ObjectiveTo investigate the role and underlying mechanism of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the process of Xiaojinwan （XJW）-containing serum interfering with endothelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. MethodsXJW-containing serum was prepared by intragastric administration of XJW （4 g·kg^-1） to SD rats. MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured in vitro. β-Catenin overexpression and knockdown plasmids were constructed and transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells. The optimal XJW-containing serum （4 g·kg^-1） according to previous studies was used for β-catenin intervention and overexpression experiments. The groups for intervention/overexpression experiments included intervention/overexpression blank group， β-catenin intervention/overexpression group， intervention/overexpression blank + XJW group， and β-catenin intervention/overexpression + XJW group. Cell morphology was observed under a microscope. Flow cytometry was used to detect and record apoptosis rates. Western blot was performed to measure apoptosis-related proteins ［B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， and active-Caspase-3］ and EMT-related proteins （E-cadherin， N-cadherin， and vimentin）. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect β-catenin mRNA expression levels in different groups. ResultsIntervention experiment results showed that compared with the intervention blank group， the β-catenin intervention group and the intervention blank + XJW group showed increased apoptosis rates （P<0.05， P<0.01）， elevated protein levels of Bax， active Caspase-3， and E-cadherin （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased protein levels of Bcl-2 and Vimentin （P<0.05， P<0.01）. β-catenin mRNA expression was reduced in the β-catenin intervention group （P<0.05， 0.63 ± 0.15） and the intervention blank + XJW group （P<0.05， 0.79 ± 0.33）. Compared with the β-catenin intervention group， the β-catenin intervention + XJW group exhibited an increased apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， elevated Bax and active Caspase-3 protein levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased Bcl-2， N-cadherin， and Vimentin protein levels （P<0.05）. β-catenin mRNA expression was further reduced in the β-catenin intervention + XJW group （P<0.01， 0.22 ± 0.08）. Compared with the intervention blank + XJW group， the β-catenin intervention + XJW group showed an increased apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， elevated Bax， active Caspase-3， and E-cadherin protein levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased Bcl-2， N-cadherin， and vimentin protein levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）. β-catenin mRNA expression was also reduced （P<0.05）. Overexpression experiment results showed that compared with the overexpression blank group， the β-catenin overexpression group exhibited a reduced apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， while the overexpression blank + XJW group showed an increased apoptosis rate （P<0.05）. In the β-catenin overexpression and β-catenin overexpression + XJW groups， Bax and E-cadherin protein levels decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while Bcl-2， N-cadherin， and vimentin levels increased （P<0.05）. In the overexpression blank + XJW group， Bax and E-cadherin levels increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while Bcl-2， N-cadherin， and vimentin levels decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. β-catenin mRNA expression increased in the β-catenin overexpression group （P<0.01， 7.26 ± 1.03） but decreased in the overexpression blank + XJW group （P<0.05， 0.73 ± 0.14）. Compared with the β-catenin overexpression group， the β-catenin overexpression + XJW group showed an increased apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， elevated Bax and E-cadherin levels （P<0.05）， and decreased N-cadherin and vimentin levels （P<0.05）. β-catenin mRNA expression was reduced （P<0.05， 4.65 ± 1.02）. Compared with the overexpression blank + XJW group， the β-catenin overexpression + XJW group exhibited a reduced apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， decreased Bax and E-cadherin levels （P<0.01）， and increased Bcl-2， N-cadherin， and Vimentin levels （P<0.05）. β-catenin mRNA expression increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionXJW-containing serum inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation by suppressing EMT， which is associated with the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

