This paper aims to study the effect of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts on chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)-induced depression-like and insomnia behavior models of mice. The CUMS-induced depression-like and insomnia behavior model of mice was established by CUMS treatment for three weeks. The mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, positive drug diazepam group(2 mg·kg~(-1)), as well as low-dose group(1.95 g·kg~(-1)), medium-dose group(3.9 g·kg~(-1)), and high-dose group(7.8 g·kg~(-1)) of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts, with 18 mice in each group. On the 15th day of modeling, the drug was administered intragastrically once a day for one week. Then, the pentobarbital sodium cooperative righting experiment, open field experiment, and elevated plus maze experiment were carried out, respectively. The contents of neurotransmitters 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA) in serum and thalamus of mice, as well as the levels of corticotropin releasing hormone(CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH), and corticosterone(CORT) in serum, were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The neuron damage in the hippocampus of mice was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and Nissl staining. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of tryptophan hydroxylase 2(TPH2), serotonin transporter(SERT), monoamine oxidase A(MAOA), five prime repressors under dual repression binding protein 1(Freud1), synaptic plasticity-related proteins [cellular gene FOS(C-FOS), postsynaptic density protein 95(PSD95), synapsin 1(SYN1), and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated gene(ARC)], blood-brain barrier(BBB) permeability-related proteins [zonula occludens 1(ZO-1), occludin, and claudin 1], inflammatory factors [NOD-, LRR-and pyrin domain-containing protein 3(NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC), gasdermin D(GSDMD), caspase-3, and caspase-8], and antioxidant factors [nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2) and heme oxygenase 1(HO1)] in thalamic tissue of mice. The results indicated that compared with that in the model group, the sleep latency was significantly shortened, and the sleep duration was significantly prolonged in each dose group of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts. The number of visits to the central area of the open field and the distance and time of visits were significantly increased in each dose group of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts. In addition, the proportion of distance and time of entering the open arm area of the elevated plus maze was significantly increased in each dose group of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts. The contents of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in serum and thalamus of mice increased to varying degrees in each dose group of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts; the contents of CRH, ACTH, and CORT in serum of mice were significantly decreased. The protein expression of TPH2 was significantly increased. The protein expression of MAOA, SERT, and Freud1 was significantly decreased. Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts could also significantly reduce the protein expression of C-FOS but significantly increase the protein expression of PSD95, ARC, and SYN1. They could reduce the pathological damage of the hippocampus in mice and significantly increase the protein expression of ZO-1, occluding, and claudin 1. The protein expression of NLRP3, GSDMD, ASC, caspase-3, and caspase-8 in the thalamic tissue of mice was significantly decreased, and the protein expression of HO1 and NRF2 was significantly increased. In conclusion, Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts could effectively improve sleep disorders and depression-like behaviors in CUMS-induced model mice, which may be related to regulating the 5-HT anabolism process and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA) axis-related hormone levels, reducing pathological damage in the hippocampus, improving synaptic plasticity, repairing BBB integrity, and alleviating inflammatory response and oxidative stress damage.
Animals ; Ziziphus/chemistry* ; Mice ; Male ; Depression/psychology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/psychology* ; Stress, Psychological/complications* ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects* ; Humans ; Disease Models, Animal

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) encompasses damage to nerves located outside the central nervous system, adversely affecting both motor and sensory functions. Although peripheral nerves possess an intrinsic capacity for self-repair, severe injuries frequently result in significant tissue loss and erroneous axonal junctions, thereby impeding complete recovery and potentially causing neuropathic pain. Various therapeutic strategies, including surgical interventions, biomaterials, and pharmacological agents, have been developed to enhance nerve repair processes. While preclinical studies in animal models have demonstrated the efficacy of certain pharmacological agents in promoting nerve regeneration and mitigating inflammation, only a limited number of these agents have been translated into clinical practice to expedite nerve regeneration. Chinese herb medicine (CHM) possesses a longstanding history in the treatment of various ailments and demonstrates potential efficacy in addressing PNI through its distinctive, cost-effective, and multifaceted methodologies. This review critically examines the advancements in the application of CHM for PNI treatment and nerve regeneration. In particular, we have summarized the most commonly employed and rigorously investigated CHM prescriptions, individual herbs, and natural products, elucidating their respective functions and underlying mechanisms in the context of PNI treatment. Furthermore, we have deliberated on the prospective development of CHM in both clinical practice and fundamental research.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Nerve Regeneration/drug effects* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2024.09.010.].

