ObjectiveBiochemistry and Molecular Biology, a discipline that elucidates life phenomena at the molecular level, serves as a core foundational course in medical education. It provides the theoretical basis for studying other basic and clinical medical subjects, as well as for understanding pathogenesis, disease diagnosis, and treatment. However, its complex content and highly abstract concepts have posed a dual challenge to traditional teaching models: “inefficient instruction” and “inadequate learning outcomes”. Within limited classroom hours, how to engage students and stimulate their intrinsic motivation, and how to help them recognize, understand, and develop a passion for biochemistry from the perspective of the discipline’s essence, have long been key focuses of curriculum research. MethodsUsing the lipid metabolism chapter as an example, this study employs “Rain Classroom”, a generative artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted platform, to support education in four dimensions: teaching, learning, evaluation, and research. In teaching, it assists instructors through virtual experiments, lesson preparation support, knowledge mapping, and assignment design. For learning, it serves as an intelligent study assistant for students, providing automated assignment review, enabling educational resource sharing, and facilitating personalized learning pathways. In evaluation, the platform automates assignment grading, analyzes student performance data, and offers diagnostic feedback and teaching recommendations. In research, it aids educators in collecting and analyzing teaching data, as well as searching for and summarizing relevant literature. ResultsThe results indicate that an educational model integrating teacher-led instruction, student-centered learning, and generative AI assistance significantly enhances teaching quality, students’ self-directed learning abilities, and knowledge mastery. Furthermore, with the support of generative AI, curriculum-based ideological education—focusing on cutting-edge disciplinary advances and topical medical issues—helps cultivate students’ medical spirit of “honoring life and healing the wounded”, thereby fostering the establishment of appropriate professional values. Finally, while generative AI presents both opportunities and challenges for higher education, this study also analyzes potential risks in its teaching applications, emphasizing the need for both instructors and students to avoid over-reliance and to ensure that technological tools consistently serve the fundamental goals of education. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that integrating generative AI, specifically via the “Rain Classroom” platform, can effectively enhance biochemistry education. By supporting teaching, learning, evaluation, and research, this approach improves both educational effectiveness and student outcomes. It also facilitates the incorporation of cutting-edge knowledge and professional ethics, nurturing a patient-centered mindset. Additionally, the study addresses potential implementation risks to ensure that such technological tools remain aligned with the core purpose of education.

BACKGROUND:Fracture healing is a very complex physiological process,which is influenced by many factors.In recent years,the use of biomechanical factors in fracture healing has been a major focus in the field of orthopedics,and the mechanical stress environment around the fracture end has an important role in regulating fracture healing.Among them,the study of the mechanism of compressive mechanics on the cytokines of fracture ends is a hot spot for bone-related researchers.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the current status and recent advances in the study of the mechanism of action of compressive stress on cytokines in fracture healing in recent years.METHODS:A search with the keywords of"compressive stress,fracture healing,cytokine,bone morphogenetic protein,fibroblast growth factor,platelet-derived growth factor,vascular endothelial growth factor,interleukin,tumor necrosis factor-α"in Chinese and English was conducted in the CNKI,WanFang,PubMed,and Web of Science.Initially 506 articles were retrieved,and 94 eligible articles that met the criteria were screened and finally summarized.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Current studies have found that compressive stress has different effects on different cytokines during fracture healing,which can be achieved mainly by influencing cell signaling,gene expression regulation,and modulation of cell behavior.Among them,compressive stress can be linked to cytokines such as bone morphogenetic protein,fibroblast growth factor,platelet-derived growth factor,vascular endothelial growth factor,interleukin,and tumor necrosis factor-α.This process involves cell proliferation,differentiation and migration,inflammatory response,and changes in the environmental and nutritional conditions of the fracture end,which are key factors affecting fracture healing.The whole paper summarizes the complexity of cytokine action mechanism,the mechanism of compressive stress on its regulation needs to be further carried out in-depth research,and the problems and limitations in the research are considered and future prospects.

