Objective To investigate the effect of Anchusa italica Retz.extract on cough variant asthma(CVA)and its mechanism of action.Methods Forty-eight SD rats of each eight were randomly divided into blank group(equal amount of saline),model group(equal amount of saline),control group(250 mg·kg-1 prednisone acetate)and experimental-A1,-A5,-A7 groups(61.1 mg·kg-1 Anchusa italica Retz.extract A1,48.8 mg·kg-1 Anchusa italica Retz.extract A5,201.8 mg·kg-1 Anchusa italica Retz.extract A7),continuous gavage for 28 d;except for the blank group,the other groups were made with ovalbumin-complete Freund's adjuvant.The number of cough times of each rat was observed.The changes in the expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),myeloid differentiation factor(MyD88)and nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)proteins were observed in the lung tissue.Results The cough times in the blank group,model group,control group and experimental-A1,-A5,-A7 groups were 1.10±0.22,8.33±1.24,3.08±0.65,3.31±0.99,3.08±1.02 and 3.06±0.68;the relative expression levels of TLR4 protein were 0.61±0.01,0.84±0.04,0.66±0.02,0.64±0.04,0.64±0.03 and 0.69±0.02;the relative expression levels of MyD88 protein were 0.54±0.08,0.86±0.06,0.71±0.06,0.65±0.05,0.64±0.08 and 0.70±0.06;the relative expression levels of p-NF-κB protein were 0.48±0.11,0.94±0.06,0.80±0.08,0.68±0.04,0.68±0.06 and 0.78±0.09.Compared with the experimental-A1,-A5,-A7 groups,control group,normal group,the differences were statistically significant in the model group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The extract of Anchusa Italica Retz.can inhibit the symptoms of CVA rats,and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of cardamomine(CAR)on anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in rats by regulating the pyroptosis mediated by Notch/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signal pathway.Methods The rat model of cardiotoxicity was established by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin(DOX).The model rats were randomly divided into DOX group,CAR-L group,CAR-H group and Jagged1 group.Another 10 rats were taken as the control group.The control group and the DOX group were given the same amount of 0.9％NaCl.The CAR-L group and CAR-H group were given 40 and 80 mg·kg-1 CAR by gavage,respectively.The Jagged1 group was given 80 mg·kg-1 CAR+and 25 ng·kg-1 Jagged1 by gavage once a day for 4 weeks.Myocardial injury markers creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK-MB)and troponin Ⅰ(cTn Ⅰ)were detected by kit.The expression of pyroptosis protein Nod-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)and desquamate D(GSDM-D)were observed by immunohistochemistry.The expression of Notch1 and phosphorylated NF-κB p65(p-NF-κB p65)protein in myocardial tissue was detected by Western blotting.Results The levels of CK-MB in control group,DOX group,CAR-L group,CAR-H group and Jagged1 group were(48.51±5.39),(175.93±13.27),(106.83±9.73),(83.71±8.39)and(126.08±9.74)U·L-1;the levels of cTn Ⅰ were(1.95±0.18),(12.46±1.83),(7.15±0.64),(4.13±0.38)and(8.01±0.78)ng·mL-1;the average optical density of NLRP3 protein were 0.19±0.07,0.36±0.05,0.25±0.05,0.21±0.03 and 0.31±0.06;the average optical density of GSDM-D were 0.18±0.04,0.43±0.06,0.24±0.03,0.19±0.04 and 0.32±0.05.There were significant differences in the above indexes between DOX group and control group(all P＜0.05).There were significant differences in the above indexes between CAR-L group,CAR-H group and DOX group(all P＜0.05),and there were significant differences between CAR-L group and CAR-H group(all P＜0.05).The above indexes in Jagged1 group were significantly different from those in CAR-H group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion CAR can improve myocardial injury in DOX cardiotoxic rats,reduce oxidative stress,inflammatory reaction and pyroptosis,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Notch/NF-κB pathway.

Autophagy is mediated by multiple molecules and pathways. In cardiovascular diseases， autophagy can play a role through key signaling pathways such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）/mTOR， mitogen-activated protein kinases （MAPK）， p53， Wnt/β-catenin， etc. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） monomers for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis such as hydroxysafflor yellow A， ginsenoside Rb1， salidroside， ligustrin， curcumin， etc.， and TCM prescription and preparations such as Huangqi baoxin decoction， Taohong siwu decoction， Tongxinluo capsule， Shuangshen ningxin capsule， Suxiao jiuxin pills， etc. can regulate autophagy through the above-mentioned key signaling pathways， thereby alleviating the progression of cardiovascular diseases.

