Objective To assess the current status of microbial and parasitic quality control for laboratory animals in Jiangxi Province by analyzing microbiological and parasitic test results from production facilities between 2020 and 2024, and to provide a basis for enhancing quality control measures. MethodsIn accordance with the current national standards for laboratory animals at the time of testing, the Jiangxi Provincial Laboratory Animal Quality Inspection Station (affiliated to Institute of Occupational Medicine of Jiangxi) conducted microbial and parasitic testing on 451 laboratory animals of 4 species from 6 laboratory animal production units in Jiangxi Province between 2020 and 2024, and analyzed the quality status of laboratory animals in the province. ResultsPasteurella pneumotropica was detected in one mouse sample in 2020, with a detection rate of 5.00%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in one mouse sample and mouse hepatitis virus antibody was detected in another mouse sample in 2023, with a detection rate of 2.78%, respectively. No microorganisms or parasites that should be excluded from SPF grade mice as specified in the national standards were detected in 2021, 2022, or 2024, with a qualification rate of 100.00%. Pasteurella pneumotropica was detected in four rat samples in 2020, with a detection rate of 20.00%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in two rat samples in 2021, with a detection rate of 10.00%, and Tyzzer's disease agent antibody was detected in four rat samples in 2024, with a detection rate of 10.00%. No microorganisms or parasites that should be excluded from SPF grade rats as specified in the national standards were detected in 2022 or 2023, with a qualification rate of 100.00%. For rabbits and guinea pigs, no microorganisms or parasites required to be tested for conventional grade rabbits and guinea pigs as specified in the national standards were detected from 2020 to 2024, with the qualification rate of both species reaching 100.00%. ConclusionBased on the microbial and parasitic testing results, the quality of rabbits and guinea pigs in Jiangxi Province is satisfactory. However, some issues persist with rats and mice. It is recommended to enhance the quality of experimental animals in Jiangxi Province by increasing the frequency of random inspections by quality testing units or by improving the self-inspection capabilities of production and user facilities.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of 46 Chinese pedigrees affected with Hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) and provide genetic counseling and reproductive intervention. METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were carried out on 87 patients from the 46 pedigrees to analyze the variants of EXT1 and EXT2 genes. Pathogenicity of the variants was assessed based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP). Prenatal diagnosis and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) were provided for couples with identified pathogenic mutations. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the hospital (Ethics No.: LL-SC-SG-2014-010). RESULTS: In total 17 and 22 pathogenic variants were respectively identified in the EXT1 and EXT2 genes, among which 5 EXT1 and 12 EXT2 variants were unreported previously. Three patients with no family history were found to harbor de novo variants of the EXT1 gene. Twenty nine couples had opted for PGT or underwent prenatal diagnosis following natural conception, and 17 healthy babies were born. CONCLUSION This study has clarified the genetic etiology of 45 HME pedigrees and identified 17 novel variants, which has enriched the mutational spectrum of the EXT1 and EXT2 genes. Reproductive intervention through PGT and prenatal diagnosis have prevented the recurrence of HME in these families.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Pedigree ; Exostoses, Multiple Hereditary/diagnosis* ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics* ; Adult ; Exostosin 1 ; Asian People/genetics* ; Genetic Testing ; Exostosin 2 ; Mutation ; China ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Pregnancy ; Genetic Counseling ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; Exome Sequencing ; East Asian People