BACKGROUND:Fracture healing is a very complex physiological process,which is influenced by many factors.In recent years,the use of biomechanical factors in fracture healing has been a major focus in the field of orthopedics,and the mechanical stress environment around the fracture end has an important role in regulating fracture healing.Among them,the study of the mechanism of compressive mechanics on the cytokines of fracture ends is a hot spot for bone-related researchers.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the current status and recent advances in the study of the mechanism of action of compressive stress on cytokines in fracture healing in recent years.METHODS:A search with the keywords of"compressive stress,fracture healing,cytokine,bone morphogenetic protein,fibroblast growth factor,platelet-derived growth factor,vascular endothelial growth factor,interleukin,tumor necrosis factor-α"in Chinese and English was conducted in the CNKI,WanFang,PubMed,and Web of Science.Initially 506 articles were retrieved,and 94 eligible articles that met the criteria were screened and finally summarized.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Current studies have found that compressive stress has different effects on different cytokines during fracture healing,which can be achieved mainly by influencing cell signaling,gene expression regulation,and modulation of cell behavior.Among them,compressive stress can be linked to cytokines such as bone morphogenetic protein,fibroblast growth factor,platelet-derived growth factor,vascular endothelial growth factor,interleukin,and tumor necrosis factor-α.This process involves cell proliferation,differentiation and migration,inflammatory response,and changes in the environmental and nutritional conditions of the fracture end,which are key factors affecting fracture healing.The whole paper summarizes the complexity of cytokine action mechanism,the mechanism of compressive stress on its regulation needs to be further carried out in-depth research,and the problems and limitations in the research are considered and future prospects.

BACKGROUND:The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase(PI3K/AKT)signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in regulating osteoclast activation,which is essential for maintaining bone homeostasis.Bone destruction in osteoarticular tuberculosis is caused by aberrant osteoclastogenesis induced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.However,the role of the PI3K signaling pathway in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-induced aberrant osteoclastogenesis remains unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects and mechanisms of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inhibitor BYL-719 on aberrant osteoclastogenesis induced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. METHODS:RAW264.7 cells were infected with bovine Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillus calmette-cuerin vaccine,and Ag85B was used for cellular immunofluorescence staining.The cell counting kit-8 assay was employed to determine the safe concentration of BYL-719.There were four groups in the experiment:blank control group,BYL-719 group,BCG group,and BCG+BYL-719 group.Under the induction of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand,the effects of BYL-719 on post-infection osteoclast differentiation and fusion were explored through tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining and phalloidin staining.RT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of osteoclast-related genes and proteins,and further investigate the mechanism of action. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Immunofluorescence staining showed that RAW264.7 cells phagocytosed Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Cell counting kit-8 data indicated that 40 nmol/L BYL-719 was non-toxic to cells.Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining and phalloidin staining showed that BYL-719 inhibited the generation and fusion ability of osteoclasts following infection.RT-PCR and western blot results also indicated that BYL-719 suppressed the upregulation of osteoclast-specific genes(including c-Fos,NFATc1,matrix metalloproteinase 9,and CtsK)induced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection(P<0.05).Western blot and immunofluorescence staining revealed that BYL-719 inhibited excessive osteoclast differentiation induced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis by downregulating the expression of IκBα-p65.To conclude,BYL-719 inhibits aberrant osteoclastogenesis induced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis through the downregulation of IκBα/p65.Therefore,the IκBα/p65 signaling pathway is a potential therapeutic target for osteoarticular tuberculosis,and BYL-719 holds potential value for the preventing and amelioration of bone destruction in osteoarticular tuberculosis.BYL-719 has the potential to prevent and ameliorate bone destruction in osteoarticular tuberculosis.

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism by which HMGA2 participates in the TGF-β/Smad pathway in the regulation of the proliferation, aggression, and metastasis of laryngeal cancer. Methods shRNA transfection was used to construct the HMGA2 knockdown laryngeal cancer TU686 cell model, and subcutaneous transplantation tumor model and tail vein metastasis tumor model were established in nude mice. Western blot was conducted to detect the expression of HMGA2 and TGF-β/Smad pathway-related molecules in cells and tumor tissues. Results The proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of TU686 cells with HMGA2 knockdown decreased. The expression of TGF-β, Smad2, Smad3, and phosphorylated Smad2/3 protein also decreased. TGF-β1 stimulation of the TGF-β/Smad pathway could partially offset the antitumor effect caused by HMGA2 knockdown. Through in vitro experiments, we determined that low expression of HMGA2 significantly inhibited the growth of subcutaneously transplanted tumors, and TGF-β1 stimulation of the TGF-β/Smad pathway reduced the tumor-inhibitory effect resulting from the low expression of HMGA2. In tail vein metastases of nude mice, E-cadherin expression was elevated but N-cadherin expression was reduced in the HMGA2 knockdown group, suggesting that HMGA2 could inhibit the progression of EMT. After TGF-β1 stimulated the TGF-β/Smad pathway, the EMT effect due to HMGA2 knockdown was lessened. Conclusion HMGA2 may promote the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of laryngeal cancer by upregulating the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

