Olfactory receptors (ORs) form the largest superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Traditionally recognized for their role in the nasal olfactory epithelium, where they mediate the sense of smell, accumulating evidence has firmly established their ectopic expression in non-olfactory tissues, including the intestine, lungs, and kidneys. The intestine, as the primary site for nutrient digestion and absorption, harbors a highly complex chemical environment. To adapt to this environment, the gut employs a sophisticated network of “chemosensors” to monitor luminal contents and maintain homeostasis. Among these sensors, intestinal ORs have emerged as crucial functional components, serving as a molecular bridge that connects environmental chemical signals—such as food-derived odorants—to specific physiological responses. This discovery has significantly deepened our understanding of how dietary flavors and compounds influence intestinal physiology at the molecular level. This review systematically summarizes the expression profiles, ligand classification, and biological functions of ORs within the gastrointestinal tract. Studies indicate that intestinal ORs exhibit distinct spatial distribution patterns across different gut segments and display cell-type specificity, particularly within enterocytes and enteroendocrine cells. These receptors function as versatile sensors capable of recognizing a wide variety of ligands, including exogenous dietary components, gut microbiota metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, and endogenous small molecules like azelaic acid. Upon activation by specific ligands, intestinal ORs trigger intracellular signaling cascades, primarily involving the AC-cAMP-PKA pathway or calcium influx channels. A major focus of this review is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which these receptors regulate the secretion of gut hormones. Activation of specific ORs in enteroendocrine cells has been shown to stimulate the release of hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and serotonin (5-HT), thereby modulating systemic energy metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and gastrointestinal motility. Furthermore, the review addresses the critical roles of ORs in immune regulation and pathology. Evidence suggests that specific ORs contribute to the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis and may offer protection against inflammation. Beyond their involvement in inflammatory responses, ORs such as Olfr78 have been shown to regulate the differentiation and function of intestinal endocrine cells. Similarly, Olfr544 has been demonstrated to alleviate intestinal inflammation by remodeling the gut microbiome and metabolome. These findings collectively suggest that specific ORs hold promise as therapeutic targets for mitigating intestinal inflammation and maintaining gut homeostasis. Additionally, the review explores the emerging role of ORs in cancer. Although OR expression is often downregulated in tumor tissues compared to normal mucosa, activation of specific ORs by certain ligands can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and migration and induce apoptosis via pathways such as MEK/ERK and p38 MAPK. Conversely, other receptors, such as OR7C1, may serve as biomarkers for cancer-initiating cells. In conclusion, intestinal ORs represent a vital component of the gut’s sensory network. The review also discusses the translational potential of these findings. By elucidating the precise pairing relationships between dietary components and specific ORs, novel therapeutic strategies could be developed. Intestinal ORs may thus emerge as promising targets for nutritional and pharmacological interventions in metabolic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, and malignancies.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between imaging features of mixed ground-glass nodules(mGGNs)under dual lung enhanced CT and pathological subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma.Methods:Retrospective analysis of clinical data of 102 isolated mGGN lung adenocarcinoma patients admitted to Dalian Central Hospital from October 2016 to October 2018.The patients were divided into adenocarcinoma in situ(AIS)group,minimally invasive adenocarcinoma(MIA)group and invasive adenocarcinoma(IAC)group according to postoperative pathological examination results.Measure the maximum diameter lesions,the maximum diameter of solid components and the proportion of solid components to evaluate imaging features of three groups.The relationship between pathological subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma and baseline features,imaging features,mGGN lesions,maximum diameter of solid components and proportion of solid components were analyzed.The diagnostic value of the maximum diameter of lesions,the maximum diameter of solid components,and the proportion of solid components in IAC were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Results:102 patients were divided into AIS group(n=20),MIA group(n=29)and IAC group(n=53)based on postoperative pathological diagnosis.There was a statistically significant difference in age among the three groups(P＜0.05).Tumor distribution locations:35 cases in the upper lobe of the right lung,10 cases in the middle lobe of the right lung,and 15 cases in the lower lobe of the right lung;23 cases in the upper lobe of the left lung and 19 cases in the lower lobe of the left lung,the tumor distribution locations in the upper lobe of the right lung was relatively high in various pathological subtypes.The lesions in AIS and MIA groups were mostly circular or elliptical in shape,whiile the lesions in the IAC group was mostly irregular in shape.There was a statistically significant difference in morphological comparisons among the three groups(P＜0.05).There was a statistically significant difference in burr sign between MIA group and IAC group(P＜0.05).There was a statistically significant difference in pleural indentation sign and bronchial inflation sign between MIA group and IAC group(P＜0.05).There was a statistically significant difference in the maximum diameter of lesions and the maximum diameter of solid components among the three groups(P＜0.05).The proportion of solid components in IAC group was higher than that in AIS and MIA groups,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The ROC curve shows that,the area under curve(AUC)for diagnosing IAC based on the maximum diameter of the lesion,the maximum diameter of the solid component,and the proportion of the solid component were 0.840,0.966 and 0.816,respectively.The AUC of diagnosing IAC with the maximum diameter of the solid component was greater than the AUC of the maximum diameter of the lesion and the proportion of solid components(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Dual lung enhanced CT can evaluate the imaging features of mGGN,and it can distinguish the pathological subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma,when the maximum diameter of the lesion is ≥ 16.5 mm,the maximum diameter of the solid component is ≥5.5 mm,or the proportion of solid component is ≥47.00％,it can effectively diagnose IAC,the maximum diameter of solid components has the best diagnostic efficiency for IAC.

