ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of yang-reinforcing and blood-activating therapy on the long-term prognosis for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy （DCM） of yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 371 DCM patients with yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome. The yang-reinforcing and blood-activating therapy was defined as the exposure factor. Patients were categorized into exposure group （186 cases） and non-exposure group （185 cases） according to whether they received yang-reinforcing and blood-activating therapy combined with conventional western medicine for 6 months or longer. The follow-up period was set at 48 months， and the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess the cumulative incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events （MACE） in both groups. Cox regression analysis was used to explore the impact of yang-reinforcing and blood-activating therapy on the risk of MACE， and subgroup analysis was performed. Changes in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome score， left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， left ventricular fractional shortening （LVFS）， left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVEDD）， and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire （MLHFQ） score were compared between groups at the time of first combined use of yang-reinforcing and blood-activating therapy （before treatment） and 1 year after receiving the therapy （after treatment）. ResultsMACE occurred in 31 cases （16.67%） in the exposure group and 47 cases （25.41%） in the non-exposure group. The cumulative incidence of MACE in the exposure group was significantly lower than that in the non-exposure group ［HR=0.559， 95%CI（0.361，0.895）， P=0.014］. Cox regression analysis showed that yang-reinforcing and blood-activating therapy was an independent factor for reducing the risk of MACE in DCM patients ［HR=0.623， 95%CI（0.396，0.980）， P=0.041］， and consistent results were observed in different subgroups. Compared with pre-treatment， the exposure group showed decreased TCM syndrome score and MLHFQ score， reduced LVEDD， and increased LVEF and LVFS after treatment （P＜0.05）； in the non-exposure group， TCM syndrome score decreased， LVEF and LVFS increased， and LVEDD reduced after treatment （P＜0.05）. After treatment， the exposure group had higher LVEF and LVFS， smaller LVEDD， and lower TCM syndrome score and MLHFQ score compared with the non-exposure group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionCombining yang-reinforcing and blood-activating therapy with conventional western medicine can reduce the risk of MACE in DCM patients with yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome， meanwhile improving their clinical symptoms， cardiac function， and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of medicated serum of Siwutang on autophagy of ovarian granulosa cells （KGN cells） in polycystic ovarian syndrome （PCOS） and its underlying mechanism. METHODS Blank serum and different- concentration medicated serum of Siwutang were prepared by intragastric administration of normal saline and different doses of Siwutang [0.52， 1.04， 2.08 g/（kg·d）] in 3-month-old female SD rats. After screening the intervention concentration of Siwutang medicated serum， KGN cells were divided into control group （without any treatment）， dehydroepiandrosterone （DHEA） group （treated with 50 μmol/L DHEA for 48 h）， blank serum group （treated with 50 μmol/L DHEA for 48 h and with 10% blank serum for 72 h） and medium-concentration of Siwutang medicated serum group （treated with 50 μmol/L DHEA for 48 h and with 10% medium-concentration Siwutang medicated serum for 72 h）. The number of autophagosomes was observed in each group， and protein expressions of pathway-related proteins [fructose-1， 6-bisphosphatase 1 （FBP1），mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， phosphorylated mTOR （p-mTOR）]， autophagy-related proteins [p62， microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）] and mRNA expression of FBP1 were also detected. The （transfected） cells were further divided into Siwutang group （treated with 10% medium dose of Siwutang medicated serum for 72 h after 48 h intervention with 50 μmol/L DHEA）， Siwutang+si-NC group [negative control small interfering RNA （siRNA） transfected cells treated with 50 μmol/L DHEA for 48 h， and then with 10% medium-concentration of Siwutang medicated serum for 72 h] and Siwutang+si-FBP1 group （FBP1 siRNA transfected cells treated with 50 μmol/L DHEA for 48 h， and then with 10% medium-concentration Siwutang medicated serum for 72 h）. The effects of knocking down FBP1 on the above-mentioned effects of Siwutang were detected. RESULTS Compared with control group， DHEA group exhibited an increase in the number of autophagosomes， an elevated LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ and p-mTOR/mTOR， as well as increases in protein and mRNA expressions of FBP1， and decreased protein expression of p62 （P＜0.05）. Compared to both DHEA group and blank serum group， the medium-concentration of Siwutang medicated serum group showed a decrease in the number of autophagosomes， a decrease in LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ， and increases in p-mTOR/mTOR， protein expression of p62， protein and mRNA expressions of FBP1 （P＜0.05）. After knocking down FBP1， compared with Siwutang+si-NC group， Siwutang+si-FBP1 group showed a significant decrease in cell viability， protein expression of p62 ， protein and mRNA expressions of FBP1 as well as p-mTOR/mTOR， and an increase in LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Siwutang can promote the phosphorylation of mTOR protein by up- regulating the protein and mRNA expressions of FBP1 in KGN cells， thus inhibiting autophagy of KGN cells.