Objective: To investigate the association between different digital media usage types and depressive symptoms among junior and senior high school students, so as to provide a scientific reference for making precise mental health prevention and intervention strategies for adolescents. Methods: In October 2024, a convenience cluster sample of 3 225 students was collected from 2 junior high schools and 2 senior high schools in Shenyang City. Participants were investigated for its daily usage duration of various digital media types and depressive symptoms. Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to examine trend in depressive symptom detection rates across digital media usage types. Multivariate Logistic regression model was employed to assess associations, with stratified analyses by gender and educational stage. Results: The daily usage durations for educational/learning, social/chatting, gaming, and video/music/novel digital media were 30.0(12.1, 60.0), 22.9(9.3, 50.0), 17.1(0.0, 50.0), and 22.9(8.6, 55.7) minutes for junior and senior high school students, respectively. The detection rate of depressive symptoms was 46.1%. Among them, the detection rate of depressive symptoms of girls (49.8%) was higher than that of boys (42.3%), and that of senior high school students (53.2%) was higher than that of junior high school students (39.7%), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ 2= 18.35, 59.02, both P <0.01). Cochran-Armitage trend test revealed significant upward trends in depressive symptom detection rates with increasing usage of non educational digital media (social/chatting: Z =4.77; gaming: Z =3.24; video/music/novel: Z =7.30, all P <0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that, compared to usage <1 h/d, using social/chatting digital media for 1-<2 h/d ( OR =1.66), 2-<3 h/d ( OR =1.80), and ≥3 h/d ( OR =2.68), gaming for 1-<2 h/d ( OR =1.48), 2-<3 h/d ( OR =1.90), and ≥3 h/d ( OR =2.93), and video/music/novel for 1-<2 h/d ( OR =1.76), 2-<3 h/d ( OR =2.00), and ≥3 h/d ( OR = 3.48) were all significantly associated with increased risks of depressive symptoms (all P <0.01). Conclusions Excessive use of non-educational digital media is a risk factor for depressive symptoms in adolescents. Regulating usage duration is beneficial for promoting adolescent mental health.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has become the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting approximately 32%-38% of the adult population and posing a growing public health burden. MASLD represents a continuous disease spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), progressive hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pathological core of MASLD lies in disruption of hepatic lipid metabolic homeostasis, characterized by an imbalance among de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid β-oxidation, and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-mediated lipid export. This metabolic disequilibrium subsequently drives inflammatory injury and fibrotic progression. Among the multiple regulatory pathways involved, thyroid hormone (TH) signaling has emerged as a central regulator of hepatic metabolic homeostasis. The liver is a major peripheral target organ of TH action, where TH predominantly exerts its metabolic effects through thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ). Large-scale epidemiological studies and meta-analyses have demonstrated that hypothyroidism is significantly associated with increased MASLD prevalence, more severe histological injury, and advanced hepatic fibrosis, suggesting that dysregulation of TH signaling may participate throughout the entire MASLD disease spectrum. At the molecular level, TH regulates hepatic lipid metabolism by coordinating suppression of lipogenesis, enhancement of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, and promotion of VLDL assembly and secretion through integrated genomic actions of the T3-TRβ axis and non-genomic signaling pathways. Across different stages of MASLD, TH signaling exerts stage-dependent protective effects. In the steatosis stage, TH improves metabolic flexibility by modulating insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, and lipid droplet clearance, thereby alleviating early lipotoxic stress. During progression to MASH, TH attenuates inflammatory amplification by improving mitochondrial homeostasis, suppressing activation of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, and modulating the gut-liver axis microenvironment. In advanced stages, TH signaling influences hepatic stellate cell activation and extracellular matrix deposition, partly through interaction with the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/SMAD pathway, while alterations in intrahepatic TH availability, mediated by dynamic changes in iodothyronine deiodinase 1 (DIO1), contribute to fibrosis progression and hepatocellular dedifferentiation. In hepatocellular carcinoma, coordinated downregulation of TRβ and DIO1 establishes a tumor-associated hypothyroid state that promotes metabolic reprogramming and tumor progression. The clinical relevance of TH signaling in MASLD has been underscored by the recent approval of Resmetirom, a liver-targeted TRβ‑selective agonist, for the treatment of non-cirrhotic MASH with moderate-to-severe fibrosis (F2-F3). This approval represents a landmark transition from mechanistic understanding to metabolism-centered precision therapy in MASLD. Clinical trials have demonstrated that Resmetirom not only improves key histological endpoints, including MASH resolution and fibrosis regression, but also favorably modulates atherogenic lipid profiles, highlighting the therapeutic potential of selectively targeting hepatic TH pathways. This review systematically summarizes the multidimensional regulatory roles of TH across the MASLD disease spectrum and discusses emerging diagnostic and therapeutic implications of TH-based interventions, aiming to inform future mechanistic research and optimize clinical management strategies.

