ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the action mechanism by which Banxia Xiexintang （BXT） inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） in chronic atrophic gastritis （CAG） rats by regulating the interleukin-17（IL-17）/extracellular regulated protein kinases（ERK）/CCAAT enhancer binding protein β（C/EBPβ）signaling pathway， thereby providing new theoretical evidence for the treatment of CAG with classic traditional Chinese medicine formulas. MethodsA CAG rat model was established by using the combined factor method. After successful modeling， the rats were randomly divided into the model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （0.549， 1.098， 2.196 g·kg^-1， respectively） of BXT， and the positive drug group （vitacoenzyme， 0.3 g·kg^-1）. A normal control group was also set up. After 8 weeks of intervention， the pathological changes of gastric tissue were evaluated. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the contents of IL-17， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2）， and C/EBPβ in serum， as well as the contents of EMT markers in gastric mucosal tissue including E-cadherin， N-cadherin， and vimentin. The immunohistochemistry method was employed to determine the localization and protein expression levels of IL-17， p-ERK， and C/EBPβ in gastric mucosal tissue. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and its phosphorylated form （p）-ERK in gastric mucosa. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was applied to measure the mRNA expression levels of ERK， COX-2， and C/EBPβ in gastric mucosa. ResultsCompared with those in the normal control group， the rats in the model group showed gastric mucosal glandular atrophy and inflammatory cell infiltration. The protein and their related mRNA expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and p-ERK in gastric mucosa were significantly increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IL-17， TNF-α， COX-2， and C/EBPβ in serum were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The contents of N-cadherin and vimentin in gastric mucosal tissue were significantly increased， while the content of E-cadherin was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， after intervention with different doses of BXT， the pathological damage of the gastric mucosa was improved to varying degrees. The protein and mRNA expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and p-ERK in gastric mucosa were significantly reduced （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IL-17， TNF-α， COX-2， and C/EBP β in serum were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The contents of N-cadherin and vimentin in gastric mucosa tissue were decreased， while the content of E-cadherin was increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionBXT can effectively improve the pathological damage of gastric mucosal tissue in CAG rats. Its action mechanism may be related to reducing the levels of IL-17 and TNF-α in serum， regulating the IL-17/ERK/C/EBPβ signaling pathway and inhibiting the EMT process.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the most abundant catechin in green tea, possesses various biomedical activities and has garnered significant attention because of its notable anticancer properties. This article reviews the research progress on the antitumor mechanisms of EGCG, focusing on its roles in inducing tumor cell apoptosis; inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis; modulating the tumor microenvironment; and influencing epigenetic modifications. Given its natural origin, safety, and low cost, EGCG could be a preferred option for the development of new cancer therapeutic drugs or enhancing the efficacy of combination therapies. This work aims to provide a theoretical foundation for further research and development of EGCG and scientific evidence for its application in cancer prevention and treatment.

Objective To investigate the antibacterial properties of R.lnPGRP-SC1a in Rhipicephalus linnaei, and to provide a reference for the functional analysis of peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) within the context of tick innate immunity. Methods Specific primers were meticulously designed based on the coding region sequence, followed by the extraction of tick RNA of adult ticks and its reverse transcription into cDNA. The R.lnPGRP-SC1a gene fragment was subsequently amplified via PCR and then ligated into the plasmid pET32a+, thereby constructing the recombinant expression vector pET32a+-R.lnPGRP-SC1a. This expression vector was then transferred into E.coli BL21 (DE3) competent cells and induced with an IPTG concentration of 0.2 mmol/L at low temperature to enhance protein expression in the supernatant, thereby obtaining a soluble protein with stronger activity. Subsequently, the inhibitory effect of the supernatant protein against two common pathogenic bacteria, E.coli and S.aureus, was assessed using the agar diffusion method. Results The amplified gene fragment was 627 bp in length, and the prokaryotic expression vector pET32a+-R.lnPGRP-SC1a was successfully constructed. Low-temperature induction showed that the recombinant protein was soluble protein, with an approximate molecular weight of 23.63 kD. Antibacterial activity results indicated that, at the same concentration, R.lnPGRP-SC1a exhibited no inhibitory effect on E.coli but demonstrated significant inhibition against S.aureus. Specifically, antibacterial activity became evident at a concentration threshold of 5 mg/mL and increased with the protein concentration. Compared with the inhibitory effects of kanamycin at various concentrations, the inhibitory effect of R.lnPGRP-SC1a at 7 mg/mL was comparable to that of kanamycin at 1 mg/mL. Furthermore, the onset of R.lnPGRP-SC1a inhibitory effect against S.aureus was 2 hours, and the effect lasted for 48 hours. Conclusions This study successfully constructed the R.lnPGRP-SC1a expression vector, its expressed product exhibited persistent activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Thereby, this provides a potential possibility for the development of bioactive bacteriostatic agents.