BackgroundNegative symptoms of schizophrenia impose a substantial burden on society， and the current antipsychotic drugs have limited efficacy in treating these symptoms. Intermittent theta burst stimulation （iTBS）， as a novel neuromodulation technique， shows potential therapeutic promise. However， the evidence for its efficacy in treating negative symptoms of schizophrenia and its relationship with associated immuno-inflammatory changes remain to be further elucidated. ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of iTBS targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex （L-DLPFC） on persistent negative symptoms of schizophrenia， and to analyze its relationship with changes in peripheral blood inflammatory markers， so as to provide references for the clinical application of iTBS in treating persistent negative symptoms and to offer clues for further research into its potential biological mechanisms. MethodsA randomized， double-blind， sham-controlled clinical trial was conducted. A total of 60 patients with schizophrenia who were hospitalized at Xuzhou Oriental Peopple's Hospital from February 20， 2024 to May 10， 2025 were consecutively enrolled. All patients met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fifth edition （DSM-5） and fulfilled the criteria for persistent negative symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned into the study group and the control group， with 30 patients in each group. The two groups respectively received 20 sessions of either active iTBS or sham stimulation over a 4-week period. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale （PANSS） at the baseline， the end of treatment， and 3 months after treatment. Peripheral blood inflammatory markers were measured at the baseline and at the end of treatment， including white blood cell count， platelet count， neutrophil count， lymphocyte count， and monocyte count， the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio （NLR）， monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio （MLR）， and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio （PLR） were also calculated. A linear mixed model was used to compare PANSS scores between the two groups. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to examine the association between reductions in inflammatory markers at the end of treatment and reductions in PANSS negative symptom subscale scores， with body mass index （BMI） and chlorpromazine-equivalent dose as covariates. Results①The time-group interaction effect for the PANSS negative symptom subscale score was statistically significant （F=5.410， P<0.01）. At the end of treatment and 3 months after treatment， the study group had significantly lower scores on the PANSS negative symptom subscale than the control group （P<0.01）. ② At the end of treatment， group differences in reduction scores for neutrophil count， NLR， and PLR were significant （Z=-2.262， -2.048， -2.070， P<0.05）. However， after FDR correction， the between-group differences in reductions in peripheral blood inflammatory markers were no longer statistically significant （P>0.05）. ③ After adjusting for BMI and chlorpromazine equivalents， the reduction in PANSS negative symptom subscale scores was positively correlated with the reduction in neutrophil count in the study group （r_s=0.382， P=0.045）. ConclusioniTBS targeting the L-DLPFC may be beneficial in improving persistent negative symptoms of schizophrenia， and its clinical efficacy may be associated with changes in neutrophil count. ［Funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China （number， 82371510）； Social Development Project of Jiangsu Province （number， BE2023668）. www.chictr.org.cn number， ChiCTR2500101060］

The recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) can be used for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) preparation before ¹³¹I therapy, and follow-up. Since its approval by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998, rhTSH has been clinically used in European countries, the United States, and other countries for nearly 30 years. In April 2024, China’s first independently developed rhTSH agent was approved. Based on clinical experience and evidence from domestic and international studies, an expert consensus on the application of rhTSH has been developed following thorough consultations among experts. The consensus offers evidence-based recommendations to guide the appropriate use of rhTSH in clinical practice.

Intestinal fibrosis is a significant clinical challenge in inflammatory bowel diseases, but no effective anti-fibrotic therapy is currently available. Glucagon receptor (GCGR) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP1R) are both peptide hormone receptors involved in energy metabolism of epithelial cells. However, their role in intestinal fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Herein GCGR and GLP1R were found to be reduced in the stenotic ileum of patients with Crohn's disease as well as in the fibrotic colon of mice with chronic colitis. The downregulation of GCGR and GLP1R led to the accumulation of the metabolic byproduct lactate, resulting in histone H3K9 lactylation and exacerbated intestinal fibrosis through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Dual activating GCGR and GLP1R by peptide 1907B reduced the H3K9 lactylation in epithelial cells and ameliorated intestinal fibrosis in vivo. We uncovered the role of GCGR/GLP1R in regulating EMT involved in intestinal fibrosis via histone lactylation. Simultaneously activating GCGR/GLP1R with the novel dual agonist peptide 1907B holds promise as a treatment strategy for alleviating intestinal fibrosis.

Pyroptosis is a new type of programmed cell death that can efficiently enhance the immune response by inducing cell lysis and inflammation, thereby facilitating tumor immunotherapy. Recently, an increasing number of studies have revealed close relationships between pyroptosis and nanomedicine, which has been regarded as a new strategy for developing nanomedicine-based immunotherapy for highly effective therapy of various cancers. In this review, the development and associated signaling pathways for pyroptosis, including the correlation between pyroptosis and anti-tumor immunity, were first presented. Then, various nanomedicines that induce pyroptosis for tumor therapy, especially immunotherapy, were systematically discussed. Finally, the current challenges and constructive perspectives in this field were proposed.