The breakthrough progress of implantable brain-computer interfaces (iBCIs) technology in the field of clinical trials has attracted widespread attention from both academia and industry. The development and advancement of this technology have provided new solutions for the rehabilitation of patients with movement disorders. However, challenges from many aspects make it difficult for iBCIs to further implement and transform technologies. This paper illustrates the key challenges restricting the large-scale development of iBCIs from the perspective of system implementation, then discusses the latest clinical application progress in depth, aiming to provide new ideas for researchers. For the system implementation part, we have elaborated the front-end signal collector, signal processing and decoder, then the effector. The most important part of the front-end module is the neural electrode, which can be divided into two types: piercing and attached. These two types of electrodes are newly classified and described. In the signal processing and decoder section, we have discussed the experimental paradigm together with signal processing and decoder for the first time and believed that the experimental paradigm acts as a learning benchmark for decoders that play a pivotal role in iBCIs systems. In addition, the characteristics and roles of the effectors commonly used in iBCIs systems, including cursors and robotic arms, are analyzed in detail. In the clinical progress section, we have divided the latest clinical progress into two categories: functional rehabilitation and functional replacement from the perspective of the application scenarios of iBCIs. Functional rehabilitation and functional replacement are two different types of application, though the boundary between the two is not absolute. To this end, we have first introduced the corresponding clinical trial progress from the three levels: application field, research team, and clinical timeline, and then conducted an in-depth discussion and analysis of their functional boundaries, in order to provide guidance for future research. Finally, this paper mentions that the key technical challenges in the development of iBCIs technology come from multiple aspects. First of all, from the signal acquisition level, high-throughput and highly bio-compatible neural interface designing is essential to ensure long-term stable signal acquisition. The electrode surface modification method and electrode packaging were discussed. Secondly, in terms of decoding performance, real-time, accurate, and robust algorithms have a decisive impact on improving the reliability of iBCIs systems. The third key technology is from the perspective of practicality, we believe that the signal transmission mode of wireless communication is the trend of the future, but it still needs to overcome challenges such as data transmission rate and battery life. Finally, we believe that issues such as ethics, privacy, and security need to be addressed through legal, policy, and technological innovation. In summary, the development of iBCIs technology requires not only the unremitting efforts of scientific researchers, but also the participation and support of policymakers, medical professionals, technology developers, and all sectors of society. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, iBCIs technology will achieve wider clinical applications in the future and make important contributions to improving the quality of life of patients.

The incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) continues to rise, and there are no effective drugs to treat it. The immune microenvironment plays an important role in the development of ICC and is currently a research hotspot. Icaritin (ICA) is an innovative traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. It is considered to have potential immunoregulatory and anti-tumor effects, which is potentially consistent with the understanding of "Fuzheng" in the treatment of tumor in traditional Chinese medicine. However, whether ICA can be used to treat ICC has not been reported. Therefore, in this study, sgp19/kRas, an in situ ICC mouse model with intact immune system, was selected to evaluate the efficacy of ICA in the treatment of ICC in vivo for the first time, and the effects of ICA on the tumor immune microenvironment of ICC mice were analyzed by flow cytometry. This experiment was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Capital Medical University (approval number: AEEI-2023-138). In this study, sgp19/kRas ICC mouse model was treated with oral gavage of 100 mg·kg^-1 ICA. We found that ICA significantly inhibited tumor growth and tumor cell proliferation in the sgp19/kRas ICC mouse model after 3 weeks of treatment. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that ICA treatment markedly reduced the proportion of M2 macrophages and increased the number of CD3⁺CD4⁺ T cells. In vitro experiments demonstrated that ICA promoted macrophage polarization towards the M1 phenotype while inhibiting polarization towards the M2 phenotype. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis suggested that ICA enhanced Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) expression, influencing macrophage nitric oxide metabolism synthesis pathways and receptor-related activities, thereby regulating macrophage polarization. In summary, this study demonstrates that ICA treatment significantly delays tumor progression in sgp19/kRas ICC mouse models. Mechanistically, ICA may achieve its anti-ICC effects by upregulating TLR9 receptor expression levels, promoting macrophage polarization towards the M1 phenotype, and altering the tumor immune microenvironment.

Superior vena cava syndrome(SVCS)is a group of clinical syndromes caused by obstruction of the superior vena cava and its major branches from various causes.Pulmonary artery stenosis(PS)is a complication of lung cancer or mediastinal tumours.SVCS combined with PS due to pulmonary metastases from bladder cancer is extremely rare and has not been reported in the literature.Here we reported an old male patient with pulmonary metastases from bladder cancer presenting with swelling of the head,neck and both upper limbs.SVCS combined with PS was clarified by pulmonary artery computed tomography angiography(CTA)and digital subtraction angiography(DSA).Endovascular stenting was used to treat SVCS.Angiography also showed that PS had not caused pulmonary hypertension and did not need to be treated.The swelling of the patient's head,neck and upper limbs was gradually reduced after the procedure.