Objective To perform single-molecule, real-time sequencing of ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI)-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to investigate the mechanism underlying ceftazidime-avibactam resistance in P. aeruginosa. Methods The susceptibility of 89 P. aeruginosa isolates randomly sampled from clinical specimens in Sanming First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University from November 2021 through July 2023 to common antimicrobial agents was tested, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CAZ-AVI was determined against P. aeruginosa with a broth microdilution assay, with CAZ-AVI MICs of 8 mg/L and lower defined as susceptible and 16 mg/L and higher as resistant. The expression of drug-resistant genes ampC, oxa-488, oprD, mexA, oxa-10, oxa-14, vim and tem was quantified in P. aeruginosa using a real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qPCR) assay. CAZ-AVI-susceptible and -resistant P. aeruginosa isolates from the same case were selected for PacBio single-molecule, real-time sequencing, and sequencing results were subjected to genome structure and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional annotations. Results The 89 P. aeruginosa isolates showed a relatively high level of resistance to meropenem (75.28%) and imipenem (74.16%) and the highest susceptibility to amikacin (91.01%). There were 49 CAZ-AVI-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates and 40 susceptible isolates. qPCR assay detected lower oprD gene expression in CAZ-AVI-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates [0.104 (2.385)] than in susceptible isolates [0.551 (17.885)] (Z = -2.958, P < 0.01), and there were no significant differences between CAZ-AVI-susceptible and -resistant P. aeruginosa isolates in terms of ampC, oxa-488, mexA or tem gene expression (all P values > 0.05), while oxa-10, oxa-14 and vim gene was expressed in few P. aeruginosa isolates. There were 1 729, 3 936, 3 737 and 3 955 genes in CAZ-AVI-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates PA-762 and PA-M174 and susceptible isolates PA-885 and PA-808 that were annotated to GO terms, with the highest numbers of genes enriched in the molecular function of catalytic activity, high numbers of genes enriched in biological processes of metabolic process, single-organism process and cellular process, and high numbers of genes enriched in cellular components of cell and cell membranes. There were 1 803, 4 084, 3 915 and 4 066 genes in the PA-762, PA-M174, PA-885 and PA-808 isolates enriched in the KEGG signaling pathway, and the majority of genes were enriched in four primary signaling pathways of metabolism, genetic information processing, environmental information processing and cellular process, with the highest number of genes associated with metabolic pathways. Both CAZ-AVI-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates PA-762 and PA-M174 carried multiple efflux pumps systems, including MexAB-OprM, MexCD-OprJ, MexEF-OprN and MexXY-OprM. Single nucleotide substitution was found at position 169 in the DNA sequence of the PA-762 isolate, leading to substitution of serine for glycine at position 57 in the protein sequence, and there are deletions of two bases at positions 307 and 308 in the DNA sequence of the PA-M174 isolate, leading to substitution of threonine for arginine at position 103 in the protein sequence. Conclusion Mutation or downregulation of oprD gene may lead to CAZ-AVI resistance in P. aeruginosa.

Lumbar disc (LD) herniation and aging are prevalent conditions that can result in substantial morbidity. This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms connecting the LD aging and herniation, particularly focusing on cellular senescence and molecular alterations in the nucleus pulposus (NP). We performed a detailed analysis of NP samples from a diverse cohort, including individuals of varying ages and those with diagnosed LD herniation. Our methodology combined histological assessments with single-nucleus RNA sequencing to identify phenotypic and molecular changes related to NP aging and herniation. We discovered that cellular senescence and a decrease in nucleus pulposus progenitor cells (NPPCs) are central to both processes. Additionally, we found an age-related increase in NFAT1 expression that promotes NPPC senescence and contributes to both aging and herniation of LD. This research offers fresh insights into LD aging and its associated pathologies, potentially guiding the development of new therapeutic strategies to target the root causes of LD herniation and aging.
Intervertebral Disc Displacement/metabolism* ; Humans ; Aging/pathology* ; Nucleus Pulposus/pathology* ; Male ; Female ; Transcriptome ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology* ; Adult ; Cellular Senescence ; Stem Cells/pathology* ; Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/metabolism*