The innate immune system detects cellular stressors and microbial infections, activating programmed cell death (PCD) pathways to eliminate intracellular pathogens and maintain homeostasis. Among these pathways, pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis represent the most characteristic forms of PCD. Although initially regarded as mechanistically distinct, emerging research has revealed significant crosstalk among their signaling cascades. Consequently, the concept of PANoptosis has been proposed—an inflammatory cell death pathway driven by caspases and receptor-interacting protein kinases (RIPKs), and regulated by the PANoptosome, which integrates key features of pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis. The core mechanism of PANoptosis involves the assembly and activation of the PANoptosome, a macromolecular complex composed of three structural components: sensor proteins, adaptor proteins, and effector proteins. Sensors detect upstream stimuli and transmit signals downstream, recruiting critical molecules via adaptors to form a molecular scaffold. This scaffold activates effectors, triggering intracellular signaling cascades that culminate in PANoptosis. The PANoptosome is regulated by upstream molecules such as interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), and adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1), which function as molecular switches to control PANoptosis. Targeting these switches represents a promising therapeutic strategy. Furthermore, PANoptosis is influenced by organelle functions, including those of the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomes, highlighting organelle-targeted interventions as effective regulatory approaches. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, are profoundly impacted by PCD. Extensive crosstalk among multiple cell death pathways in CVDs suggests a complex regulatory network. As a novel cell death modality bridging pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis, PANoptosis offers fresh insights into the complexity of cell death and provides innovative strategies for CVD treatment. This review summarizes current evidence linking PANoptosis to various CVDs, including myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy, cardiotoxic injury, atherosclerosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection, and vascular toxic injury, thereby providing critical clinical insights into CVD pathophysiology. However, the current understanding of PANoptosis in CVDs remains incomplete. First, while PANoptosis in cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells has been implicated in CVD pathogenesis, its role in other cell types—such as vascular endothelial cells and immune cells (e.g., macrophages)—warrants further investigation. Second, although pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are known to activate the PANoptosome in infectious diseases, the stimuli driving PANoptosis in CVDs remain poorly defined. Additionally, methodological challenges persist in identifying PANoptosome assembly in CVDs and in establishing reliable PANoptosis models. Beyond the diseases discussed, PANoptosis may also play a role in viral myocarditis and diabetic cardiomyopathy, necessitating further exploration. In conclusion, elucidating the role of PANoptosis in CVDs opens new avenues for drug development. Targeting this pathway could yield transformative therapies, addressing unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular medicine.

Based on the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor(α7nAChR), this study examined how tetrahydropalmatine(THP) affected BV2 microglia exposed to lipopolysaccharide(LPS), aiming to clarify the possible mechanism underlying the anti-depression effect of THP from the perspectives of preventing inflammation and regulating polarization. First, after molecular docking and determination of the content of Corydalis saxicola Bunting total alkaloids, THP was initially identified as a possible anti-depression component. The BV2 microglia model of inflammation was established with LPS. BV2 microglia were allocated into a normal group, a model group, low-and high-dose(20 and 40 μmol·L~(-1), respectively) THP groups, and a THP(20 μmol·L~(-1))+α7nAChR-specific antagonist MLA(1 μmol·L~(-1)) group. The CCK-8 assay was used to screen the safe concentration of THP. A light microscope was used to examine the morphology of the cells. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to determine the expression of α7nAChR. qRT-PCR was performed to determine the mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), cluster of differentiation 86(CD86), suppressor of cytokine signaling 3(SOCS3), arginase-1(Arg-1), cluster of differentiation 206(CD206), tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, interleukin(IL)-6, and IL-1β. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed to measure the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the cell supernatant. The experimental results showed that THP at concentrations of 40 μmol·L~(-1) and below had no effect on BV2 microglia. THP improved the morphology of BV2 microglia, significantly up-regulated the protein level of α7nAChR, significantly down-regulated the mRNA levels of iNOS, CD86, SOCS3, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, significantly up-regulated the mRNA levels of Arg-1 and CD206, and dramatically lowered the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the cell supernatant. However, the antagonist MLA abolished the above-mentioned ameliorative effects of THP on LPS-treated BV2 microglia. As demonstrated by the aforementioned findings, THP protected LPS-treated BV2 microglia by regulating the M1/M2 polarization and preventing inflammation, which might be connected to the regulation of α7nAChR on BV2 microglia.
Berberine Alkaloids/chemistry* ; alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor/chemistry* ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Mice ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Corydalis/chemistry* ; Humans ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/immunology* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology*

