The dried mature peel of Citrus reticulata, a plant in the Rutaceae family and its cultivated varieties, is a commonly used Chinese medicinal material known as Chenpi(Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium). It is rich in nutritional components and medicinal value, with pharmacological effects including relieving cough and eliminating phlegm, strengthening the spleen and drying dampness, protecting the liver and benefiting the stomach, tonifying Qi, and calming the mind. Huanglongbing(HLB), also known as Citrus Huanglongbing, is a destructive disease in citrus production that seriously threatens the development of the citrus industry. HLB causes symptoms such as the inability of Rutaceae plants to produce mature fruit, gradual weakening of the tree, and eventual death, posing a significant threat to the yield and quality of Chenpi. Due to the uneven distribution of the HLB pathogen in infected plants, accurate detection of the pathogen requires the collection of a large number of plant samples. Current sample pretreatment methods, such as traditional extraction methods and commercial extraction kits, are time-consuming and involve multiple steps, which significantly increase the difficulty and workload of HLB diagnosis and have become a bottleneck in HLB detection. In this study, a rapid high-throughput detection method combining alkali lysis and TaqMan qPCR was developed. This method allows the pretreatment of multiple samples within 5 min, and the entire detection process can be completed within 45 min, with a detection limit of 6.67 fg·μL~(-1). The alkali lysis method and commercial kits were used for parallel detection of field-collected citrus samples, and the results showed no significant difference. The sample pretreatment method established in this study is characterized by low cost, simplicity, and high efficiency. Combined with TaqMan qPCR, it can provide technical support for early and on-site diagnosis of HLB. This method is of great significance for disease prevention and control in the citrus industry and is expected to help improve the yield and quality of citrus medicinal materials.
Citrus/microbiology* ; Plant Diseases/microbiology* ; Rhizobiaceae/physiology* ; High-Throughput Screening Assays/methods* ; Liberibacter/physiology*

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Qingda Granule (QDG) in ameliorating hypertension-induced cardiac damage and investigate the underlying mechanisms involved. METHODS: Twenty spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were used to develope a hypertension-induced cardiac damage model. Another 10 Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as normotension group. Rats were administrated intragastrically QDG [0.9 g/(kg•d)] or an equivalent volume of pure water for 8 weeks. Blood pressure, histopathological changes, cardiac function, levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory response markers were measured. Furthermore, to gain insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the protective effects of QDG against hypertension-induced cardiac injury, a network pharmacology study was conducted. Predicted results were validated by Western blot, radioimmunoassay immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS: The administration of QDG resulted in a significant decrease in blood pressure levels in SHRs (P<0.01). Histological examinations, including hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson trichrome staining revealed that QDG effectively attenuated hypertension-induced cardiac damage. Furthermore, echocardiography demonstrated that QDG improved hypertension-associated cardiac dysfunction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and colorimetric method indicated that QDG significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory response levels in both myocardial tissue and serum (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Both network pharmacology and experimental investigations confirmed that QDG exerted its beneficial effects in decreasing hypertension-induced cardiac damage by regulating the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)/angiotensin II (Ang II)/Ang II receptor type 1 axis and ACE/Ang II/Ang II receptor type 2 axis.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Hypertension/pathology* ; Renin-Angiotensin System/drug effects* ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Male ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Rats ; Inflammation/pathology*

Hypertrophic scar is a fibrous hyperplastic disorder that arises from skin injuries. The current therapeutic modalities are constrained by the dense and rigid scar tissue which impedes effective drug delivery. Additionally, insufficient autophagic activity in fibroblasts hinders their apoptosis, leading to excessive matrix deposition. Here, we developed an active microneedle (MN) system to overcome these challenges by integrating micromotor-driven drug delivery with autophagy regulation to remodel the scar microenvironment. Specifically, sodium bicarbonate and citric acid were introduced into the MNs as a built-in engine to generate CO₂ bubbles, thereby enabling enhanced lateral and vertical drug diffusion into dense scar tissue. The system concurrently encapsulated curcumin (Cur), an autophagy activator, and triamcinolone acetonide (TA), synergistically inducing fibroblast apoptosis by upregulating autophagic activity. In vitro studies demonstrated that active MNs achieved efficient drug penetration within isolated scar tissue. The rabbit hypertrophic scar model revealed that TA-Cur MNs significantly reduced the scar elevation index, suppressed collagen I and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression, and elevated LC3 protein levels. These findings highlight the potential of the active MN system as an efficacious platform for autonomous augmented drug delivery and autophagy-targeted therapy in fibrotic disorder treatments.