Osteoarthritis (OA) causes chronic pain that significantly impairs quality of life, with current treatments often proving insufficient and accompanied by adverse effects. Recent research has identified the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and its resident macrophages as crucial mediators of chronic OA pain through neuroinflammation driven by macrophage polarization. We present a novel injectable thermo-sensitive hydrogel system, KAF@PLEL, designed to deliver an anti-inflammatory peptide (KAF) specifically to the DRG. This biodegradable hydrogel enables sustained KAF release, promoting the reprogramming of DRG macrophages from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Through comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies, we evaluated the hydrogel's biocompatibility, effects on macrophage polarization, and therapeutic efficacy in chronic OA pain management. The system demonstrated significant capabilities in preserving macrophage mitochondrial function, suppressing neuroinflammation, alleviating chronic OA pain, reducing cartilage degradation, and improving motor function in OA rat models. The sustained-release properties of KAF@PLEL enabled prolonged therapeutic effects while minimizing systemic exposure and side effects. These findings suggest that KAF@PLEL represents a promising therapeutic approach for improving outcomes in OA patients through targeted, sustained treatment.

Near infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)analysis technology has become an important process analysis tool in industrial and agricultural production,and has been widely used for qualitative and quantitative analysis in the fields of tobacco,agriculture,and pharmaceuticals.To address issues such as poor generalization ability and low prediction accuracy in NIRS modeling,a two-dimensional convolutional neural network(2DCNN)quantitative analysis model based on competitive adaptive reweighted sampling(CARS)and Gramian angular difference field(GADF)(CARS-GADF-2DCNN)was proposed.CARS-GADF-2DCNN used the CARS method to select an optimal wavelength set from the full spectrum,then employed GADF to encode the selection results into two-dimensional images,and finally used 2DCNN for prediction analysis.The 2DCNN model consisted of convolutional layers,parallel convolution modules,flattening layer,and fully connected layers.Simulation experiments were conducted on three public near-infrared(NIR)spectral datasets encompassing soil,tablet,and grain datasets to evaluate the CARS-GADF-2DCNN model.The results demonstrated that,compared to the one-dimensional convolutional neural network(1DCNN),the GADF-2DCNN model achieved 16.74％,23.40％,and 7.13％improvement in prediction accuracy for the soil,tablet,and grain datasets,respectively.Compared to GADF-2DCNN,VCPA-GADF-2DCNN,and IRIV-GADF-2DCNN models,the CARS-GADF-2DCNN model further improved prediction accuracy.For the soil dataset,prediction accuracy improved by 39.00％,30.78％and 4.13％;for the tablet dataset,the improvements were 9.52％,6.94％and 2.56％;for the grain dataset,the improvements were 20.57％,9.85％and 15.66％.In conclusion,CARS-GADF-2DCNN effectively selected the optimal wavelength subset from near infrared spectra,and revealed the latent features between different wavelengths.CARS-GADF-2DCNN addresses the issues of high complexity in prediction models and low prediction accuracy in near infrared spectral modeling,and could be effectively applied to near infrared spectral prediction analysis of different substances.

italic>Polygonum capitatum is a characteristic Miao medicine in Guizhou, commonly used in clinical practice to treat gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections. Research has found that it has good antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, and its main active ingredient is flavonoids. Lavonoid O-methyltransferase (FOMT) is a key enzyme for oxymethylation modification of flavonoid compounds. In order to understand the function and properties of FOMT protein in Polygonum capitatum, the transcriptome was sequenced by Illumina HiSeq 4000 high throughput sequencing technology. Then, the obtained transcripts were annotated and analyzed, and the whole genome of the FOMT gene family in Polygon capitalis was mined and identified. A total of 99 298 Unigenes were obtained, of which 71 514 were successfully annotated by the public database. In the genome of Polygonum capitatum, a total of 50 FOMT genes were identified. The phylogenetic tree showed that FOMT genes were divided into two subfamilies: caffeoyl CoA O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) and caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT). Gene sequence analysis showed that the number of FOMT encoded amino acids ranged from 99 to 1 053 aa, the molecular weight ranged from 11 224.91 to 86 687.42 Da, and the isoelectric point ranged from 4.79 to 9.45. The 50 FOMT family members were hydrophobic proteins. Subcellular localization results showed that 54% of FOMT subfamily CCoAOMT and COMT members were located in cytoplasm and 28% were located in chloroplasts. The FOMT gene was tissue specific and highly expressed in the flowers of Polygonum capitatum, followed by the stems, and the least expressed in the roots. In this study, the FOMT gene family of Polygonum capitatum was identified and analyzed to provide theoretical basis for further study of FOMT function and biosynthesis of methylated flavonoids.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features, immunophenotype, molecular characteristics, and differential diagnosis of primary intracranial DICER1-mutant sarcoma in order to better understand this tumor type.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 7 cases of primary intracranial DICER1-mutant sarcoma diagnosed in the Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China between 2021 and 2023 using next-generation sequencing. At the same time, 10 gliosarcomas, 4 intracranial FET::CREB fusion-positive mesenchymal tumors, 4 malignant meningiomas, 3 malignant solitary fibrous tumors, 3 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, 3 synovial sarcomas and 3 rhabdomyosarcomas (total 30 cases) were selected as control.Results:Among the 7 patients with primary intracranial DICER1-mutant sarcoma, 6 were male and 1 was female, aged 10-32 years (median, 23 years). The tissue morphology was predominantly spindle or pleomorphic sarcoma-like, with 6 cases exhibiting eosinophilic globules, and 3 cases showing rhabdomyoblastic or rhabdomyosarcoma-like cell differentiation. Immunohistochemistry revealed focal desmin expression in 3 cases (3/7), ATRX loss in 3 cases (3/7), and p53 mutant pattern in 4 cases (4/7). Additionally, 4 cases (4/7) showed focal or diffuse SALL4 expression, whereas the control cases (30 cases) did not exhibit SALL4 protein expression, suggesting that SALL4 may possess certain auxiliary diagnostic value. Next-generation sequencing confirmed that all 7 cases of primary intracranial DICER1-mutant sarcoma harbored mutations in the DICER1 gene, with 5 cases having the mutation site at p.E1813D. Until May 2024, all 7 patients were alive.Conclusions:Primary intracranial DICER1-mutant sarcoma is a rare tumor. Understanding its morphological characteristics, immunohistochemical and molecular markers and differential diagnosis is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and to improve diagnostic accuracy of this tumor.