OBJECTIVE To identify and characterize the chemical ingredients of Anchang formulation,further screen the active ingredients of this formulation treating ulcerative colitis by network pharmacology,and explore the potential targets and pathways,provi-ding scientific basis for its mechanism research and clinical application.METHODS Chemical ingredients in Anchang formulation were acquired by Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS)technology and literature retrieval.The potential active ingredients and key targets for the treatment were obtained from Swiss Target Prediction,GeneCards,STRING,and then Gene Ontology(GO)function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment were analyzed in the DAVID database.The interactions between the active ingredients and the core targets were verified by using the AutoDock software.The RAW 264.7 murine-derived macrophage inflammation model was also established to val-idate the anti-inflammatory activity of the pre-screened chemical ingredients and further explore the related mechanisms.RESULTS In this study,108 chemical ingredients of Anchang formulation were characterized by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS technology,and expanded to 134 through literature search.The component-target network where 39 core active components were screened was further constructed,and 15 key therapeutic targets were screened by the protein-protein interaction network constructed.The enrichment analysis of KEGG pathway indicated that Anchang formulation can regulate TNF,PI3K-Akt,MAPK,cancer and other related signaling pathways and ex-ert a therapeutic effect.The results of cell experiments showed that Anchang formulation and its active ingredients could inhibit the re-lease of NO,TNF-α and IL-6 in the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell inflammation model.CONCLUSION Based on the concept of"ingredient-target-pathway",this study evaluates the anti-inflammatory effect of Anchang formulation and its active ingredients,pre-dicts the potential mechanism of treatment for UC,and provides a theoretical basis and research ideas for the quality control of the for-mulation and its treatment for UC.

As the world's second largest vector of pathogens,ticks can spread a variety of pathogens by sucking the host's blood.Ticks not only threaten human life and health,but also cause great economic losses in animal husbandry.Artificial breeding of ticks can provide a stable environment for the growth and reproduction of ticks,thereby generating sufficient exper-imental materials for understanding ticks'biological characteristics,studying tick-borne pathogens,and developing anti-tick drugs and vaccines.Current methods of breeding ticks in the laboratory can be roughly divided into two categories:breeding methods using host animals or artificial membranes.The selection of breeding method must be comprehensively considered,ac-cording to tick types,blood-sucking habits,living environments,and other aspects.The development processes of the two methods,and their respective advantages and disadvantages,are described and discussed,to assist laboratories in artificial breeding of ticks.

