To investigate the protective effect of Lycium barbarum glycopeptide(LbGp)on testicu-lar injury induced by D-galactose(D-gal)in aging rats,male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups:the blank control group(Control),aging model group(Model),positive control group(β-nicotinamide mononucleotide,NMN),low dose LbGp group(LLbGp),medium dose LbGp group(MLbGp)and high dose LbGp group(HLbGp).The testicular mass of rats was counted,the morphological changes of testicular tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,the testicular senescence was detected by β-galactosidase(SA-β-gal)staining,and the levels of testos-terone(T),luteinizing hormone(LH)and follicle stimulating hormone(FSH)in serum were de-tected.The levels of oxidative factors such as glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),superoxide dis-mutase(SOD),malondialdehyde(MDA),catalase(CAT)and inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and interleukin-6(IL-6)in rat tissues were measured.TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis of testicular cells,epididymal sperm quality,and the expression of Keap1,Nrf2 and Nqo1 mRNA were analyzed.The results showed that compared with the Model group,the testicular coefficient of Lycium barbarum glycopeptide rats in MLbGp and HLbGp groups increased(P＜0.01),the level of T in serum and sperm quality increased(P＜0.05),the structural degeneration and aging of testicular tissue decreased(P＜0.01),the level of antioxidant factors increased,and the levels of inflammatory factors and apopto-sis decreased(P＜0.05).The expression of Keap1 decreased significantly(P＜0.01),while the ex-pression of Nrf2 and Nqo1 mRNA increased(P＜0.05).The above results indicate that Lycium barbarum glycopeptide can improve D-gal-induced testicular senescence,attenuate oxidative stress,reduce inflammatory response,decrease apoptosis,and exert a protective effect on testicular injury in rats due to senescence through the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway.

To investigate the protective effect of Lycium barbarum glycopeptide(LbGp)on testicu-lar injury induced by D-galactose(D-gal)in aging rats,male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups:the blank control group(Control),aging model group(Model),positive control group(β-nicotinamide mononucleotide,NMN),low dose LbGp group(LLbGp),medium dose LbGp group(MLbGp)and high dose LbGp group(HLbGp).The testicular mass of rats was counted,the morphological changes of testicular tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,the testicular senescence was detected by β-galactosidase(SA-β-gal)staining,and the levels of testos-terone(T),luteinizing hormone(LH)and follicle stimulating hormone(FSH)in serum were de-tected.The levels of oxidative factors such as glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),superoxide dis-mutase(SOD),malondialdehyde(MDA),catalase(CAT)and inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and interleukin-6(IL-6)in rat tissues were measured.TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis of testicular cells,epididymal sperm quality,and the expression of Keap1,Nrf2 and Nqo1 mRNA were analyzed.The results showed that compared with the Model group,the testicular coefficient of Lycium barbarum glycopeptide rats in MLbGp and HLbGp groups increased(P＜0.01),the level of T in serum and sperm quality increased(P＜0.05),the structural degeneration and aging of testicular tissue decreased(P＜0.01),the level of antioxidant factors increased,and the levels of inflammatory factors and apopto-sis decreased(P＜0.05).The expression of Keap1 decreased significantly(P＜0.01),while the ex-pression of Nrf2 and Nqo1 mRNA increased(P＜0.05).The above results indicate that Lycium barbarum glycopeptide can improve D-gal-induced testicular senescence,attenuate oxidative stress,reduce inflammatory response,decrease apoptosis,and exert a protective effect on testicular injury in rats due to senescence through the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway.

AIM: To explore the intervention effect of Dahuangtang pellets (DHT) on diabetic nephropathy (DN) based on the AMP-activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin/unc-51-like kinase 1 (AMPK/mTOR/ULK1) signaling pathway. METHODS: Eight mice were randomly assigned to the model group, the dapagliflozin group, and the DHT (high, medium, and low dosage) group out of a total of 40 C57BL/KSJ-db/db (hereafter referred to as db/db) mice; another 10 C57BL/KSJ-db/dm mice were used as the normal group, saline was provided to the normal and model groups, and the mice in the treatment group received the appropriate medications. The medications were given for 10 consecutive weeks, once per day, to the mice in the treatment group. At weeks 0, 4, 8, and 10 of administration, fasting blood glucose (FBG) was assessed by drawing blood at a predetermined time from the tail vein; Urine samples were taken at 0, 5, and 10 weeks after treatment to evaluate the levels of albumin and creatinine, and the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) was computed. After 10 weeks, mice in each group were assayed for 24 h total urine protein, serum creatinine (Scr), urea nitrogen (BUN) levels; Western blotting analysis was conducted to detect the expression of p-AMPK, p-mTOR, and p-ULK1, as well as the expression of autophagy related proteins homolog of yeast Atg6 (Beclin-1), autophagy-related proteins microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), P62 in renal tissue; Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of podocyte lacunar membrane proteins (Nephrin, Podocin) in renal tissues; The pathological morphology of renal tissue was observed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, FBG, ACR, and 24 h total urine protein were reduced in the dapagliflozin group and DHT groups of mice, and there was no statistically significant difference in Scr and BUN; In renal tissues, there is increased expression of p-AMPK and p-ULK1, decreased expression of p-mTOR, increased expression of LC3II / LC3I and Beclin-1, and decreased expression of P62 (P<0.01, P< 0.05); differentially upregulated in glomeruli are the podocyte lacunar membrane proteins Nephrin and Podocin (P<0.01, P<0.05); renal pathologic damage was reduced to varying degrees; transmission electron microscopy showed an increase in the number of autophagic vesicles and autophagic lysosomes. CONCLUSION: DHT can delay the development of DN by regulating the AMPK / mTOR / ULK1 signaling pathway, enhancing podocyte autophagy, and protecting glomeruli.

