Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary fibrogenic cells in the liver, and their activation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. Here, we report that retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXRα), a unique member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a key modulator of HSC activation and liver fibrosis. RXRα exerts its effects by modulating calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ)-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα). In addition, we demonstrate that K-80003, which binds RXRα by a unique mechanism, effectively suppresses HSC activation, proliferation, and migration, thereby inhibiting liver fibrosis in the CCl₄ and amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet animal models. The effect is mediated by AMPKα activation, promoting mitophagy in HSCs. Mechanistically, K-80003 activates AMPKα by inducing RXRα to form condensates with CaMKKβ and AMPKα via a two-phase process. The formation of RXRα condensates is driven by its N-terminal intrinsic disorder region and requires phosphorylation by CaMKKβ. Our results reveal a crucial role of RXRα in liver fibrosis regulation through modulating mitochondrial activities in HSCs. Furthermore, they suggest that K-80003 and related RXRα modulators hold promise as therapeutic agents for fibrosis-related diseases.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the association between susceptibility genes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children with obesity. METHODS: We conducted a two-step case-control study. Ninety-three participants were subjected to whole-exome sequencing (exploratory set). Differential genes identified in the small sample were validated in 1,022 participants using multiplex polymerase chain reaction and high-throughput sequencing (validation set). RESULTS: In the exploratory set, 14 genes from the NAFLD-associated pathways were identified. In the validation set, after adjusting for sex, age, and body mass index, ECI2 rs2326408 (dominant model: OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.02-1.72; additive model: OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.47), C6orf201 rs659305 (dominant model: OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.01-1.69; additive model: OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.00-1.45), CALML5 rs10904516 (pre-ad dominant model: OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.01-1.83; adjusted dominant model: OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.03-1.91; and pre-ad additive model: OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04-1.66) polymorphisms were significantly associated with NAFLD in children with obesity ( P < 0.05). Interaction analysis revealed that the gene-gene interaction model of CALML5 rs10904516, COX11 rs17209882, and SCD5 rs3733228 was optional ( P < 0.05), demonstrating a negative interaction between the three genes. CONCLUSION In the Chinese population, the CALML5 rs10904516, C6orf201 rs659305, and ECI2 rs2326408 variants could be genetic markers for NAFLD susceptibility.
Humans ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/genetics* ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Case-Control Studies ; Exome Sequencing ; Adolescent ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Obesity/complications* ; Pediatric Obesity/complications* ; China

In recent years,more and more researches has focused on the correlation between cognitive activity and physiological variables.The change of pupil is regarded as an important target in the cognitive process,and has become a hot research field.This review focuses on the three key brain regions that regulate pupil change,and reflects the neurophysiological mechanism behind pupil change by elaborating the neural pathways related to pupil change and cognitive performance.Based on recent studies on pupil change in cognitive diseases,it aims to promote the application of pupil change in the field of cognitive science in the future.

Sarin(GB)is a typical representative of nerve agents with high toxicity,and very low amount can cause death.GB can cause water and atmospheric environment poisoning,so the detection of GB in water and air is of great significance.In this work,a colorimetric sensor array(CSA)based on GB inhibition of cholinesterase activity was constructed to detect GB with high selectivity.A 4×4 colorimetric array was constructed using acetylcholinesterase(AChE),butyryl cholinesterase(BuChE)and the corresponding substrate acetylthiocholine iodide(S-ACh),butyryl thiocholine iodide(S-BCh),acetylcholine chloride(ACh),butyryl choline chloride(BCh)and 2,6-dichloroindophenol ethyl ester(DCIE).The linear curve of the sensor was Y=131.3×lgC+271.6(R2=0.997),where Y was the array response Euclidean distance,C was the concentration of GB(mg/L),the linear range was 0.03?0.32 mg/L,and the detection limit was 27.6 μg/L.The method could effectively distinguish chemical warfare agents(CWA)such as VX,Soman(GD),mustard gas(HD),Louie reagent(L),and had high anti-interference ability,sensitivity and good repeatability.It was successfully applied to the detection of GB in simulated water and simulated air samples,and the sample recovery rate was 97.2% ?100.9%.This method would be potentially applied to the field rapid detection of nerve agents.

