ObjectiveThis study aimed to elucidate the specific molecular mechanism by which PAGE5 promotes breast cancer cell invasion and hepatic metastasis through regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and its downstream effector， matrix metalloproteinase 1 （MMP1）. MethodsBioinformatics analysis using the TCGA database was performed to evaluate PAGE5 expression in metastatic breast cancer tissues. The effects of PAGE5 on the proliferation， migration， and invasion capabilities of breast cancer cells were analyzed using CCK-8， EdU， Transwell， and wound healing assays. A splenic injection hepatic metastasis model in NOD-SCID mice was employed to validate the impact of PAGE5 on breast cancer liver metastasis. Transcriptome sequencing and KEGG enrichment analysis were conducted to identify potential signaling pathways regulated by PAGE5. Western blot was used to detect AKT phosphorylation levels. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （qPCR） was applied to screen and validate downstream target molecules of PAGE5. ResultsBioinformatic analysis revealed that PAGE5 expression was significantly upregulated in distant metastasis of breast cancer. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that PAGE5 overexpression markedly enhanced the migration and invasion abilities of breast cancer cells and promoted the formation of liver metastatic lesions， whereas PAGE5 knockdown suppressed breast cancer liver metastasis （P＜0.000 1）. Transcriptome sequencing and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that PAGE5 significantly activated the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway （P=0.028 5）. Western blot confirmed that PAGE5 upregulated p-AKT levels， which could be reversed by MK2206. The qPCR results confirmed that MMP1 is a key downstream effector of PAGE5， and its expression can be inhibited by MK2206 （P＜0.000 1）. ConclusionsThis study preliminarily demonstrates that PAGE5 can activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and mediate the invasion and liver metastasis of breast cancer through MMP1.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to elucidate the specific molecular mechanism by which PAGE5 promotes breast cancer cell invasion and hepatic metastasis through regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and its downstream effector， matrix metalloproteinase 1 （MMP1）. MethodsBioinformatics analysis using the TCGA database was performed to evaluate PAGE5 expression in metastatic breast cancer tissues. The effects of PAGE5 on the proliferation， migration， and invasion capabilities of breast cancer cells were analyzed using CCK-8， EdU， Transwell， and wound healing assays. A splenic injection hepatic metastasis model in NOD-SCID mice was employed to validate the impact of PAGE5 on breast cancer liver metastasis. Transcriptome sequencing and KEGG enrichment analysis were conducted to identify potential signaling pathways regulated by PAGE5. Western blot was used to detect AKT phosphorylation levels. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （qPCR） was applied to screen and validate downstream target molecules of PAGE5. ResultsBioinformatic analysis revealed that PAGE5 expression was significantly upregulated in distant metastasis of breast cancer. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that PAGE5 overexpression markedly enhanced the migration and invasion abilities of breast cancer cells and promoted the formation of liver metastatic lesions， whereas PAGE5 knockdown suppressed breast cancer liver metastasis （P＜0.000 1）. Transcriptome sequencing and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that PAGE5 significantly activated the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway （P=0.028 5）. Western blot confirmed that PAGE5 upregulated p-AKT levels， which could be reversed by MK2206. The qPCR results confirmed that MMP1 is a key downstream effector of PAGE5， and its expression can be inhibited by MK2206 （P＜0.000 1）. ConclusionsThis study preliminarily demonstrates that PAGE5 can activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and mediate the invasion and liver metastasis of breast cancer through MMP1.

Objective To investigate the correlations of serum levels of platelet activation com-plex-1(PAC-1)and soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis(sTWEAK)with neu-rological deficit and clinical prognosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction(ACI).Methods A total of 170 ACI patients(ACI group)and 85 healthy volunteers(control group)were enrolled in this study.Based on severity of neurological deficit assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score,ACI patients were divided into of mild neurological deficit group(43 cases),moderate neurological deficit group(57 cases),moderate-to-severe neurological deficit group(37 cases),and severe neurological deficit group(33 cases).Additionally,based on the 6-month fol-low-up prognosis,ACI patients were divided into 51 cases of poor prognosis group and 119 cases of good prognosis group.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure serum levels of PAC-1 and sTWEAK.Spearman correlation analysis was performed to evaluate their correlations with NIHSS scores in ACI patients.Multivariate unconditional Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine their relationships with clinical prognosis.Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to explore their evaluation efficacy for poor clinical prognosis.Results Serum levels of PAC-1 and sTWEAK were significantly higher in the ACI group than in the control group(P＜0.05).Ser-um levels of PAC-1 and sTWEAK increased sequentially in the mild,moderate,moderate-to-severe,and severe neurological deficit groups(P＜0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum levels of PAC-1 and sTWEAK were positively correlated with NIHSS scores in ACI patients(rs=0.715 and 0.706,respectively;P＜0.001).Multivariate unconditional Logistic regression analysis revealed that older age,higher NIHSS score,larger infarct volume,higher PAC-1 level,and higher sTWEAK level were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in ACI patients(P＜0.05).The ar-ea under the curve for the combined assessment of serum PAC-1 and sTWEAK levels for poor clini-cal prognosis in ACI patients was 0.895,which was greater than the areas under the curve for the individual assessments(0.792 and 0.786,respectively;P＜0.05).Conclusion Elevated serum levels of PAC-1 and sTWEAK are closely related to increased neurological deficit and poor clinical prognosis in ACI patients.The combined detection of these two markers has high evaluation efficacy for clinical prognosis in ACI patients.