ObjectiveTo explore the protective effects of Dahuang Tangluo pills on early diabetic kidkdey disease （DKD） in db/db mice. MethodEight db/m mice were selected as the control group. Forty male db/db mice were selected and blood samples were collected via tail vein to measure fasting blood glucose （FBG）. Mice with FBG ≥ 16.7 mmol·L^-1， increased urine output， and persistent albuminuria were considered successful in model establishment. After successful modeling， they were randomly divided into a model group， a dapagliflozin group （1.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， and high， medium， and low dose groups of Dahuang Tangluo pills （3.6， 1.8， 0.9 g·kg^-1·d^-1， respectively）， with eight mice in each group. All medication groups were administered orally， while the control and model groups were given an equal amount of distilled water by gavage daily. After continuous administration for 10 weeks， the survival status of the mice was observed， and their body weight， FBG， and kidney function-related indicators were measured. Inflammatory indicators in renal tissues were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， Masson staining， and electron microscopy were used to observe the pathological changes in renal tissues in each group. Immunofluorescence was employed to examine the expression of advanced glycation end products （AGEs） and receptors for advanced glycation end products （RAGE） proteins. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot were utilized to detect the gene and protein expression levels of AGEs， RAGE， inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） kinase （IKK）， and NF-κB in the renal tissues of mice in each group. ResultCompared with control group， the model group showed a significant increase in body weight， FBG， serum creatinine （SCr）， urinary microalbumin/urine creatinine ratio （ACR）， total cholesterol （TC）， and triglycerides （TG） （P<0.05）. The levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α） in renal tissues were significantly elevated （P<0.05）. Renal histopathological staining and electron microscopy revealed loose arrangement， gaps， structural disarray， mesangial proliferation， and significant fibrosis in renal tissues. Real-time PCR results showed a significant increase in the expression of RAGE， IKK， and NF-κB genes in renal tissues （P<0.05）. Immunofluorescence results demonstrated a significant increase in the expression of AGEs and RAGE proteins in renal tissues （P<0.05）. Western blot results showed a significant increase in the expression of AGEs， RAGE， IKK， and NF-κB proteins in renal tissues （P<0.05）. After drug intervention， compared with model group， the dapagliflozin group and the high-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills group showed significant reductions in body weight， FBG， SCr， and ACR （P<0.05）， and a significant decrease in TC in mouse serum （P<0.05）， while the high-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills group showed a significant decrease in TG in mouse serum （P<0.05）. All treatment groups showed a significant reduction in ICAM-1， IL-6， and TNF-α in renal tissues （P<0.05）. Renal histopathological staining and electron microscopy showed improved kidney injury， decreased collagen fiber deposition， and reduced mesangial proliferation in all treatment groups. Real-time PCR results showed a significant decrease in the expression of RAGE， IKK， and NF-κB genes in the dapagliflozin group and the high- and medium-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills groups （P<0.05）. Immunofluorescence results demonstrated a significant decrease in the expression of AGEs and RAGE proteins in the dapagliflozin group and the high- and medium-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills groups （P<0.05）. Western blot results showed a significant decrease in the expression of AGEs， RAGE， IKK， and NF-κB proteins in the dapagliflozin group and the high- and medium-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills groups （P<0.05）. ConclusionDahuang Tangluo pills can improve the pathological structure of the kidneys and reduce renal inflammation in DKD mice， possibly through inhibiting the AGEs/RAGE/IKK/NF-κB pathway.