Microbial detection and control of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) decoction pieces are crucial for the quality control of TCM preparations. It is also a key area of research in the measurement technology and equipment development for TCM manufacturing. Guided by TCM manufacturing measurement methodologies, this study presented a design of a novel portable microbial detection device, using Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma decoction pieces as a demonstration. Immunomagnetic separation technology was employed for specific isolation and labeling of target microorganisms. Enzymatic signal amplification was utilized to convert weak biological signals into colorimetric signals, constructing an optical biosensor. A self-developed smartphone APP was further applied to analyze the colorimetric signals and quantify target concentrations. A portable and automated detection system based on Arduino microcontroller was developed to automatically perform target microbial separation/extraction, as well as mimetic enzyme labeling and catalytic reactions. The developed equipment specifically focuses on the rapid and quantitative microbial analysis of TCM active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates in TCM manufacturing, and final TCM products. Experimental results demonstrate that the equipment could detect Salmonella in samples within 2 h, with a detection limit as low as 5.1 × 10~3 CFU·mL~(-1). The equipment enables the rapid detection of microorganisms in TCM decoction pieces, providing a potential technical solution for on-site rapid screening of microbial contamination indicators in TCM. It has broad application prospects in measurement technology for TCM manufacturing and offers strong technical support for the modernization, industrialization, and intelligent development of TCM.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis* ; Atractylodes/microbiology* ; Rhizome/microbiology* ; Biosensing Techniques/methods* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Colorimetry/instrumentation* ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of miR-483-5p on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells proliferation and stemness, as well as the attenuating effect of Pien Tze Huang (PZH). METHODS: Differentially expressed miRNA between HepG2 cells and hepatic cancer stem-like cells (HCSCs) were identified by a miRNA microarray assay. miR-483-5p mimics were transfected into HepG2 cells to explore the effects of miR-483-5p on cell proliferation and stemness. HepG2 cells and HCSCs were treated with PZH (0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 mg/mL) to explore the effects of PZH on the proliferation and stemness, both in non-induced state and the state induced by miR-483-5p mimics. RESULTS: miR-483-5p was significantly up-regulated in HCSCs and its overexpression increased cell proliferation and stemness in HepG2 cells (P<0.05). PZH not only significantly inhibited proliferation in HepG2 cells, but also significantly suppressed the cell proliferation and self-renewal of HCSCs (P<0.05). The effects of miR-483-5p mimics on proliferation and stemness of HepG2 cells were partially abolished by PZH. CONCLUSIONS miR-483-5p promotes proliferation and enhances stemness of HepG2 cells, which were attenuated by PZH, demonstrating that miR-483-5p is a potential molecular target for the treatment of HCC and provide experimental evidence to support clinical use of PZH for patients with HCC.
Humans ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy* ; Hep G2 Cells ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects*

Autoimmune encephalitis（AE）refers broadly to a group of encephalitic disorders mediated by autoimmune mechanisms. AE is characterized by complex pathogeneses and diverse clinical manifestations，and there are still numerous challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of AE. With the development of frontier technologies such as vaccines，gene editing，and big data，new opportunities have emerged for transforming the diagnosis and treatment strategies for AE. Vaccines play a dual role in AE： on the one hand，they can prevent infections； on the other hand，they may trigger autoimmune responses through molecular mimicry. Emerging nanovaccine technologies are expected to achieve safer and more effective immunomodulation. Gene editing techniques，especially the CRISPR-Cas9 system，have shown potential in targeted regulation of the function of immune cells and repair of nervous tissue，which provides new pathways for precise intervention in the treatment of AE. The application of big data technologies，including artificial intelligence，natural language processing，and deep learning，has promoted the early diagnosis of AE and the development of individualized treatment regimens. This article reviews the research advances and clinical prospects of these cutting-edge technologies in AE，in order to provide insights and references for the development of precision medicine，interdisciplinary collaboration，and future treatment strategies for AE.