The analysis summarizes that the Third People's Hospital of Hubei Province,in the process of promoting the construction of health promotion hospitals,focuses on chronic disease health promotion work,focuses on stroke prevention and control,and through establishing stroke prevention and control network,promoting screening of high-risk factors,strengthening management of high-risk populations,and reinforcing professional training and health education,it advances the intervention of risk factors for stroke,improves the health literacy and health level of the population,and forms the characteristic chronic disease health promotion work model.

The adipose tissue of mammals represents an important energy-storing and endocrine organ, and its dysfunction is relevant to the onset of several health problems, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, whether treatments targeting adipose dysfunction could alleviate NAFLD has not been well-studied. Adrenomedullin 2 (ADM2), belonging to the CGRP superfamily, is a protective peptide that has been shown to inhibit adipose dysfunction. To investigate the adipose tissue-specific effects of ADM2 on NAFLD, adipose-specific ADM2-overexpressing transgenic (aADM2-tg) mice were developed. When fed a high-fat diet, aADM2-tg mice displayed decreased hepatic triglyceride accumulation compared to wild-type mice, which was attributable to the inhibition of hepatic de novo lipogenesis. Results from lipidomics studies showed that ADM2 decreased ceramide levels in adipocytes through the upregulation of ACER2, which catalyzes ceramide catabolism. Mechanically, activation of adipocyte HIF2α was required for ADM2 to promote ACER2-dependent adipose ceramide catabolism as well as to decrease hepatic lipid accumulation. This study highlights the role of ADM2 and adipose-derived ceramide in NAFLD and suggests that its therapeutic targeting could alleviate disease symptoms.

italic>Ardisia crispa (Thunb.) A. DC. is a traditional Miao medicinal herb with significant therapeutic effects in the treatment of sore throat, tonsillitis, edema of nephritis and bruising and rheumatism, etc. Ardisia crispa var. amplifolia and Ardisia crispa var. dielsii are varieties of A. crispa. A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii are controversial in terms of species evolutionary relationships and taxonomic identification. In this study, we sequenced the whole genome sequences of A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii chloroplasts using Illumina platform, assembled, annotated and characterized them, compared the structural features and degree of variation among chloroplast genomes using bioinformatics methods, and also downloaded constructing phylogenetic trees to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of chloroplasts in Primulaceae and Myrsinaceae using whole genome sequence information. The results showed that the complete chloroplast genome sequences of A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii were 156 749 bp and 156 748 bp in length, with 132 genes annotated, including 87 protein-coding genes; the codon preference of A/U was greater than that of G/C; The differences in the coding regions of rps15 and rpoB genes in the comparative genome analysis can be used as loci for molecular identification of the two species; the differences in the coding regions of ycf1, ycf2, rpoC1, ycf3, petD and rpl16 genes in the chloroplast genome compared with those of the same genus can be used as loci for identification of the genus. In the phylogenetic results, A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii were clustered together with 100% support, indicating that they are closely related. In this research, we analyzed the chloroplast genome structure and phylogenetic relationships of A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii, providing an important theoretical basis for their molecular identification, genetic variation, breeding and phylogenetic analysis.