OBJECTIVE To assess the cost-effectiveness of durvalumab combined with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. METHODS Using data from the TOPAZ-1 clinical trial， a three-state Markov model comprising progression-free survival （PFS）， progressive disease （PD） and death was developed， with a cycle length of 21 days and a 10-year time horizon. Patients in the observation group received durvalumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin， whereas those in the control group received placebo plus the same chemotherapy regimen. The evaluation indexes were quality-adjusted life year （QALY） and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio （ICER）. The willingness-to-pay （WTP） threshold was set at three times the 2024 Chinese per capita gross domestic product （GDP） （287 247 yuan/QALY）. The sensitivity analyses， along with scenario analyses， were performed. RESULTS In the base-case analysis， the ICER of observation group compared to control group was 1 166 344.46 yuan/QALY， far exceeding the WTP threshold， indicating that the regimen was not cost-effective. One-way sensitivity analysis identified the PD state utility， discount rate， cost of durvalumab， and PFS state utility as the main drivers of ICER variation. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that， at the above WTP threshold， the probability of the acceeptance of this regimen was 0， further supporting the robustness of the base-case findings. In the scenario analysis， inclusion of a patient assistance program reduced the ICER to 235 885.16 yuan/ QALY， below the above WTP threshold， suggesting cost-effectiveness under this assistance program. However， when applying a regional WTP threshold set at three times the per capita GDP （158 475 yuan/QALY） of Gansu Province （the province with the lowest GDP in China in 2024）， the ICER remained above the threshold， indicating that the regimen was not cost-effective at the regional level. CONCLUSIONS At current pricing， durvalumab plus chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer is not cost-effective in China. Although the introduction of a patient assistance program can substantially reduce the ICER and achieve cost-effectiveness at a WTP threshold set at three times the 2024 per capita GDP of China， due to limited affordability in low-income areas， the program remains not cost-effective.

Lingguizhugan Decoction (LGZG) demonstrates significant efficacy in treating various cardiovascular diseases clinically, yet its precise mechanism of action remains elusive. This study aimed to elucidate the potential mechanisms and effects of LGZG on isoproterenol (ISO) continuous stimulation-induced chronic heart failure (CHF) in mice, providing direct experimental evidence for further clinical applications. In vivo, continuous ISO infusion was administered to mice, and ventricular myocytes were utilized to explore LGZG?s potential mechanism of action on the ?1-adrenergic receptor (?1-AR)/Gs/G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs)/?-arrestin signaling deflection system in the heart. The findings reveal that LGZG significantly reduced the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of hypertrophy-related biomarkers [atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)] and improved cardiac remodeling and left ventricular diastolic function in mice with ISO-induced CHF. Furthermore, LGZG inhibited the overactivation of Gs/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling and downregulated the downstream transcriptional activity of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and the expression of the coactivator CBP/P300. Notably, LGZG downregulated the expression of ?-arrestin1 and GRK 2/3/5 while upregulating the expression of ?1-AR and ?-arrestin2. These results suggest that LGZG inhibits Gs/cAMP/PKA signaling and ?-arrestin/GRK-mediated desensitization and internalization of ?1-AR, potentially exerting cardioprotective effects through the synergistic regulation of the ?1-AR/Gs/GRKs/?-arrestin signaling deflection system via multiple pathways.