Objective To explore the value of electrocardiogram in predicting culprit vessels in acute inferior myocardial infarction.Methods The clinical data of 129 patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction admitted to First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from January 2015 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were received coronary intervention treatment,and the culprit vessels were identified by coronary angiography.The culprit vessels during surgery were recorded.The preoperative electrocardio-gram of patients were analyzed,a new method for predicting culprit vessels in acute inferior myocardial infarction was established based on the previous researches,and the accuracies of the Fiol method,Tiala method,Huang's algorithm and new method in predicting the culprit vessels in acute inferior myocardial infarction were also counted.The predictive abilities of various methods on culprit vessels were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated.Results The culprit vessels of 109 patients were the right coronary artery,16 cases were the left circumflex artery,and 4 cases were the anterior descending artery.A total of 52 patients developed clinical complications,of which the culprit vessels of 47 cases were right coronary artery and 5 cases were circumflex artery.The accuracies of the Fiol method,Tierala method,Huang's algorithm,and new method in predicting culprit vessels were 83.7%,81.4%,82.9%,and 85.3%,respectively.The ROC curve analysis showed that the Fiol method(AUC=0.941),Tierrala method(AUC= 0.945),Huang's algorithm(AUC=0.945),and new method(AUC=0.964)all had strong predictive ability for culprit vessels.Conclusion For patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction,the Fiol method,Tierala method,Huang's algorithm,and new method all have high predictive value for culprit vessels in analyzing the preoperative electrocardiogram,and the new method has a higher predictive value.

AIM To rapidly screen xanthine oxidase(XOD)inhibitors from Smilax glabra Roxb.by enzyme-immobilized magnetic microspheres and LC-MS/MS,and to confirm the anti-uric acid constituents from S.glabra Roxb.METHODS The immobilized xanthine oxidase was prepared by covalent coupling with carboxyl magnetic beads as a carrier.The xanthine oxidase inhibitors in S.glabra were screened by the specific adsorption of immobilized enzyme.LC-MS/MS and standard substances were used for analysis and comparison,and the inhibitory activity and inhibition type of the screened and identified components were investigated.RESULTS The successful synthesis of immobilized xanthine oxidase was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy.The enzyme loading was 70.50 μg/mg and the relative activity was 79.44%.Thirteen active compounds were screened from the extract of S.glabra,and eleven compounds were identified.The enzyme activity test showed that the inhibitory activites of engeletin and isoengeletin were the strongest,which was close to the positive control allopurinol.The IC50 value and inhibition type were 32.25 μg/mL,mixed inhibition,35.12 μg/mL,competitive inhibition.CONCLUSION The method is simple,rapid,accurate and suitable for directly screened active ingredients which can inhibit XOD from complex extract of traditional Chinese medicines.

The methanol extract of Huperzia serrata was separated and purified by ODS, AB-8 macroporous adsorption resin, dextran gel Sephadex LH-20 and silica gel column chromatography combined with the semi-pre HPLC. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were identified by MS, IR, NMR, etc. Four compounds were isolated from Huperzia serrata and identified, named as serratinine C (1), lycobeline C (2), diphaladin A (3) and crenatine (4). Compound 1 is a new alkaloid, compounds 2-4 were isolated for the first time. In vitro biological activity experiments showed that compound 1 could significantly reduce the levels of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in glial cells induced by lipopolysaccharide and had significant antioxidant biological activity.

