore the critical role of the spleen, regulated by the BNST-PVN circuit, in neuropathic pain.
Animals ; Neuralgia/pathology* ; Septal Nuclei/physiopathology* ; Male ; Spleen/physiopathology* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/physiopathology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Splenectomy ; Mice ; Neural Pathways/physiopathology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ganglia, Spinal/physiopathology* ; Sympathectomy ; Macrophages

The mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remains unclear. Historically, research on TCM has mainly focused on exploring the mechanisms of active components acting on single targets. However, it is insufficient to explain the complex mechanisms by which these active components in TCM treat diseases. In recent years, the emergence of molecular glues (MGs) theory has provided new strategies to address this issue. MGs are small molecules that can promote interactions between proteins at their interface. The characteristic of MGs is to establish connections between diverse protein structures, thereby enabling a chemically-mediated proximity effect that triggers a wide spectrum of biological functions. Natural products are the result of billions of years of evolutionary processes in the natural environment. Thus, the extensive structural diversity of natural products renders them a rich source of MGs, including polyketides, terpenoids, steroids, lignans, organic acids, alkaloids and other classes. Currently, several well-known natural MGs, including the immunosuppressants cyclosporin A (CsA) and tacrolimus (FK506), as well as the anticancer agent taxol, have been incorporated into clinical practice. Meanwhile, the advancement of new technologies is propelling the discovery of novel MGs from natural products. Thus, we primarily summarize a growing variety of MGs from natural origins reported in recent years and categorize them based on the chemical structural types. Moreover, the main sources of TCM are natural products. The discovery of natural MGs promises to provide a new perspective for the elucidation of the molecular mechanism behind the efficiency of TCM. In summary, this review aims to provide insights from the perspective of natural products that could potentially influence TCM and modern drug development.

Objective To investigate the value of methyltransferase-like protein 16(METTL16)in the clinical di-agnosis and prognostic prediction of multiple myeloma(MM)patients.Methods The expression level and prog-nostic potential of each gene involved in N6-methyladenosine(m6A)modification in MM were respectively ana-lyzed in the databases of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation(MMRF)and the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project(GTEx).Bone marrow specimens from 26 patients with initial diagnosis of MM and 19 patients with MM af-ter treatment with standard regimens and peripheral blood specimens from 24 normal subjects were collected respec-tively,and the expression levels of m6A genes were determined by qRT-PCR.The correlation between METTL16 expression and various laboratory and clinical indexes was analyzed:hemoglobin(Hb),white blood cell count(WBC),platelet count(PLT),blood creatinine(Scr),serum calcium(Ca2+),β-microglobulin(β-MG),bone destruction,ISS stage,type,and overall survival(OS)in the patients with primary diagnosis.The expression lev-els of interleukin(IL)-4,IL-6,IL-10,IL-18 and chemokine ligand 2(CCL2),CCL3,CCL4 in the specimens were further examined and their correlation with the expression of METTL16 was investigated.Results Database a-nalysis suggested that METTL16 expression was significantly higher in MM patient samples compared with normal controls,which was associated with poor prognosis and had certain diagnostic value.qRT-PCR results showed that the expression level of METTL16 in the bone marrow of patients with initial diagnosis of MM was significantly higher than that of treated patients and normal controls.Its expression was positively correlated with hemoglobin,leuko-cytes and stage,and its expression was positively correlated with CCL4 expression.Conclusion METTL16 expres-sion was significantly elevated in patients with MM,and its expression level was correlated with anemia,more bone destruction and worse stage,which might indicate a poor prognosis.The significant correlation between the expres-sion of METTL16 and CCL4 suggests that METTL16 may play a corresponding pathogenic role through the relevant pathway.METTL16 will have significant clinical value in the management of MM.