Animals ; Heart Failure/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Male ; G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinases/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Isoproterenol ; Arrestins/genetics* ; Chronic Disease

Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of Dahuang Tangluo Pills on intestinal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)rats based on TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.Methods Eight ZDF(fa/+)rats were used as the blank group,and 40 ZDF(fa/fa)rats were fed with high-fat diet and then randomly divided into model group,metformin group(0.18 g/kg metformin)and TCM high-,medium-and low-dosage groups(2.16,1.08,0.54 g/kg Dahuang Tangluo Pills),respectively.The medication groups were gavaged with corresponding dosages for 12 consecutive weeks.The body mass and fasting blood glucose(FBG)of rats before and after intervention were detected.After the intervention,an oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)was performed,the serum glucose(GLU),glycosylated serum protein(GSP),triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)contents were detected.ELISA was used to detect serum fasting insulin(FINS),free fatty acids(FFA)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-6,IL-22,lipopolysaccharide(LPS),secreted immunoglobulin A(SIgA)contents in colonic tissue.HE staining was used to observe the morphology of colonic tissue,and Western blot was used to detect the expressions of Toll like receptor 4(TLR4),nuclear factor-κB p65(NF-κB p65),p-NF-κB p65,NF-κB inhibitor α(IκBα),p-IκBα,myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88)and zona pellucida protein-1(ZO-1)in colonic tissue.Results Compared with the blank group,the body mass and FBG significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01),blood glucose significantly increased at all time points of OGTT(P<0.01),serum GLU,GSP,TG,TC,LDL-C,FINS,FFA and TNF-α,IL-6,IL-22,LPS contents in colonic tissue significantly increased,serum HDL-C and colonic tissue SIgA contents significantly decreased(P<0.01),with colonic tissue nuclear condensation,cytoplasmic dissolution,inflammatory cell infiltration.The protein expressions of TLR4,NF-κB p65,p-NF-κB p65,p-IκBα and MyD88 in colonic tissue significantly increased,while the protein expressions of IκBα and ZO-1 significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the body mass and FBG significantly decreased in metformin group,TCM high-and medium-dosage groups(P<0.01),blood glucose decreased at different time points of OGTT,and serum GLU,GSP,TG,TC,LDL-C,FINS,FFA and TNF-α,IL-6,IL-22,LPS contents in colonic tissue significantly decreased,serum HDL-C and colonic tissue SIgA contents significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),with significant improvement in colonic tissue structure and reduction in inflammatory cell infiltration.The protein expressions of TLR4,NF-κB p65,p-NF-κB p65,p-IκBα and MyD88 in colonic tissue significantly decreased,while the proteins expression of IκBα and ZO-1 significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Dahuang Tangluo Pills may inhibit the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway,reduce the release of inflammatory factors,improve intestinal inflammatory injury,restore intestinal homeostasis,thereby improving glucose and lipid metabolism and exerting therapeutic effects on T2DM.

Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of Yijing Decoction containing serum on iron overload-induced oxidative stress of human ovarian granulosa cells.Methods SD rats were used to prepare medicated serum and blank serum.Iron dextran was used to induce oxidative damage of SVOG cells.The cells were divided into control group,model group,containing serum group,blank serum group,antioxidant group and iron chelating agent group.After corresponding intervention,cell viability was detected by CCK-8 method,estrogen(E2)and progesterone(P)content in supernatant were detected by ELISA,the contents of intracellular ferrous ion(Fe2+),malondialdehyde(MDA),adenosine triphosphate(ATP)and the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),catalase(CAT)were detected by the kit,ROS content was detected by DCFH-DA fluorescence probe,the mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 fluorescence probe,Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2),transferrin(Tf),transferrin receptor 1(TfR1),ferritin heavy chain 1(FTH1)and ferritin light chain(FTL).Results Compared with the control group,the viability of SVOG cells decreased in the model group,the contents of E2 and P in cell supernatant decreased,the contents of Fe2+,MDA and ROS increased,the content of ATP and activities of SOD,GSH-Px and CAT decreased,the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased,the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and FTH1 decreased,and the protein and mRNA expressions of Tf,TfR1 and FTL increased,with statistical significance(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the viability of SVOG cells in containing serum group,antioxidant group and iron chelating agent group increased,the contents of E2 and P in cell supernatant increased,the contents of Fe2+,MDA and ROS decreased,the content of ATP and activities of SOD,GSH-Px and CAT increased,the mitochondrial membrane potential increased,the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and FTH1 increased,and the protein and mRNA expressions of Tf,TfR1 and FTL decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Yijing Decoction containing serum may relieve oxidative stress damage induced by iron overload,improve mitochondrial function,and restore granulosa cell function,thereby enhancing ovarian function,potentially through up-regulating Nrf2,FTH1 expression and down-regulating Tf,TfR1 and FTL expressions.