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of medicated serum of Siwutang on autophagy of ovarian granulosa cells （KGN cells） in polycystic ovarian syndrome （PCOS） and its underlying mechanism. METHODS Blank serum and different- concentration medicated serum of Siwutang were prepared by intragastric administration of normal saline and different doses of Siwutang [0.52， 1.04， 2.08 g/（kg·d）] in 3-month-old female SD rats. After screening the intervention concentration of Siwutang medicated serum， KGN cells were divided into control group （without any treatment）， dehydroepiandrosterone （DHEA） group （treated with 50 μmol/L DHEA for 48 h）， blank serum group （treated with 50 μmol/L DHEA for 48 h and with 10% blank serum for 72 h） and medium-concentration of Siwutang medicated serum group （treated with 50 μmol/L DHEA for 48 h and with 10% medium-concentration Siwutang medicated serum for 72 h）. The number of autophagosomes was observed in each group， and protein expressions of pathway-related proteins [fructose-1， 6-bisphosphatase 1 （FBP1），mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， phosphorylated mTOR （p-mTOR）]， autophagy-related proteins [p62， microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）] and mRNA expression of FBP1 were also detected. The （transfected） cells were further divided into Siwutang group （treated with 10% medium dose of Siwutang medicated serum for 72 h after 48 h intervention with 50 μmol/L DHEA）， Siwutang+si-NC group [negative control small interfering RNA （siRNA） transfected cells treated with 50 μmol/L DHEA for 48 h， and then with 10% medium-concentration of Siwutang medicated serum for 72 h] and Siwutang+si-FBP1 group （FBP1 siRNA transfected cells treated with 50 μmol/L DHEA for 48 h， and then with 10% medium-concentration Siwutang medicated serum for 72 h）. The effects of knocking down FBP1 on the above-mentioned effects of Siwutang were detected. RESULTS Compared with control group， DHEA group exhibited an increase in the number of autophagosomes， an elevated LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ and p-mTOR/mTOR， as well as increases in protein and mRNA expressions of FBP1， and decreased protein expression of p62 （P＜0.05）. Compared to both DHEA group and blank serum group， the medium-concentration of Siwutang medicated serum group showed a decrease in the number of autophagosomes， a decrease in LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ， and increases in p-mTOR/mTOR， protein expression of p62， protein and mRNA expressions of FBP1 （P＜0.05）. After knocking down FBP1， compared with Siwutang+si-NC group， Siwutang+si-FBP1 group showed a significant decrease in cell viability， protein expression of p62 ， protein and mRNA expressions of FBP1 as well as p-mTOR/mTOR， and an increase in LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Siwutang can promote the phosphorylation of mTOR protein by up- regulating the protein and mRNA expressions of FBP1 in KGN cells， thus inhibiting autophagy of KGN cells.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of action of Wendantang on ApoE^-/- hyperlipidemic mice using non-targeted metabolomics technology. MethodsMale C57BL/6J mice served as the normal control group （n=6）， and they were fed with regular chow， while male ApoE^-/- mice constituted the high-fat group （n=30）， and they were fed with a 60% high-fat diet. After 11 weeks of model establishment， the mice in the high-fat group were randomly divided into the model group， simvastatin group （3.3 mg·kg^-1）， and high-dose， medium-dose， and low-dose groups of Wendantang （26， 13， 6.5 g·kg^-1， respectively， in terms of crude drug amount）， with six mice in each group. The normal control group and the model group were gavaged with an equivalent volume of normal saline， and all groups continued to be fed their respective diets， receiving daily medication for 10 weeks with weekly body weight measurements. Serum levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， free fatty acids （NEFA）， blood glucose （GLU）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） were detected in the mice. Pathological changes in liver tissue were observed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry （UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS） was employed for metabolomic analysis of mouse liver tissue. ResultsCompared to the normal control group， the model group exhibited significantly increased body weight， blood lipid levels， and liver function （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with disordered liver tissue structure， swollen hepatocytes， and accompanying vacuolar fatty degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared to the model group， the simvastatin group and Wendantang groups showed significantly reduced body weight， TG， NEFA， GLU， ALT， and AST levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with a significant increase in HDL-C levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， demonstrating a dose-dependent effect. The lesion of the liver tissue section was obviously improved after administration， tending towards a normal liver tissue morphology. Analysis of liver metabolites revealed 86 differential metabolites between the normal control group and the model group， with the high-dose group of Wendantang able to regulate 56 of these metabolites. Twenty-two differential metabolites associated with hyperlipidemia were identified， mainly including chenodeoxycholic acid， hyocholic acid， taurine， glycocholic acid， dihydroceramide， hydroxy sphingomyelin C14∶1， arachidonic acid， and linoleic acid， enriching 22 metabolic pathways， with 4 being the most significant （P<0.05）， namely primary bile acid biosynthesis， sphingolipid metabolism， unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis， and linoleic acid metabolism pathways. ConclusionWendantang can improve blood lipid levels and liver function in ApoE^-/- hyperlipidemic mice， which may be related to the regulation of primary bile acid biosynthesis， sphingolipid metabolism， unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis， and linoleic acid metabolism pathways.