Objective To investigate the effects of open reading frame 1 protein(ORF1p),encoded by long interspersed nuclear element-1(LINE-1),on the proliferation,migration,and invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)cells,and explore the underlying molecular mechanism.Methods① Western blotting was performed to compare the expression of ORF1p between normal esophageal squamous epithelial cells and ESCC cells.② Immunohistochemistry(IHC)assay was used to examine ORF1p expression in ESCC tissues and paired normal tissues adjacent to tumor.③ The effects of ORF1p knockdown and overexpression on malignant behaviors in ESCC cells were determined through functional assays.④ Xenograft tumor model in nude mice was established to evaluate the impact of ORF1p on tumor growth in vivo.⑤ Transcriptome sequencing combined with cell functional rescue experiments were conducted to identify downstream targets regulated by ORF1p.Results ① Western blot analysis demonstrated the expression of ORF1p was significantly higher in the ESCC cell lines than the normal esophageal squamous epithelial cells(P<0.05).② IHC confirmed remarkable up-regulation of ORF1p in ESCC tissues than paired adjacent normal tissues(P<0.000 1).③ Functional assays and experiments on xenograft tumor models revealed that ORF1p substantially enhanced the proliferation,migration,and invasion of ESCC cells,as well as tumorigenic potential in vivo(P<0.05).④ Functional rescue experiments showed that ORF1p facilitated the proliferation,migration,and invasion of ESCC cells by modulating AJUBA expression(P<0.05).Conclusion ORF1p is significantly up-regulated in ESCC and promotes the proliferation,migration,and invasion of ESCC cells by regulating AJUBA expression.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of a newly constructed Aβ25-35-based recombinant gene vaccine for Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods The pcDNA-Aβ25-35-GRP94 recombinant gene vaccine was con-structed using Aβ25-35 as the epitope and pcDNA3.1 plasmid as the vector.Early APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice were selected as experimental subjects,including the AD control group and the pcDNA-Aβ25-35-GRP94 immunized group for regular immunization.ELISA was performed to detect the titers and isotypes of Aβ-specific antibodies;Morris Water Maze(MWM)Test and Open-Field Test(OFT)were performed to determine the changes in both cognitive ability and mental state of mice;Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the effects of the vac-cine on both Aβ plaques and glial cells in the brains of AD mouse models;ELISA kit was used to evaluate the level of inflammatory factors(TNF-α,IL-1β)in the mouse brain.Results Compared with the AD control group,the pcDNA-Aβ25-35-GRP94 vaccine induced APP/PS1 mice to produce higher levels of Aβ specific antibodies(P<0.05),and mainly induced IgG1 antibodies(P<0.01).The vaccine significantly reduced Aβ plaques in the brain tissue(P<0.05)and effectively alleviated learning memory impairment in APP/PS1 mice(P<0.05)without causing mental behavioral abnormalities.Moreover,the vaccine inhibited the abnormal proliferation of glial cells(P<0.05)and did not cause obvious inflammatory reactions in the brain,suggesting the vaccine was safe and effective.Conclusions Early vaccination with a Aβ25-35-based recombinant gene vaccine can induce the formation of high level of Aβ specific antibodies,effectively alleviate the learning memory impairment of AD and related neu-ro-pathological changes.It may be used to treat AD.

Hyperuricemia is a chronic metabolic disease resulting from purine metabolic dysfunction and is classified under the category of"blood turbidity"in traditional Chinese medicine.Our team termed it"acid turbidity,"and its pathogenesis is closely related to the dynamic evolution of the clear and the turbid components.With the change of modern people's diet structure,the incidence of hyperuricemia is increasing annually owing to the intake of fatty,sweet foods and alcohol.Therefore,this paper explores hyperuricemia from the"indigestion of spleen and stomach"theory.The core pathogenesis of hyperuricemia is indigestion of spleen and stomach,the inversion of clear and turbid substances,and endogenous acid turbidity.The initial manifestation of hyperuricemia is the internal retention of acid turbidity and ascending-descending disharmony;the gradual manifestation of this disease is that indigestion causes heat,and acid turbidity transforms into poison;the final manifestation of this disease is that secular indigestion causes deficiency and the inversion of clear and turbid substances.It can be summarized into three syndromes:syndromes of internal retention of dampness-turbidity,dampness-heat toxin amassment,and dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency.Therefore,this paper proposes to treat the disease according to different syndromes,with ascending the clear and descending the turbid as the core of treatment.And the therapeutic approach employs the flexible application of three methods:transportation,resolving,and transformation.For syndrome of internal retention of dampness-turbidity,treatment focuses on promoting spleen transportation to eliminate dampness;for syndrome of dampness-heat toxin amassment,the strategy is to resolve indigestion and purge heat;and for syndrome of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency,the aim is to resolve turbidity and clear heat.By ascending the clear and descending the turbid,so that"returning the clear and the turbid to the original,"the spleen and stomach regain harmony,functions of ascending and descending are reestablished,and hyperuricemia can be effectively managed.

This study aims to comprehensively analyze the material basis of toad visceral oil(hereafter referred to as toad oil), and explore the pharmacological effect of toad oil on atopic dermatitis(AD). Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap/orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) were employed to comprehensively identify the chemical components in toad oil. The animal model of AD was prepared by the hapten stimulation method. The modeled animals were respectively administrated with positive drug(0.1% hydrocortisone butyrate cream) and low-and high-doses(1%, 10%) of toad oil by gavage. The effect of toad oil on AD was evaluated with the AD score, ear swelling rate, spleen index, and pathological section results as indicators. A total of 99 components were identified by UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS, including 14 bufadienolides, 7 fatty acids, 6 alkaloids, 10 ketones, 18 amides, and other compounds. After methylation of toad oil samples, a total of 20 compounds were identified by GC-MS. Compared with the model group, the low-and high-dose toad oil groups showed declined AD score, ear swelling rate, and spleen index, alleviated skin lesions, and reduced infiltrating mast cells. This study comprehensively analyzes the chemical composition and clarifies the material basis of toad oil. Meanwhile, this study proves that toad oil has a good therapeutic effect on AD and is a reserve resource of traditional Chinese medicine for external use in the treatment of AD.
Animals ; Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Male ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Bufonidae ; Oils/administration & dosage* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