OBJECTIVE: The study explores the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the governing vessel (GV) on proteomic changes in the hippocampus of rats with cognitive impairment. METHODS: Healthy male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham, model and EA. Cognitive impairment was induced by left middle cerebral artery occlusion in the model and EA groups. Rats in the EA group were treated with EA at Shenting (GV24) and Baihui (GV20) for 7 d. Neurological deficit was scored using the Longa scale, the learning and memory ability was detected using the Morris water maze (MWM) test, and the proteomic profiling in the hippocampus was analyzed using protein-labeling technology based on the isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). The Western blot (WB) analysis was used to detect the proteins and validate the results of iTRAQ. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the neurological deficit score was significantly reduced, and the escape latency in the MWM test was significantly shortened, while the number of platform crossings increased in the EA group. A total of 2872 proteins were identified by iTRAQ. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified between different groups: 92 proteins were upregulated and 103 were downregulated in the model group compared with the sham group, while 142 proteins were upregulated and 126 were downregulated in the EA group compared with the model group. Most of the DEPs were involved in oxidative phosphorylation, glycolipid metabolism and synaptic transmission. Furthermore, we also verified 4 DEPs using WB technology. Although the WB results were not exactly the same as the iTRAQ results, the expression trends of the DEPs were consistent. The upregulation of heat-shock protein β1 (Hspb1) was the highest in the EA group compared to the model group. CONCLUSION EA can effect proteomic changes in the hippocampus of rats with cognitive impairment. Hspb1 may be involved in the molecular mechanism by which acupuncture improves cognitive impairment.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Electroacupuncture ; Proteomics ; Cognitive Dysfunction/therapy* ; Hippocampus

This study analyzed the main chemical components of Zhuru Decoction via ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS), and then predicted the mechanism of Zhuru Decoction in clearing heat, resolving phlegm, detoxifying, and treating vomiting and alcohol-related vomiting caused by heat in stomach based on network pharmacology. The gradient elution was conducted in Agilent ZORBAX extend-C_(18) column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.8 μm) with the mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution(A)-acetonitrile(B) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min~(-1) and the column temperature of 35 ℃. The MS adopted the positive and negative ion mode of electrospray ionization(ESI), and the data were collected in the scanning range of m/z 100-1 500. A total of 98 compounds in Zhuru Decoction were identified via BATMAN, SYMMAP, TCMSP, and relevant literature, including 36 flavonoids, 7 triterpenoids, 8 gingerols, 20 organic acids, 5 amino acids, and 22 other compounds. On the basis of the available studies, 9 components were selected as index components, and the protein-protein interaction(PPI) network of the common targets was established with STRING 11.0. Finally, 10 core targets associated with the pharmacodynamic effect were screened out. This study established the UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS method for identifying the chemical components in the classic prescription Zhuru Decoction, and employed network pharmacology to explore the core targets of its efficacy, which provided a refe-rence for the quality control and the research of the pharmacodynamic substances of Zhuru Decoction.
Humans ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Network Pharmacology ; Vomiting

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of dental autotransplantation with the application of digital design combined with 3D printing of donor tooth models and recipient alveolar fossa model preoperatively. Methods: Twelve cases that could not be retained due to tooth fracture or extensive absorption of alveolar bone were recruited in the study. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) data were imported into Mimics software for digital design, and the best-matched third molar was selected as the donor tooth. Replicas of the donor teeth and the recipient socket were printed out with three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies as a simulation model for recipient tooth socket preparation. During tooth autotransplantation, preparation of the recipient tooth socket and the donor tooth were guided by the 3D-printed replicas sequentially. Then, the donor tooth was implanted into the recipient tooth pocket. Patients were followed up at 3, 6 and 12 months after the operation, with CBCT examination to evaluate the status of bone reconstruction and periodontal ligaments at each time point. Results: Twelve patients were transplanted with an autogenous third molar with the apical foramen completely closed. Among them, 7 patients had alveolar fossa infection before the operation, of which 1 had extensive resorption of the alveolar bone due to the infection. All 12 patients recovered well after the operation and were followed up for at least 12 months. In total, 11 caseswere successful in tooth autotransplantation with normal mastication, and 1 case had root resorption 14 months postoperation. Conclusion Digital design combined with 3D printing technology can assistin the selection of thebest-matched donor tooth and preparation of the recipient socket before tooth transplantation proceduresand reduce the extra-alveolar exposure time of the donor tooth and number of trial placementsintothe alveolar fossa. Thus, this combined strategy can effectively improve the outcome of dental autotransplantation.