A 20-year-old male patient presented to the Department of Dermatology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital with complaints of an 8-year history of facial scarring, swelling of the lower limbs, and a 4-year history of scalp thickening. Physical examination showed thickening furrowing wrinkling of the skin on the face and behind the ears, ciliary body hirsutism, blepharoptosis, and cutis verticis gyrate. Both lower limbs were swollen, especially the knees and ankles. The skin of the palms and soles of the feet was keratinized and thickened. Laboratory examination using bone and joint X-ray showed periostosis of the proximal middle phalanges and metacarpals of both hands, distal ulna and radius, tibia and fibula, distal femurs, and metatarsals.Genetic testing revealed two variants in SLCO2A1, c.1658T > A and c.96+4A > C.Through multidisciplinary consultation, we confirmed the diagnosis of pachydermoperiostosis.

Objective: To elucidate the expression level and transcript structure of the CD36 gene in megakaryocytes cultured in vitro. Methods: Using umbilical cord blood CD34 hematopoietic stem cells as the starting point, megakaryocytic lineage cells were directionally cultured in vitro using different combinations of cytokines. Total cell RNA was extracted from cultures at 0 d, 7 d, and 12 d, and megakaryocyte RNA was extracted from CD41a-sorted cells after 14 d and 18 d of culture. RNA-NGS sequencing technology was used to analyze the RNA gene expression profiles across the five culture periods and further investigate CD36 gene expression. Results: The number of megakaryocytes generated in the TPO (100 ng/mL) group [(2.2±0.02)×10 /mL] was significantly higher than that in the other five groups. A total of 22 066 expressed genes were detected in the RNA of the five culture periods, and gene expression levels at each time point were correlated with the culture timeline. CD36 gene expression increased with culture time, with FPKM values for CD36 expression in the megakaryocytic lineage at 14 d and 18 d being 18.35 and 101.85, respectively, which were much lower than those for ITGA2B and ITGB3 genes but slightly higher than that for CD109 gene in the megakaryocytic lineage. The longest transcript of CD36 in the 18 d megakaryocytic lineage was 3.8 kb, encompassing all sequence of exons E3 to E14 and a partial sequence of E15. Conclusion: This is the first report on the expression level and transcript structure of the CD36 gene in megakaryocytes cultured in vitro, providing fundamental data for research on the expression and regulation of the CD36 gene in the megakaryocytic lineage.

BACKGROUND:Type 2 diabetes mellitus impairs renal function,and studies have shown that exercise interventions can protect the kidneys.Irisin can protect renal function in diabetic nephropathy patients by restoring autophagy through inhibition of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)signaling pathway. OBJECTIVE:To explore whether exercise can restore autophagy and ameliorate renal injury by inhibiting over-activation of the renal PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway,as well as to analyze the differences in the effects of different modalities of exercise. METHODS:Six-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a blank control group(normal rats)and a diabetic group,and then the diabetic group was randomly divided into a diabetic model group,a moderate-intensity continuous exercise group,and a high-intensity intermittent exercise group after successful modeling using high-fat,high-sugar feeding plus intraperitoneal administration of low-dose 1%streptozotocin(30 mg/kg).The two exercise groups were subjected to 8 weeks of exercise intervention with different exercise intensities.The fasting blood glucose concentration was detected by glucose oxidase method,glycated hemoglobin levels was measured using a kit,serum insulin concentration was detected by Elisa method,and insulin resistance index was calculated.Gene expression of PI3K,AKT,mTOR,Beclin-1,podocin,and nephrin was detected by RT-PCR.Protein expression of mTOR and autophagy marker proteins LC3-1,LC3-2,and Beclin-1 was detected by western blot RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels were highly significantly increased,insulin resistance levels were significantly increased,and insulin levels were significantly decreased in type 2 diabetic rats.Both exercises resulted in highly significant decreases in fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels,significant decreases in insulin resistance levels and significant increases in insulin levels in type 2 diabetic rats.Insulin levels were significantly higher in the high-intensity intermittent exercise group compared with the moderate-intensity continuous exercise group.The expression of podocin and nephrind genes was significantly reduced in type 2 diabetic rats and two different forms of exercise significantly the gene expression.There was a further trend toward an increase in gene expression of podocyte-associated proteins in the moderate-intensity continuous exercise group compared with the high-intensity intermittent exercise group,but there was no significant difference.The mRNA and protein expression of PI3K,AKT and mTORC1 in kidney tissues of type 2 diabetic rats were significantly increased,and the expression of autophagy marker proteins Beclin-1 and LC3-2 and LC3-2/LC3-1 were significantly decreased.Both different forms of exercise significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of PI3K,AKT,and mTORC1,and significantly increased the autophagy marker proteins