ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanisms of Leigongteng （Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f.） in treating rheumatoid arthritis （RA） using bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation. MethodsBioinformatics approaches， including the Gene Expression Omnibus （GEO）， the traditional Chinese medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP）， Gene Ontology （GO） enrichment analysis， Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment， protein-protein interaction （PPI） network analysis， molecular docking， receiver operating characteristic （ROC） analysis， and immune infiltration analysis， were used to predict the key active components of Leigongteng and its target genes for RA treatment. Experimental validation was conducted using human rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes （HFLS-RA） in vitro， with methotrexate as the positive control. A scratch assay was performed to assess cell migration after 24 hours of culture. Western blotting was used to detect protein expression levels， qPCR was used to measure target gene mRNA levels， and ELISA was conducted to evaluate inflammatory cytokine levels， including interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-10 （IL-10）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）. ResultsA total of 117 target genes of Leigongteng were identified and intersected with RA-related genes， yielding 55 key genes. Further screening identified three core genes： PTGS2， CXCR4， and TIMP1. Based on the correspondence between potential drug targets and key components， triptolide and nobiletin were identified as the primary active compounds. Molecular docking results showed that both triptolide and nobiletin had binding energies lower than -5 kcal/mol with their respective target proteins， indicating strong interactions. In vitro experiments demonstrated that， compared with the blank control group， the triptolide， nobiletin， and positive control groups exhibited reduced cell migration rates after 24 hours of culture （P＜0.01）. The expression levels of PTGS2 and CXCR4 （both mRNA and protein） were significantly downregulated， while TIMP1 expression was upregulated. Levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α decreased， whereas IL-10 levels increased （P＜0.01）. Compared with the positive control group， the triptolide and nobiletin groups showed increased cell migration rates， upregulated PTGS2 and CXCR4 expression （mRNA and protein）， downregulated TIMP1 expression （mRNA and protein）， increased IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α levels， and decreased IL-10 levels （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionThe key active components of Leigongteng， triptolide and nobiletin， may alleviate RA by inhibiting PTGS2 and CXCR4 while promoting TIMP1 expression， thereby suppressing inflammatory responses.

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of Shenqi Dihuang decoction （SQDHD） on diabetic kidney disease （DKD）， with a focus on its impact on arachidonic acid-related ferroptosis. MethodsSixty C57BL/6 mice were allocated into a normal group （n=10） and a modeling group （n=50）， with 43 mice successfully modeled. The successfully modeled mice were further allocated into model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （4.68， 9.36， and 18.72 g·kg^-1， respectively） SQDHD， and dapagliflozin （0.13 mg·kg^-1） groups. The drug treatment groups were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage， and the normal and model groups were administrated with equal volumes of normal saline by gavage. An electronic balance and a glucometer were used to monitor the body weight and fasting blood glucose level from the tail tip， respectively. Serum creatinine （Scr） and blood urea nitrogen （BUN） levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Histopathological changes in the renal tissue were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining， Masson staining， and periodic acid-Schiff （PAS） staining. The fluorescence intensity of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in frozen sections was observed by an inverted fluorescence microscope to evaluate the levels of ferrous ions （Fe²⁺） and lipid peroxidation in the renal tissue. Immunofluorescence staining of glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4） and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 （ACSL4） in the renal tissue was performed to detect their localization and expression. Western blot was employed to assess the expression levels of key ferroptosis proteins such as GPX4 and cystine/glutamate antiporter （xCT）， as well as the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway-related proteins， including ACSL4， lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 （LPCAT3）， and arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase （ALOX15）. Real-time PCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of key ferroptosis proteins， including solute carrier family 7 member 11 （SLC7A11） and GPX4， as well as arachidonic acid metabolism-related factors （ACSL4， LPCAT3， and ALOX15） in the renal tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group， DKD model mice exhibited a decrease in body weight （P<0.01）， increases in levels of blood glucose （P<0.01）， 24-hour urinary protein， Scr， and BUN （P<0.01）， along with severe pathological changes， such as mesangial cell proliferation， basement membrane thickening， tubular atrophy， and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration. In addition， the modeling elevated the levels of Fe²⁺， MDA， LPO， and ROS （P<0.01）， lowered the GPX4 and xCT levels （P<0.01）， raised the ACSL4， LPCAT3， and ALOX15 levels （P<0.01）， down-regulated the mRNA levels of GPX4 and SLC7A11 （P<0.01）， and up-regulated the mRNA levels of ACSL4， LPCAT3， and ALOX15 （P<0.01） in the renal tissue. Compared with the model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose SQDHD groups and the dapagliflozin group showed an increase in body weight （P<0.01）， decreases in levels of blood glucose （P<0.01）， 24-hour urinary protein， and Scr （P<0.01）， alleviated pathological changes in glomeruli and tubules， and reduced degree of glomerular and tubular fibrosis. The high-dose SQDHD group and the dapagliflozin group showed reductions in Fe²⁺， MDA， LPO， and ROS levels （P<0.01）. The medium- and high-dose SQDHD groups and the dapagliflozin group exhibited increased levels of GPX4 and xCT （P<0.01）， decreased levels of ACSL4， LPCAT3， and ALOX15 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and down-regulated mRNA levels of ACSL4， LPCAT3， and ALOX15 （P<0.01）. ConclusionSQDHD ameliorates DKD by inhibiting ferroptosis potentially by reducing iron ion levels， inhibiting lipid peroxidation， up-regulating GPX4 expression， and down-regulating ACSL4 expression. This study provides new insights and a theoretical basis for the treatment of DKD with traditional Chinese medicine and identifies potential targets for developing novel therapeutics for DKD.