Nipah virus (NiV) and related viruses form a distinct henipavirus genus within the Paramyxoviridae family. NiV continues to spillover into the humans causing deadly outbreaks with increasing human-bat interaction. NiV encodes the large protein (L) and phosphoprotein (P) to form the viral RNA polymerase machinery. Their sequences show limited homologies to those of non-henipavirus paramyxoviruses. We report two cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the Nipah virus (NiV) polymerase L-P complex, expressed and purified in either its full-length or truncated form. The structures resolve the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and polyribonucleotidyl transferase (PRNTase) domains of the L protein, as well as a tetrameric P protein bundle bound to the L-RdRp domain. L-protein C-terminal regions are unresolved, indicating flexibility. Two PRNTase domain zinc-binding sites, conserved in most Mononegavirales, are confirmed essential for NiV polymerase activity. The structures further reveal anchoring of the P protein bundle and P protein X domain (XD) linkers on L, via an interaction pattern distinct among Paramyxoviridae. These interactions facilitate binding of a P protein XD linker in the nucleotide entry channel and distinct positioning of other XD linkers. We show that the disruption of the L-P interactions reduces NiV polymerase activity. The reported structures should facilitate rational antiviral-drug discovery and provide a guide for the functional study of NiV polymerase.
Nipah Virus/chemistry* ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Viral Proteins/genetics* ; RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase/genetics* ; Phosphoproteins/genetics* ; Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Binding

OBJECTIVE: Patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection frequently develop central nervous system damage, yet the mechanisms driving this pathology remain unclear. This study investigated the primary pathways and key factors underlying brain tissue damage induced by the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant (lineage B.1.351). METHODS: K18-hACE2 and C57BL/6 mice were intranasally infected with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant. Viral replication, pathological phenotypes, and brain transcriptomes were analyzed. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was performed to identify altered pathways. Expression changes of host genes were verified using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. RESULTS: Pathological alterations were observed in the lungs of both mouse strains. However, only K18-hACE2 mice exhibited elevated viral RNA loads and infectious titers in the brain at 3 days post-infection, accompanied by neuropathological injury and weight loss. GO analysis of infected K18-hACE2 brain tissue revealed significant dysregulation of genes associated with innate immunity and antiviral defense responses, including type I interferons, pro-inflammatory cytokines, Toll-like receptor signaling components, and interferon-stimulated genes. Neuroinflammation was evident, alongside activation of apoptotic and pyroptotic pathways. Furthermore, altered neural cell marker expression suggested viral-induced neuroglial activation, resulting in caspase 4 and lipocalin 2 release and disruption of neuronal molecular networks. CONCLUSION These findings elucidate mechanisms of neuropathogenicity associated with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant and highlight therapeutic targets to mitigate COVID-19-related neurological dysfunction.
Animals ; COVID-19/genetics* ; Mice ; Brain/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; SARS-CoV-2/physiology* ; Pyroptosis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Transcriptome ; Male ; Female