Small molecule drug screening technology is continuously evolving and expanding along with drug discovery,and the innovation in drug screening technology can improve the research and development efficiency and success rate,shorten the cycle time,and reduce the cost.From traditional screening technologies based on known active compounds and high-throughput screening(HTS)to new technologies such as structure-based drug discovery(SBDD),fragment-based drug discovery(FBDD),DNA encoded compound library(DEL)and proteolysis targeting chimeras(PROTAC),small molecule drug screening technologies are continuously broadening the market potential for small molecule drugs.This article will provide an overview of the current status of small molecule drug screening technology,systematically review each technique along with their advantages and disadvantages,and offer essential insights for the development of new small molecule drug screening technologies.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the number of removed lymph nodes(RLN)and patient prognosis during radical surgery for extensive cervical cancer(CC).Methods:Clinical data of 21416 pa-tients with CC who underwent radical hysterectomy between January 1,2004 to August 31,2018 in the Chinese Cervical Cancer Clinical Study was retrospectively reviewed.Restricted cubic spline(RCS)was used to analyze the dose-response relationship between the number of RLN and prognosis.The patients were divided into three groups according to the RCS and RLN number:1-17 group(8733 cases),18-26 group(8189 cases),and≥ 27 group(4494 cases).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Log-Rank tests were used to compare the OS rates and DFS rates between groups at 3 and 5 years.Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the prognostic mortality risk.Results:① RCS results showed a U-shaped nonlinear dose-response relationship be-tween the number of RLN and prognosis(P＜0.01).When the number of RLN was less than 26,the risk of death decreased as the number of RLN increased,and the risk was lowest when the number of RLN was 26.②There were statistically significant differences(P＜0.05)in age,histological type,tumor diameter,nerve invasion,uterine invasion,vaso-lymph node space invasion,cervical invasion,number of lymph node metastasis,whether preopera-tive adjuvant therapy was received,postoperative adjuvant therapy,and whether postoperative adjuvant therapy was standardized among the 3 groups(P＜0.05).③Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the 5-year OS of the 1-17 group,18-26 group,and ≥ 27 group were 90.23％,92.28％,and 91.61％,respectively,and the 5-year DFS were 85.32％,87.90％,and 87.18％,respectively.The differences between the three groups were sta-tistically significant(P＜0.01).④The results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that RLN number in the range of 1-17 was a significant risk factor for the 3-and 5-year OS and DFS,when compared to the 18-26 RLN group(HR＞1,P＜0.05).Conclusions:RLN number may be one of the prognostic indicators of CC.When the number of RLNs is between 18-26,the prognosis of the patient may be better.The number of RLN in the range of 1-17 may increase the risk of recurrence or death in CC patients.

Purpose To explore the value of the new generation tau PET tracer 18F-Florzolotau in Alzheimer's disease(AD)at different stages.Materials and Methods Twenty-five MCI patients and sixty-one AD patients with positive β-amyloid status in Huashan Hospital,Fudan University from February 2020 to January 2022 were retrospectively enrolled with 18F-Florzolotau PET imaging and demographic and clinical data.The pre-processed PET images were analyzed by SPM two-sample t-test between MCI and AD groups,and the standardized uptake value ratios(SUVR)were extracted from the region of interest defined by SPM analysis(P＜0.001);scaled subprofile model/principal component analysis was used to construct the different tau related patterns(MCItauRP,ADtauRP)and calculate the corresponding expression values.The classification efficiency of SUVR and MCItauRP,ADtauRP expression values was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve.Results Compared with MCI patients,tau protein deposition of AD patients was increased mainly in the bilateral temporal,occipital lobe(P＜0.001),and the SUVR of these brain region in the AD group was higher than that in the MCI group(Z=-3.164,P＜0.00l);the expression values of MCItauRP and ADtauRP were significantly different between the AD group and MCI group(t=3.72,Z=-3.51;both P＜0.001),and these expression values of AD patients were higher than those in the MCI group;the accuracy of tauRP expression values and SUVR for the differentiation between the AD and MCI group were 61.63％,65.12％and 65.12％,respectively;the sensitivity was 88.00％,96.00％and 100.00％,respectively;the specificity was 50.82％,52.46％and 50.82％,respectively.Conclusion The new tau PET can identify and distinguish the differences in tau protein deposition between AD and MCI patients.However,the classification and diagnosis efficiency is not high.In the future,it is necessary to find a more ideal analysis method.

Objective:To compare the localization accuracy of interictal 18F-FDG and 18F-flumazenil (FMZ) PET/CT imaging for focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 22 patients (12 males, 10 females; age 8-36 years) with pathologically confirmed FCD who underwent surgical resection at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University from July 2021 to June 2023. All patients underwent 18F-FDG and 18F-FMZ PET/CT scans before surgery. Surgical pathological diagnosis was used as the gold standard. Visual scoring was used to analyze the images. The accuracy of the two imaging methods in the localization of FCD was compared, and subgroup analysis (FCD Ⅱa, FCD Ⅱb) of different pathological type was further performed. Paired- t test, χ2 test or Fisher′s exact test was used to analyze the data. Results:The visual score of 18F-FMZ PET/CT was higher than that of 18F-FDG (3.00±0.82 vs 2.27±0.92; t=4.17, P=0.020). The accuracy of interictal 18F-FMZ PET/CT was 77.27%(17/22), which was higher than that of 18F-FDG PET/CT (36.36%, 8/22; χ2=7.50, P=0.006). Subgroup analysis showed that within the cohort of patients diagnosed with FCD Ⅱa ( n=18), 18F-FMZ PET/CT outperformed 18F-FDG in terms of accuracy for localization (15/18 vs 6/18; P=0.006). Conclusion:Compared to 18F-FDG, 18F-FMZ PET/CT demonstrates clearer and more accurate identification of lesion borders, and exhibits higher precision, which provides valuable guidance for preoperative localization.