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of crisaborole ointment 2% versus pimecrolimus cream 1% in the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children aged 2 years or older.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled clinical trial was conducted. A total of 120 pediatric patients aged 2 - 17 years with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis were enrolled from departments of dermatology of 8 hospitals in China between March 2022 and February 2023. The participants were randomly assigned in a 1∶1 ratio to the crisaborole group and the pimecrolimus group, and received the treatment with crisaborole ointment 2% and pimecrolimus cream 1% respectively, twice a day for 4 weeks. Visits were scheduled at baseline/on day 1, as well as on days 8, 15, and 29. The primary efficacy outcome was the percentage of patients achieving the Investigator's Static Global Assessment (ISGA) success (defined as clear [0] or almost clear [1] on the ISGA scale, combined with ≥ 2‐grade improvement from baseline) on day 29. The secondary efficacy outcomes included changes in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) total scores from baseline to day 29, percentages of patients achieving ISGA improvement (defined as clear [0] or almost clear [1] on the ISGA scale), as well as changes in the Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) /Infants' Dermatology Life Quality Index (IDLQI) /Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) scores, and in the Dermatitis Family Impact (DFI) scores. Drug safety was evaluated according to the incidence of adverse events. Categorical data were compared using the chi-square test. Since measurement data did not follow a normal distribution, the rank sum test was used for comparisons of measurement data between groups.Results:A total of 106 children with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis were included in the per-protocol analysis set, with 52 in the crisaborole group (26 males and 26 females) and 54 in the pimecrolimus group (27 males and 27 females). There were no significant differences in age, disease duration, ISGA and EASI scores at baseline between the two groups (all P > 0.05). On day 29, 22 patients (42.31%) in the crisaborole group and 25 (46.30%) in the pimecrolimus group achieved ISGA success, with no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2 = 0.17, P = 0.68) ; 35 patients (67.31%) in the crisaborole group and 45 (83.33%) in the pimecrolimus group achieved ISGA improvement, also with no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2 = 3.68, P = 0.06) ; additionally, there were no significant differences in the EASI, pruritus NRS, DLQI/IDLQI/CDLQI, or DFI scores between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Adverse reactions to the two topical agents were mainly local reactions such as mild to moderate pain, itching, or worsening of itching, and no obvious systemic adverse reactions occurred. The incidence of drug-related adverse reactions was 46.15% (24 cases) in the crisaborole group and 37.04% (20 cases) in the pimecrolimus group, with no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2 = 0.91, P = 0.34) . Conclusion:The efficacy of crisaborole ointment 2% was comparable to that of pimecrolimus cream 1% in the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children aged ≥ 2 years, and it yielded early and rapid improvement in the quality of life of patients and their families, with good safety and tolerability profiles.

Objective:To understand the epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal distribution of genital herpes in China from 2010 to 2023 and provide evidence for the prevention and control of genital herpes.Methods:The reported data of genital herpes cases in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in China from 2010 to 2023 were collected from the National Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting System of China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. Software Joinpoint 5.2.0 was used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of genital herpes, software ArcGIS 10.5 was used for spatial autocorrelation analysis, and software SaTScan 10.2.3 was used for spatiotemporal scanning analysis.Results:The reported incidence rate of genital herpes increased from 1.58/100 000 to 2.00/100 000 in China from 2010 to 2023, with an average annual percentage change of 0.90%. The upward trend of reported incidence rate was significant ( t=2.35, P=0.037). There was a positive spatial autocorrelation in the reported incidence of genital herpes with the global Moran's I ranging from 0.36 to 0.51 (all P<0.001). Local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the number of hotspots increased from 144 in 2010 to 232 in 2023, mainly distributed in provinces Zhejiang, Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing and Hunan. The number of hotspots in of Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou increased significantly from 7 to 57. A total of 67 spatiotemporal clusters were detected by spatiotemporal scanning analysis, mainly distributed in Guangdong from 2011 to 2015, in Zhejiang and Fujian from 2015 to 2019, and in Chongqing and Guizhou from 2019 to 2023. Conclusions:From 2010 to 2023, the reported incidence of genital herpes in China showed an upward trend, and there was an obvious spatiotemporal clustering of genital herpes. The distribution of hotspots was basically consistent with the distribution of spatiotemporal clustering areas, mainly distributed in the southeastern coastal area and southwestern region, and the spatiotemporal clustering areas gradually changed from the southeast coastal area to the southwest region.