OBJECTIVE To predict biomarkers of type 2 inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps(CRSwNP)by employing peripheral blood indicators.METHODS CRSwNP patients admitted to the Rhinology Department of Beijing Tongren Hospital from June 2020 to May 2022 were enrolled and their basic clinical data were collected.The blood percentage of eosinophils(Eos%),Eos count,periostin and total IgE,as well as mucosal interleukin-5(IL-5)and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin-immunoglobulin E(SE-IgE)were tested.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of each blood indicator for positive mucosal expression of IL-5/SE-IgE.The logistic regression was employed to screen multiple blood indicators with predictive value for positive mucosal expression of IL-5/SE-IgE in order to construct a nomogram model.RESULTS The proportion of asthma,blood Eos%,periostin and total IgE in CRSwNP patients showed statistical differences between IL-5/SE-IgE positive and negative subgroups.ROC univariate analysis demonstrated that blood Eos%,Eos count,periostin and total IgE could predict mucosal IL-5 positivity with AUC ranging from 0.655 to 0.784,and mucosal SE-IgE positivity with AUC ranging from 0.721-0.802.The logistic regression confirmed that blood Eos%and total IgE,as well as blood periostin and total IgE were independent predictors for mucosal IL-5 and SE-IgE positivity,respectively.The nomogram models were constructed for predicting IL-5/SE-IgE positivity in CRSwNP mucosa,with consistency incides(C-index)of 0.804 and 0.81,indicating good predictive accuracy.CONCLUSION The nomograms constructed based on blood Eos%and total IgE,as well as blood periostin and total IgE,could have good predictive value for the positive mucosal expression of IL-5 and SE-IgE in the CRSwNP,which help to predict the severity of endotype and phenotype of CRSwNP.

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus(DM),which significantly affects the survival and quality of life of DM patients.Currently,existing first-line treatment approaches for DKD are ineffective in effectively preventing the occurrence and progression of DKD.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has the advantages of"ultiple pathways,multiple targets,and multiple mechanisms"in treating DKD,and has a broad prospect in the treatment of DKD.Aquaporin-2(AQP2)is a membrane channel protein widely expressed in the kidneys,and its physiological function is highly similar to the function of kidney filtration and reabsorption.Studies have found that various effective components and related formulae of Chinese medicine can improve symptoms in DKD patients by inhibiting the abnormal expression of AQP2.This article provides a review on the role of AQP2 in DKD and the research progress of TCM intervention,aiming to provide insights and references for the development of drugs related to the prevention and treatment of DKD.

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus(DM),which significantly affects the survival and quality of life of DM patients.Currently,existing first-line treatment approaches for DKD are ineffective in effectively preventing the occurrence and progression of DKD.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has the advantages of"ultiple pathways,multiple targets,and multiple mechanisms"in treating DKD,and has a broad prospect in the treatment of DKD.Aquaporin-2(AQP2)is a membrane channel protein widely expressed in the kidneys,and its physiological function is highly similar to the function of kidney filtration and reabsorption.Studies have found that various effective components and related formulae of Chinese medicine can improve symptoms in DKD patients by inhibiting the abnormal expression of AQP2.This article provides a review on the role of AQP2 in DKD and the research progress of TCM intervention,aiming to provide insights and references for the development of drugs related to the prevention and treatment of DKD.

Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Bronchiectasis ; Mycobacterium avium Complex ; Syndrome ; Nocardia Infections/drug therapy* ; Nocardia ; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection

Bronchiectasis is a complex and heterogeneous group of diseases with their own characteristics in terms of etiology, symptoms, infections and inflammation, among which infections are both the most common cause of bronchiectasis and the most important factor contributing to the progression of the disease and affecting the prognosis. The current paper will focus on the characterization, diagnosis and treatment of pathogenic bacteria in bronchiectasis.

Since synthetic pigments are potentially harmful to human health, natural ones such as bixin, one of the carotenoids, are favored. As the second widely used natural pigment in the world, there is significant interest in the biosynthetic pathway of bixin which has not been fully elucidated. This review summarizes the chemical properties, extraction methods, biosynthetic pathway and application of bixin. In addition, we compared the difference between traditional extraction methods and new extraction techniques. Moreover, we described the genes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of bixin and the effects of abiotic stress on the biosynthesis of bixin, and discussed the application of bixin in food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. However, the researches on bixin biosynthesis pathway are mostly carried out at the transcriptome level and most of the gene functions have not been elucidated. Therefore, we propose to characterize the entire bixin biosynthetic pathway using techniques of genomics, bioinformatics, and phytochemistry. This will help facilitate the synthetic biology research of bixin and development of bixin into new drugs.
Bixaceae/genetics* ; Carotenoids ; Humans ; Pigmentation ; Transcriptome