Placental diseases may affect the outcome of pregnancy and long-term health of the mother and fetus. Fetal fraction is a key indicator for the success of non-invasive prenatal testing, and has been associated with gestational age, body mass index and fetal chromosomal aneuploidies. Many studies have found that fetal fraction is also related to placenta-derived diseases and may become a new predictor for such diseases. This article has summarized the association between the two, with an aim to provide new ideas for the prediction of placental diseases.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation(taVNS)on overweight/obesity patients,and to explore its central mechanism.Methods Twenty-six overweight/obesity patients were randomly divided into two groups,12 cases in the taVNS test group(shortened as the taVNS group)and 14 cases in the lifestyle intervention control group(shortened as the control group).The patients in the control group were treated with online lifestyle intervention of calorie-restricted diet(CRD),and the patients in the taVNS group were treated with taVNS on the basis of the intervention for the control group.The taVNS was performed on unilateral acupoints of spleen and endocrine,twice(in the morning and at evening)per day,for five days a week.The treatment for the two groups covered four weeks.The obesity indicators such as body weight,body mass index(BMI)and waist circumference of the patients in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.Moreover,the resting-state cerebral functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI)data of the patients were collected after treatment,and then the regulatory effect of taVNS on the regional homogeneity(ReHo)of local cerebral area of the patients was observed.Results(1)During the trial,one case in each group dropped off,and a total of 24 patients(including 13 cases in the control group and 11 cases in the taVNS group)were finally included in the statistical analysis of the observation indicators.(2)After treatment,the body weight,BMI and waist circumference of patients in the taVNS group were decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),while the obesity indicators in the control group only showed a downward trend compared with those before treatment,the differences being not statistically significant(P＞0.05).The improvement of the obesity indicators of body weight,BMI,and waist circumference in the taVNS group was significantly superior to that in the control group,and there were statistically significant differences in the post-treatment indicators and in the pre-and post-treatment difference values of the indicators between the two groups(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the taVNS group had greater ReHo values in the left prefrontal lobe and medial frontal gyrus than the control group,and the control group had greater ReHo value in the right parietal lobe than the taVNS group,which indicated that compared with the control group,the ReHo of the left prefrontal lobe and medial frontal gyrus in the taVNS group was increased and the ReHo of the right parietal lobe was decreased(Pvoxel＜0.001,Pcluster＜0.05,corrected by FWE level).Conclusion As a non-invasive treatment method,taVNS exerts certain efficacy for the treatment of overweight/obesity patients.The central response mechanism for treatment of obesity is probably related with the modulation of taVNS on the functional areas of left prefrontal lobe,medial frontal gyrus,and right parietal lobe of the patients.

Objective To describe the distribution characteristics of knee and ankle joint range of motion and muscle atrophy related indexes in patients with Kashin-Beck disease(KBD)in Shaanxi Province so as to explore the correlation of knee and ankle joint range of motion(ROM)with muscle atrophy indexes and provide reference for clinical characteristics analysis of KBD patients.Methods To investigate the registered KBD patients from KBD areas in Shaanxi Province,we measured the general demographic data of the patients were collected and the ROM of the knee joint(flexion and extension),the ankle joint(dorsiflexion and plantar flexion),and the muscle atrophy related indexes such as the upper arm circumference,thigh circumference,calf circumference and grip strength.According to the population characteristics,i.e.,gender,age,body mass index(BMI)and KBD grade,the median and quartile of joint ROM and muscle atrophy of KBD patients were reported,and then the differences in each index among different groups were analyzed.Partial correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between indicators after controlling for variables such as gender,age and BMI.Results A total of 480 patients with KBD were investigated in this study,who consisted of 249(51.9％)males and 231(48.1％)females,with an average age of(63.10±7.32)years and an average BMI of(23.49±8.90)kg/m2.The knee flexion ROM,knee extension ROM,ankle dorsiflexion ROM and ankle plantar flexion ROM were[105.0(95.0,120.0)]°,[0.0(-15.0,0.0)]°,[5.0(0.0,15.0)]° and[20.0(15.0,30.0)]°,respectively,in KBD patients in Shaanxi Province.The left thigh circumference,right thigh circumference,left calf circumference,right calf circumference,and upper arm circumference were[43.0(40.0,47.0)]cm,[43.0(39.0,47.0)]cm,[29.0(27.0,32.0)]cm,[29.5(27.0,32.0)]cm,[27.0(25.0,30.0)]cm,respectively.The left hand grip strength and right hand grip strength were[13.4(9.5,18.4)]kg and[13.9(9.8,18.2)]kg,respectively.With the increase of age,the extension range of the left and right knee joints of KBD patients showed a decreasing trend(H=31.499,31.847;all P＜0.001).The range of motion of bilateral knee flexion was higher in the normal BMI group than in the overweight or obese group,with statistically significant differences(H=7.753,12.333;P=0.021,0.002).The knee flexion,thigh circumference,and calf circumference of the left and right sides showed a decreasing trend under different KBD grades(H=14.345,17.256,8.000,8.462,8.558,9.633;all P＜0.05).Correlation analysis showed that knee flexion ROM was positively correlated with thigh circumference,calf circumference,and grip strength in patients with KBD(all P＜0.05).There was a positive correlation between knee extension ROM and thigh circumference in patients with KBD(P＜0.01).Conclusion The impaired joint ROM and muscle atrophy are serious in KBD patients in Shaanxi Province,and there is a correlation between joint motion and muscle atrophy.