Objective To explore the changes in cerebral blood flow caused by mandibular retrusion,as well as the impact and potential mechanisms on stroke recovery.Methods 6-week-old SD male rats were selected as experi-mental subjects.The metal cannula was bonded to the rat maxillary incisor for one week,forcing mandibular retru-sion(MR).Cerebral blood flow was detected by laser speckle imaging.Cognitive function was detected by the Morris water.Then,the stroke model was constructed in MR rats by using the middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)method for one week.Meanwhile,metal cannulae were then removed in rats to restore the lower jaw's position(MCAO RO),serving as a positive control group.Consequently,rats were randomly divided into the fol-lowing groups:Sham groups,MCAO groups,MCAO MR groups,and MCAO RO groups.Neurological recovery was assessed through the modified neurological severity score(mNSS).The area of cerebral infarction was evalua-ted by using triphenyltetrazolium(TTC)staining.The changes in nerve cells were observed by using hematoxylin eosin(HE)staining.The protein expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)was detected by immunohistochemistry.The protein expression levels of platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule(CD31),sirtuin 6(SIRT6),and thioredoxin interaction protein(TXNIP)were detected by Western blot.The mRNA expression levels of SIRT6,TXNIP,and VEGF were determined by qRT-PCR.Microglia activation marker molecule 1(IBA-1)was detected by immunofluorescence.Resluts Because of mandibular retrusion,laser speckle showed de-creased cerebral blood flow,and the water maze showed decreased cognitive function.Compared to other groups,MCAO MR showed a larger ischemic area in TTC staining,while HE staining and neurological scoring showed poo-rer neurological function recovery.Western blot and qRT-PCR showed that the MCAO MR group inhibited the mR-NA and protein expression levels of SIRT6,upregulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of TXNIP,and in-creased the activation of microglia.Conclusion Mandibular retrusion reduces cerebral blood flow and alters cogni-tive function in rats.Mandibular retrusion inhibits recovery in stroke through the SIRT6/TXNIP axis.

Objective To provide foundational data for exploring the association between KIR genes and diseases by an-alyzing the frequency and polymorphism of killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor(KIR)genes in Han,Manchu and Kore-an populations in Jilin Province.Methods KIR gene typing was performed on 129 Manchu,198 Korean and 201 Han indi-viduals from Jilin using the polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers(PCR-SSP)technique.Results KIR3DL2,KIR3DL3,KIR3DP1 and KIR2DL4 were detected in all subjects.KIR2DL1,KIR2DL3,KIR2DS4,KIR3DL1 and KIR2DP1 genes had high detection frequencies,ranging from 93％to 98％across the three ethnic groups.In contrast,the detection rates of KIR2DL2,KIR2DL5,KIR3DS1,KIR2DS1,KIR2DS2,KIR2DS3 and KIR2DS5 were lower,ranging from 13％to 45％.Notably,the detection frequencies of KIR2DL5(17.83％)and KIR2DS1(17.83％)in the Manchu population were significantly lower than those in the Korean(42.93％,47.47％)and Han(33.83％,33.33％)populations in Jilin.The detection frequencies of KIR2DL5(42.93％)and KIR2DS1(47.47％)were significantly higher in the Korean popula-tion compared to the Han(33.83％,33.33％)and Manchu(17.83％,17.83％)population.The frequency of the KIRAA hap-lotype in the Han population was the highest among the three ethnic groups in Jilin at 61.19％,significantly higher than that in the Korean population(42.93％).Differences between the three groups were statistically significant(P＜0.05),and remained significant after Bonferroni correction(Pc＜0.05).Conclusion The distribution of KIR genes in the Korean,Manchu and Han population in Jilin reflects the polymorphism of KIR genes in the Chinese population and also showcases unique ethnic genetic and regional characteristics.

Objective: To explore the mechanism of miR-141-5p and its effect on Imatinib(IM) resistance in CML. Methods: qRT-PCR was used to detect miR-141-5p mRNA levels in IM resistant and sensitive patients.Western blot was used to detect the expression of proteins such as MMP-3,MMP-9,and Bcl-2 before and after transfection in K562 and K562/G01 cells.CCK-8 was used to detect of K562 and K562/G01 cell activity;Flow cytometry assay was used to detect the binding of miR-141-5p with ABCG1;Nude mice were used to validate the effect of miR-141-5p on tumors in vivo. Results: The results showed that miR-141-5p was downregulated in IMresistant CML patients and IM-resistant CML cells and overexpression of miR-141-5p could inhibit the growth of IMresistant CML cells and promote their apoptosis.Research on tumor bearing mice had shown that miR-141-5p inhibits tumor growth in vivo.Finally,it was found that miR-141-5p could directly target ABCG1 in IM-resistant CML cells to regulate CML occurrence. Conclusion miR-141-5p and ABCG1 form a competing endogenous RNA(ceRNA) network to function in IM resistance,thus facilitating CML progression.