Objective To investigate the effect of gender on prognosis after transcatheter patent foramen ovale(PFO)closure in patients with cerebral infarction or transient ischemic attack.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving patients with cerebral infarction or transient ischemic attack(TIA)who underwent PFO closure at our hospital between January 2013 and December 2023.The patients were grouped by gender,and related data were collected,including age,comorbidities,Risk of Paradoxical Embolism(RoPE)score,laboratory results,findings of transthoracic/transesophageal echocardiography(TTE/TEE),and post-procedural complications,such as device-related thrombosis(DRT),recurrent stroke,bleeding,and atrial fibrillation(AF).Results A total of 112 patients were enrolled,including 59 males and 53 females,at a mean age of 42.47±12.35 years.The females had significantly higher preoperative RoPE score than the males(6.6±1.4 vs 6.0±1.5,P=0.046),and a statistical difference was observed in the distribution of infarction sites between them(Chi-square=10.25,P=0.006),indicating that the males were prone to posterior circulation infarction.Intraoperative transthoracic echocardiography revealed a greater distance from the PFO to the aortic root in the females(9.3±2.4 mm vs 7.6±2.0 mm,P<0.001).During a median follow-up of 4 years,the male group had 1 case of myocardial infarction,1 cerebral hemorrhage,1 paroxysmal AF,2 gingival bleeding episodes,and 1 skin ecchymosis.In the female group,1 case experienced pulmonary embolism,1 paroxysmal atrial fibrillation,3 gingival bleeding episodes,2 skin ecchymoses,2 recurrent cerebral infarctions,and 2 recurrent TIAs.There was no statistical difference in overall adverse events between gender(P=0.291).Although the females had higher rates of recurrent cerebral infarction and TIA,this difference lacked statistical significance(P=0.222).Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that after adjusting for various potential confounding factors,such as RoPE score,age,hypertension,coronary heart disease,and other factors,gender was not an independent predictor of composite endpoint events after surgery.Conclusion Gender does not significantly affect overall prognosis after PFO closure in patients with cerebral infarction or TIA.However,females showed a trend toward higher rates of recurrent cerebral infarction and TIA.

Biofilm formation is one of the key reasons that bacterial infections are difficult to treat.So it is of great significance to develop effective strategies to resist bacterial biofilms.Although antibiotics are important clinical tools for the treatment of bacterial infections,their therapeutic efficacy is often unsatisfactory when targeting bacterial biofilm-associated diseases.In this study,exopolysaccharides(EPS)from Escherichia coli(E.coli)were extracted and purified.It was demonstrated that the obtained E.coli EPS had the ability to inhibit methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)biofilm formation and disperse a mature biofilm.To improve the anti-biofilm effect of vancomycin(VAN),E.coli EPS was used in combination with VAN.The combination increased the inhibition rate of MRSA biofilm and increased the dispersion rate of mature biofilm from 10%to 80%.When combined with E.coli EPS,the number of bacterial colonies within the MRSA biofilm remarkably decreased by 88%,resulting in a significant improvement over the use of VAN alone at an equivalent concentration.Meanwhile,E.coli EPS could down-regulate the expression of MRSA biofilm-related genes.E.coli EPS showed good anti-biofilm effect,and E.coli EPS/VAN combination could provided a potential strategy for treatment of MRSA biofilm infections.

This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name， medicinal parts， origin， harvesting， processing and other aspects of Houttuyniae Herba（HH） by referring to the medical books， prescription books and other documents of the past dynasties， combined with the research materials related to modern and contemporary times， in order to provide a basis for the development of famous classical formulas containing this herb. In ancient literature， HH was often referred to as "Ji" and "Jicai"， the name of "Ji" was first recorded in Mingyi Bielu during the Han and Wei dynasties， and the name of Yuxingcao was first seen in Lyuchanyan Bencao during the southern Song dynasty and has continued to this day. The origin of HH used throughout history is consistent， all of which are the whole herb or aboveground parts of Houttuynia cordata in Saururaceae family. HH recorded throughout history has a wide range of production areas， mostly self-produced self-marketing. In ancient times， fresh HH was often used as medicine by pounding its juice without involving any processing steps. Both fresh and dried products can be used as medicine， the fresh products uses the whole plant， while the dried products uses the aboveground parts， which are cleaned， selected and processed before use. Fresh products are harvested regardless of season， while dried products are harvested in both summer and autumn， with summer as the best. In ancient times， there were no specific requirements for the quality of HH， while in modern times， "intact stems and leaves with a strong fishy smell" are preferred. In addition， the medicinal properties of HH have undergone significant changes from ancient to modern times. In the early period， it was believed that its medicinal property was slightly warm， until the 1977 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia officially changed it to slightly cold. Both ancient and modern literature states that HH can be used for the treatment of carbuncle and malignant sores， Lyuchanyan Bencao for the first time introduced HH fresh juice can relieve summer heat， since Diannan Bencao recorded that it can be used for lung carbuncle， and gradually developed into the first choice for the treatment of lung carbuncle. Based on the research results， it is suggested that fresh herb or dried aboveground parts of H. cordata are used as medicine when developing famous classical formulas.