Tuberous sclerosis complex(TSC)is a rare genetic disease that can lead to benign dysplasia in multiple organs such as the skin, brain, eyes, oral cavity, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and bones. Its main symptoms include epilepsy, intellectual disabilities, skin depigmentation, and facial angiofibromas, whilst incidence is approximately 1 in 10 000 to 1 in 6000 newborns. This case presents a middle-aged woman who initially manifested with epilepsy and nodular depigmentation. Later, she developed a lower abdominal mass, elevated creatinine, and severe anemia. Based on clinical features and whole exome sequencing, the primary diagnosis was confirmed as TSC. Laboratory and imaging examinations revealed that the lower abdominal mass originated from the uterus. CT-guided biopsy pathology and surgical pathology suggested a combination of leiomyoma and abscess. With the involvement of multiple organs and various complications beyond the main diagnosis, the diagnostic and therapeutic process for this patient highlights the importance of rigorous clinical thinking and multidisciplinary collaboration in the diagnosis and treatment of rare and challenging diseases.

Microneedles can penetrate the skin barrier to deliver drugs without touching the nociceptive nerves， to effectively increase the efficiency of transdermal drug delivery and improve patient compliance. Exosomes have multiple physiological functions and good biocompatibility， and are natural nanoscale drug carriers. This paper reviews the pathways and advantages of exosomes combined with microneedles for the treatment of diseases， and describes the current research status of exosome microneedle drug delivery system in various diseases. Exosome microneedles can be divided into two categories： （1） exosomes as therapeutic agents， their unique physiological origin can effectively avoid the toxicity and immunogenicity of conventional drugs and other problems； combined with microneedles directly in the specific medication site can greatly improve the metabolic consumption of oral drug delivery and patient compliance of injection drug delivery. （2） Exosomes as drug carriers， their natural vesicle structure and endogenous characteristics can protect the metabolism of foreign drugs in the body and enhance the targeting； combined with microneedles can effectively solve the problem of transdermal delivery of drugs with high efficacy but poor stability. Exosome microneedle drug delivery system is still in the laboratory stage， but it has shown great development prospects in repairing spinal cord injury， promoting diabetic ulcer wound healing， germinating， intervening myocardial infraction， relieving chronic pain and other diseases.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on cognitive function of vascular dementia (VD) rats and its mechanism. MethodsVD rat model was established by modified two-vessel occlusion (2-VO). After modeling, TEAS and electroacupuncture (EA) were used to stimulate Baihui and Zusanli points of rats respectively for 14 d. After treatment, novel object recognition test, Morris water maze test, and Y maze test were used to evaluate the spatial memory and learning ability of rats. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the morphology of hippocampal neurons. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of hippocampal mitochondria. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to detected the levels of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, MDA and ROS in serum of rats. Western blot was used to detect the expression of PGC-1α, TFAM, HO-1, NQO1 proteins in the hippocampus, Keap1 protein in the cytoplasm and Nrf2, NRF1 proteins in the nucleus. ResultsAfter treatment for 14 d, compared to the model group, the escape latency of VD rats decreased, while the discrimination index, the times of rats crossing the original platform area, the residence time in the original platform quadrant, and the percentage of alternation increased. TEAS can improve the structure of hippocampal neurons and mitochondria of VD rats, showing that neurons were arranged more regularly and distributed more evenly, nuclear membrane and nucleoli were clearer, and mitochondrial swelling were reduced, mitochondrial matrix density were increased, and mitochondrial cristae were more obvious. The levels of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT in serum increased significantly, while the concentration of MDA and ROS decreased. TEAS also up-regulated the expression levels of PGC-1α TFAM, NQO1 and HO-1 proteins in the hippocampus and Nrf2, NRF1 proteins in the nucleus, but down-regulated the Keap1 protein in the cytoplasm. ConclusionTEAS can improve cognition, hippocampal neurons and mitochondrial structure of VD rats, and the effect is better than EA. The mechanism may be the activation of PGC-1α mediated mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant stress, which also provides a potential therapeutic technology and experimental basis for the treatment of VD.

The number of type 2 diabetes(T2DM)accounts for more than 90％of all Diabetes mellitus(DM).The decrease of islet β cell mass and dysfunction are the core links of T2DM.With the prolongation of the course of disease,the number and function of β cells are gradually attenuated,and the damage mechanism has not been elucidated.At present,it is believed that it is closely related to metabolic stress,abnormal regulation of insulin secretion,changes in islet microenvironment,mitochondrial damage,glycolipid toxicity and dedifferentiation of islet β cells.Therefore,the mechanism of islet β cell damage in T2DM is summarized and elaborated in order to provide some reference for the precise intervention of T2DM.