Beclin-1,LC3-2,and LC3-2/LC3-1 in renal tissues.Compared with the moderate-intensity continuous exercise group,there was a trend toward further decreases in mRNA expression of PI3K,AKT,and mTORC1 and protein expression of mTOR,and a trend toward further elevation of Beclin-1,LC3-2,and LC3-2/LC3-1 in the high-intensity intermittent exercise group,but only Beclin-1 showed a significant difference between groups.In summary,renal podocyte injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus with suppressed autophagy is closely related to aberrant activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 signaling pathway.Both moderate-intensity continuous exercise and high-intensity intermittent exercise can protect the diabetic kidney,reduce podocyte damage,and restore renal podocyte autophagy,which may be achieved by inhibiting the excessive activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.High-intensity intermittent exercise shows a trend toward more favorable restoration of autophagy compared with moderate-intensity continuous exercise,but with a slight decrease in podocyte protein expression.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms by which the combination of berberine （BBR） and baicalin （BAI） ameliorates type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） due to internal accumulation of dampness-heat from the perspectives of gut microbiota and metabolomics. MethodsAntibiotics were used to induce pseudo-sterile mice. Thirty pseudo-sterile mice were randomized into a normal fecal microbiota transplantation group （n=10） and a T2DM （syndrome of internal accumulation of dampness-heat） fecal microbiota transplantation group （n=20）. The mice were then administrated with suspensions of fecal microbiota from healthy volunteers and a patient with T2DM due to internal accumulation of dampness-heat by gavage， respectively. Each mouse received 200 µL suspension every other day for a total of 15 times to reshape the gut microbiota. The T2DM model mice were then assigned into a model group （n=8） and a BBR-BAI group （n=11）. BBR was administrated at a dose of 200 mg·kg^-1， and BAI was administrated in a ratio of BBR-BAI 10∶1 based on preliminary research findings. The administration lasted for 8 consecutive weeks. Fasting blood glucose （FBG）， glycated hemoglobin （HbA1c）， insulin （INS）， triglycerides （TG）， total cholesterol （CHOL）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， and alanine aminotransferase （ALT） levels were measured to evaluate the effects of the BBR-BAI combination on glucose and lipid metabolism and liver function in T2DM mice. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe pathological changes in the colon tissue. The expression of claudin-1， zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1）， and occludin in the colon tissue was determined by Western blot. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） was employed to assess the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and interleukin-6 （IL-6） in the colon tissue. The fecal microbiota composition and differential metabolites were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-Q-TOF-MS）， respectively. ResultsThe BBR-BAI combination lowered the FBG， HbA1c， and INS levels （P<0.05， P<0.01） and alleviated insulin resistance （P<0.01） in T2DM mice. Additionally， BBR-BAI elevated the levels of ZO-1， occludin， and claudin-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and down-regulated the expression levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 in the colon （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The results of 16S rRNA sequencing showed that BBR-BAI increased the relative abundance of Ligilactobacillus， Phascolarctobacterium， and Akkermansia （P<0.05）， while significantly decreasing the relative abundance of Alistipes， Odoribacter， and Colidextribacter （P<0.05）. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS identified 28 differential metabolites， which were primarily involved in arachidonic acid metabolism and α-linolenic acid metabolism. ConclusionBBR-BAI can ameliorate T2DM due to internal accumulation of dampness-heat by modulating the relative abundance of various bacterial genera in the gut microbiota and the expression of fecal metabolites.

Pulmonary endometriosis (PEM) is a rare disease with diverse clinical manifestations, most commonly presenting as hemoptysis, while patients presenting solely with pulmonary nodules are less common. Here, we report three female patients (aged 32, 19, and 46 years, respectively). One patient sought medical attention due to hemoptysis during menstruation, while the other two had no obvious symptoms and were found to have pulmonary nodules during routine physical examinations. Two patients had a history of cesarean section, and one had a history of miscarriage. Pathologically, one patient of PEM showed extensive hemorrhage in the alveolar spaces, with fragmented endometrial glandular epithelium observed within the hemorrhagic foci. The other two patients exhibited proliferative endometrial glands and stroma, surrounded by old hemorrhage. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the endometrial glands and stroma in all three patients were positive for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and vimentin, with CD10 positivity in the endometrial stroma. All three patients were definitively diagnosed as PEM by pathology and underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary wedge resection. Follow-up periods were 18, 31, and 49 months, respectively, with no recurrence observed in any of the patients.