Osteoporosis(OP) is a senile bone disease characterized by an imbalance between bone remodeling and bone formation. Targeting pathogenesis of kidney deficiency, spleen deficiency, and blood stasis, Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction has a significant effect on the treatment of OP by tonifying kidney, invigorating spleen, and activating blood circulation. MicroRNA(miRNA) and the anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma-2-like protein 1(BCL2L1) are closely related to bone cell metabolism. Therefore, in this study, the binding of miR-140-5p to BCL2L1 was detected by dual luciferase assay and polymerase chain reaction(PCR). After silencing or overexpressing miR-140-5p, the apoptosis, autophagy, and osteogenic function of human fetal osteoblast cell line 1.19(HFOB1.19) were observed by flow cytometry and Western blot. Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction-containing serum was prepared by intragastric administration of Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction in rats. Different concentrations of Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction-containing serum were used to treat HFOB1.19 with or without miR-140-5p mimic. The expression of osteogenic proteins in each group was observed, and the role of miR-140-5p/BCL2L1 in apoptosis and autophagy of HFOB1.19 was studied, along with the effect of Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction on these processes. As indicated by the dual luciferase assay, miR-140-5p bound to BCL2L1. Flow cytometry and Western blot showed that miR-140-5p promoted apoptosis and inhibited autophagy in HFOB1.19. After intervention with high, medium, and low doses of Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction-medicated serum, compared with the miR-140-5p NC group, the expression of osteocalcin(OCN), osteopontin(OPN), Runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2), and transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1) decreased in the miR-140-5p mimic group, while the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2(BMP2) showed no significant difference under high-dose intervention. Therefore, miR-140-5p/BCL2L1 can promote apoptosis and inhibit autophagy in HFOB1.19. Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction can affect the osteogenic effect of miR-140-5p through BMP2.
MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Cell Line ; bcl-X Protein/metabolism* ; Osteoblasts/metabolism* ; Rats ; Osteoporosis/physiopathology* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Osteogenesis/drug effects*

This study employed the "disease-medicine-dose" pattern to mine the medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions containing Astragali Radix in ancient Chinese medical books, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of Astragali Radix and the development of new medicines. The TCM prescriptions containing Astragali Radix were retrieved from databases such as Chinese Medical Dictionary and imported into Excel 2020 to construct the prescription library. Statical analysis were performed for the prescriptions regarding the indications, syndromes, medicine use frequency, herb effects, nature and taste, meridian tropism, dosage forms, and dose. SPSS statistics 26.0 and IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 were used for association rules analysis and cluster analysis. A total of 2 297 prescriptions containing Astragali Radix were collected, involving 233 indications, among which sore and ulcer, consumptive disease, sweating disorder, and apoplexy had high frequency(>25), and their syndromes were mainly Qi and blood deficiency, Qi and blood deficiency, Yin and Yang deficiency, and Qi deficiency and collateral obstruction, respectively. In the prescriptions, 98 medicines were used with the frequency >25 and they mainly included Qi-tonifying medicines and blood-tonifying medicines. Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium were frequently used. The medicines with high frequency mainly have warm or cold nature, and sweet, pungent, or bitter taste, with tropism to spleen, lung, heart, liver, and kidney meridians. In the treatment of sore and ulcer, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 3.73 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to promote granulation and heal up sores. In the treatment of consumptive disease, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 37.30 g and combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma to tonify deficiency and replenish Qi. In the treatment of sweating disorder, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 3.73 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to consolidate exterior and stop sweating. In the treatment of apoplexy, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 7.46 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to dispell wind and stop convulsions. Astragali Radix can be used in the treatment of multiple system diseases, with the effects of tonifying Qi and ascending Yang, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, and expressing toxin and promoting granulation. According to the manifestations of different diseases, when combined with other medicines, Astragali Radix was endowed with the effects of promoting granulation and healing up sores, tonifying deficiency and Qi, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, and dispelling wind and replenishing Qi. The findings provide a theoretical reference and a scientific basis for the clinical application of Astragali Radix and the development of new medicines.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history* ; History, Ancient ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; China ; Astragalus propinquus

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