To elucidate the mechanism by which steaming affects the quality of Curcuma kwangsiensis root tubers, methods such as LSCM, RVA, dual-wavelength spectrophotometry, LF-NMR, and LC-MS were employed to qualitatively and quantitatively detect changes in starch gelatinization characteristics, water distribution, and material composition of C. kwangsiensis root tubers under different steaming durations. Based on multivariate statistical analysis, the correlation between differences in gelatinization parameters, water distribution, and terpenoid material composition was investigated. The results indicate that steaming affects both starch gelatinization and water distribution in C. kwangsiensis. During the steaming process, transformations occur between amylose and amylopectin, as well as between semi-bound water and free water. After 60 min of steaming, starch gelatinization and water distribution reached an equilibrium state. The content of amylopectin, the amylose-to-amylopectin ratio, and parameters such as gelatinization temperature, viscosity, breakdown value, and setback value were significantly correlated(P≤0.05). Additionally, the amylose-to-amylopectin ratio was significantly correlated with total free water and total water content(P≤0.05). Steaming induced differences in the material composition of C. kwangsiensis root tubers. Clustering of primary metabolites in the OPLS-DA model was distinct, while secondary metabolites were classified into 9 clusters using the K-means clustering algorithm. Differential terpenoid metabolites such as(-)-α-curcumene were significantly correlated with zerumbone, retinal, and all-trans-retinoic acid(P<0.05). Curcumenol was significantly correlated with isoalantolactone and ursolic acid(P<0.05), while all-trans-retinoic acid was significantly correlated with both zerumbone and retinal(P<0.05). Alpha-tocotrienol exhibited a significant correlation with retinal and all-trans-retinoic acid(P<0.05). Amylose was extremely significantly correlated with(-)-α-curcumene, curcumenol, zerumbone, retinal, all-trans-retinoic acid, and α-tocotrienol(P<0.05). Amylopectin was significantly correlated with zerumbone(P<0.05) and extremely significantly correlated with(-)-α-curcumene, curcumenol, zerumbone, retinal, all-trans-retinoic acid, and 9-cis-retinoic acid(P<0.01). The results provide scientific evidence for elucidating the mechanism of quality formation of steamed C. kwangsiensis root tubers as a medicinal material.
Curcuma/chemistry* ; Starch/chemistry* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Water/chemistry* ; Terpenes/analysis* ; Plant Roots/chemistry* ; Plant Tubers/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*

To explore the variation laws of volatile oil during the extraction process of Artemisiae Argyi Folium and its impact on the quality of the medicinal solution, as well as to achieve precise control of the extraction process, this study employed headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(HS-SPME-GC-MS) in combination with multiple light scattering techniques to conduct a comprehensive analysis, identification, and characterization of the changes in volatile components and the physical properties of the medicinal solution during the extraction process. A total of 82 volatile compounds were identified using the HS-SPME-GC-MS technique, including 21 alcohols, 15 alkenes, 14 ketones, 9 acids, 6 aldehydes, 5 phenols, 3 esters, and 9 other types of compounds. At different extraction time points(15, 30, 45, and 60 min), 71, 72, 64, and 44 compounds were identified in the medicinal solution, respectively. It was observed that the content of volatile components gradually decreased with the extension of extraction time. Through multivariate statistical analysis, four compounds with significant differences during different extraction time intervals were identified, namely 1,8-cineole, terpinen-4-ol, 3-octanone, and camphor. RESULTS:: from multiple light scattering techniques indicated that at 15 minutes of extraction, the transmittance of the medicinal solution was the lowest(25%), the particle size was the largest(0.325-0.350 nm), and the stability index(turbiscan stability index, TSI) was the highest(0-2.5). With the extension of extraction time, the light transmittance of the medicinal solution improved, stability was enhanced, and the particle size decreased. These laws of physicochemical property changes provide important basis for the control of Artemisiae Argyi Folium extraction process. In addition, the changes in the bioactivity of Artemisiae Argyi Folium extracts during the extraction process were investigated through mouse writhing tests and antimicrobial assays. The results indicated that the analgesic and antimicrobial effects of the medicinal solution were strongest at the 15-minute extracting point. In summary, the findings of this study demonstrate that the content of volatile oil in Artemisiae Argyi Folium extracts gradually decreases with the extension of extraction time, and the variation in volatile oil content directly influences the physicochemical properties and pharmacological efficacy of the medicinal solution. This discovery provides important scientific reference for the optimization of Artemisiae Argyi Folium extraction processes and the development and application of process analytical technologies.
Oils, Volatile/pharmacology* ; Artemisia/chemistry* ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Chlorogenic Acid/pharmacology* ; Solid Phase Microextraction ; Quality Control