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

Endosomes are characterized by the presence of various phosphoinositides that are essential for defining the membrane properties. However, the interplay between endosomal phosphoinositides metabolism and innate immunity is yet to be fully understood. Here, our findings highlight the evolutionary continuity of RAB-10/Rab10's involvement in regulating innate immunity. Upon infection of Caenorhabditis elegans with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an increase in RAB-10 activity was observed in the intestine. Conversely, when RAB-10 was absent, the intestinal diacylglycerols (DAGs) decreased, and the animal's response to the pathogen was impaired. Further research revealed that UNC-16/JIP3 acts as an RAB-10 effector, facilitating the recruitment of phospholipase EGL-8 to endosomes. This leads to a decrease in endosomal phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) and an elevation of DAGs, as well as the activation of the PMK-1/p38 MAPK innate immune pathway. It is noteworthy that the dimerization of UNC-16 is a prerequisite for its interaction with RAB-10(GTP) and the recruitment of EGL-8. Moreover, we ascertained that the rise in RAB-10 activity, due to infection, was attributed to the augmented expression of LET-413/Erbin, and the nuclear receptor NHR-25/NR5A1/2 was determined to be indispensable for this increase. Hence, this study illuminates the significance of endosomal PI(4,5)P2 catabolism in boosting innate immunity and outlines an NHR-25-mediated mechanism for pathogen detection in intestinal epithelia.
Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics* ; Endosomes/immunology* ; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/immunology* ; Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Diphosphate/immunology* ; Immunity, Innate ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/immunology* ; rab GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Diglycerides/metabolism*

ObjectiveThis paper proposes a novel real-time bedside pulmonary ventilation monitoring method for the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), based on electrical impedance tomography (EIT). Four indicators—center of ventilation (CoV), global inhomogeneity index (GI), regional ventilation delay inhomogeneity (RVDI), and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity (FEV₁/FVC)—are calculated to enable the spatiotemporal assessment of COPD. MethodsA simulation of the respiratory cycles of COPD patients was first conducted, revealing significant differences in certain indicators compared to healthy individuals. The effectiveness of these indicators was then validated through experiments. A total of 93 subjects underwent multiple pulmonary function tests (PFTs) alongside simultaneous EIT measurements. Ventilation heterogeneity under different breathing patterns—including forced exhalation, forced inhalation, and quiet tidal breathing—was compared. EIT images and related indicators were analyzed to distinguish healthy individuals across different age groups from COPD patients. ResultsSimulation results demonstrated significant differences in CoV, GI, FEV₁/FVC, and RVDI between COPD patients and healthy individuals. Experimental findings indicated that, in terms of spatial heterogeneity, the GI values of COPD patients were significantly higher than those of the other two groups, while no significant differences were observed among healthy individuals. Regarding temporal heterogeneity, COPD patients exhibited significantly higher RVDI values than the other groups during both quiet breathing and forced inhalation. Moreover, during forced exhalation, the distribution of FEV₁/FVC values further highlighted the temporal delay heterogeneity of regional lung function in COPD patients, distinguishing them from healthy individuals of various ages. ConclusionEIT technology effectively reveals the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of regional lung function, which holds great promise for the diagnosis and management of COPD.

Objective:To investigate the molecular mechanism by which 2',4'-dihydroxychalcone(D2)inhibits proliferation,migration,and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in colorectal cancer cells through miR-7-5p-mediated autophagy.Methods:Human colorectal cancer cell lines HCT-15 and SW620 were treated with D2 at concentrations of 0,12.5,25,and 50 μmol/L.Cell proliferation and clonogenic capacity were evaluated using MTT and colony formation assays.Cell migration was assessed by wound healing and Transwell assays.WB assay was used to detect the expression of EMT-related proteins,autophagy-related proteins,and key components of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.Autophagosome formation was visualized by immunofluorescence staining.TCGA database and KEGG pathway analyses were performed to evaluate miR-7-5p expression and its association with colorectal cancer.RT-qPCR was used to quantify miR-7-5p expression,and lentiviral transduction was employed to establish stable miR-7-5p knockdown or overexpression cell lines.Results:D2 significantly inhibited colorectal cancer cell proliferation,migration,and EMT(P<0.05 or P<0.01).TCGA and KEGG analyses revealed that miR-7-5p expression was downregulated in colorectal cancer and closely associated with disease progression.D2 treatment(12.5,25,and 50 μmol/L)significantly upregulated miR-7-5p expression in HCT-15 and SW620 cells(P<0.01).At 25 μmol/L,D2 increased the expression of autophagy-related proteins(LC3 and p-ULK1)and inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway(P<0.05),accompanied by increased autophagosome formation(P<0.01).In miR-7-5p-knockdown cells treated with D2,the levels of LC3 and p-ULK1 were significantly reduced compared to D2-only treated cells(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion:D2 upregulates miR-7-5p to induce autophagy,thereby inhibiting colorectal cancer cell proliferation,migration,and EMT,possibly through suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.