OBJECTIVE To assess the profiles of elements in benzo[a]pyrene(BaP)induced carci-nogenesis,and explore the joint effects of copper with cisplatin or vinorelbine on cell proliferation.METHODS Forty-four elements were measured using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer in 16HBE cells and BaP malignantly transformed 16HBE(T-16HBE-C1)cells.Partial least square was used to validate the robustness of cell classification of elements.Cell viability was measured by MTT assay for copper(0,237,340,487,1000 and 1432 μmol·L-1),cisplatin(0,4.4,6.1,8.6,12.0 and 16.8 μmol·L-1),and vinorelbine(0,3.8,9.8,25.0,40.0 and 64.0 μmol·L-1)to acquire their half maximal inhibitory concentra-tion(IC50).Mixtures of copper and chemotherapeutics were prepared according to the ratio of each IC50.Their joint effects on cell viability were assessed by MTT assay and isobolographic analysis.Inhibition effect of copper(0,50,100,200,400 and 800 μmol·L-1)with IC50 of cisplatin or vinorelbine on prolifera-tion of T-16HBE-C1 cells was also assessed.RESULTS A total of 29 elements were quantified in 16HBE and T-16HBE-C1 cells,among which concentrations of copper,zinc,silver,selenium and rubidium decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),while those of molybdenum,arsenic,lithium,germanium,strontium,nickel,lanthanum,mercury,iron,and cesium increased(P<0.05,P<0.01)in T-16HBE-C1 cells.Element concen-tration could be used to distinguish T-16HBE-C1 cells from 16HBE cells.Copper concentration-dependently inhibited proliferation of both cells,with a statistically significant lower IC50 of(613±16)μmol·L-1 in 16HBE cells than(776±15)μmol·L-1 in T-16HBE-C1 cells(P<0.01).Mixtures of copper and cisplatin(1∶69.5)or vinorelbine(1∶33.4)could inhibit cell proliferation,and copper had additive effects with cisplatin or vinorelbine.When copper concentration was higher than 400 μmol·L-1,copper combined with IC50 of cisplatin or vinorelbine inhibited cell proliferation of T-16HBE-C1 cells compared with IC50 of cisplatin(11.2 μmol·L-1)or vinorelbine(23.2 μmol·L-1)alone.CONCLUSION Element profiles and correlations can change significantly after 16HBE cells are malignantly transformed by BaP.Copper could inhibit the proliferation of T-16HBE-C1 cells and have additive effects with cisplatin or vinorelbine in higher concentration.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of different courses of caffeine citrate injection in the treatment of very low birth weight infants.Methods Very low birth weight infants were divided into long course group and routine course according to cohort method.2 groups of children were given intravenous infusion of caffeine citrate injection loading dose(20 mg·kg-1)within 3 days after birth,and the dose was maintained at 5 mg·kg-1 after 24 hours(qd).In the long course group,caffeine citrate injection was used to correct gestational age＞34 weeks,and in the routine course,caffeine citrate injection was used to correct gestational age 33-34 weeks.The use of caffeine citrate injection,clinical efficacy,neonatal behavioral neurological scale(NBNA)score and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions were compared between the two groups.Results 116 cases were included in this study,64 cases in the long course group and 52 cases in the routine course.After treatment,the total clinical effective rate of the long course group and the routine course was 92.19％and 94.23％,respectively,with no statistical significance(P＞0.05).The total duration of caffeine citrate injection were(60.53±8.92)and(48.17±5.24)days,respectively;the corrected gestational age at withdrawal were(36.02±1.56)and(33.18±1.27)weeks,respectively.The corrected gestational age were(34.31±0.48)and(32.06±0.51)weeks;the milk volume were(32.69±2.14)and(23.85±1.69)mL,respectively,with statistical significance(all P＜0.05).The starting age of caffeine citrate injection were(59.65±3.42)and(58.35±3.11)h in the long course group and the routine course,respectively,with no statistical significance(P＞0.05).Before treatment,the NBNA score of the long course and routine courses were 36.49±6.78 and 35.58±4.22,respectively;the NBNA score of long course and conventional course after treatment were 43.25±6.88 and 44.12±7.42,respectively.Compared with before treatment,NBNA score in both groups were higher after treatment,with statistical significance(all P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in NBNA score between the long course group and the routine course(P＞0.05).The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia(84.38％vs 51.92％)and decreased hemoglobin concentration(17.75％vs 5.77％)in the long course group were significantly higher than those in the routine course(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Long-term use of caffeine citrate injection to correct gestational age＞34 weeks has no significant effect on clinical treatment,neurological function and intellectual development of very low birth weight infants.