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of Shenqi Dihuang decoction （SQDHD） on diabetic kidney disease （DKD）， with a focus on its impact on arachidonic acid-related ferroptosis. MethodsSixty C57BL/6 mice were allocated into a normal group （n=10） and a modeling group （n=50）， with 43 mice successfully modeled. The successfully modeled mice were further allocated into model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （4.68， 9.36， and 18.72 g·kg^-1， respectively） SQDHD， and dapagliflozin （0.13 mg·kg^-1） groups. The drug treatment groups were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage， and the normal and model groups were administrated with equal volumes of normal saline by gavage. An electronic balance and a glucometer were used to monitor the body weight and fasting blood glucose level from the tail tip， respectively. Serum creatinine （Scr） and blood urea nitrogen （BUN） levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Histopathological changes in the renal tissue were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining， Masson staining， and periodic acid-Schiff （PAS） staining. The fluorescence intensity of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in frozen sections was observed by an inverted fluorescence microscope to evaluate the levels of ferrous ions （Fe²⁺） and lipid peroxidation in the renal tissue. Immunofluorescence staining of glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4） and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 （ACSL4） in the renal tissue was performed to detect their localization and expression. Western blot was employed to assess the expression levels of key ferroptosis proteins such as GPX4 and cystine/glutamate antiporter （xCT）， as well as the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway-related proteins， including ACSL4， lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 （LPCAT3）， and arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase （ALOX15）. Real-time PCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of key ferroptosis proteins， including solute carrier family 7 member 11 （SLC7A11） and GPX4， as well as arachidonic acid metabolism-related factors （ACSL4， LPCAT3， and ALOX15） in the renal tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group， DKD model mice exhibited a decrease in body weight （P<0.01）， increases in levels of blood glucose （P<0.01）， 24-hour urinary protein， Scr， and BUN （P<0.01）， along with severe pathological changes， such as mesangial cell proliferation， basement membrane thickening， tubular atrophy， and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration. In addition， the modeling elevated the levels of Fe²⁺， MDA， LPO， and ROS （P<0.01）， lowered the GPX4 and xCT levels （P<0.01）， raised the ACSL4， LPCAT3， and ALOX15 levels （P<0.01）， down-regulated the mRNA levels of GPX4 and SLC7A11 （P<0.01）， and up-regulated the mRNA levels of ACSL4， LPCAT3， and ALOX15 （P<0.01） in the renal tissue. Compared with the model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose SQDHD groups and the dapagliflozin group showed an increase in body weight （P<0.01）， decreases in levels of blood glucose （P<0.01）， 24-hour urinary protein， and Scr （P<0.01）， alleviated pathological changes in glomeruli and tubules， and reduced degree of glomerular and tubular fibrosis. The high-dose SQDHD group and the dapagliflozin group showed reductions in Fe²⁺， MDA， LPO， and ROS levels （P<0.01）. The medium- and high-dose SQDHD groups and the dapagliflozin group exhibited increased levels of GPX4 and xCT （P<0.01）， decreased levels of ACSL4， LPCAT3， and ALOX15 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and down-regulated mRNA levels of ACSL4， LPCAT3， and ALOX15 （P<0.01）. ConclusionSQDHD ameliorates DKD by inhibiting ferroptosis potentially by reducing iron ion levels， inhibiting lipid peroxidation， up-regulating GPX4 expression， and down-regulating ACSL4 expression. This study provides new insights and a theoretical basis for the treatment of DKD with traditional Chinese medicine and identifies potential targets for developing novel therapeutics for DKD.

BACKGROUND: Preclinical studies have indicated that Angong Niuhuang Pills (ANP) reduce cerebral infarct and edema volumes. This study aimed to investigate whether ANP safely reduces cerebral infarct and edema volumes in patients with moderate to severe acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial included patients with acute ischemic stroke with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores ranging from 10 to 20 in 17 centers in China between April 2021 and July 2022. Patients were allocated within 36 h after onset via block randomization to receive ANP or placebo (3 g/day for 5 days). The primary outcomes were changes in cerebral infarct and edema volumes after 14 days of treatment. The primary safety outcome was severe adverse events (SAEs) for 90 days. RESULTS: There were 57 and 60 patients finally included in the ANP and placebo groups, respectively for modified intention-to-treat analysis. The median age was 66.0 years, and the median NIHSS score at baseline was 12.0. The changes in cerebral infarct volume at day 14 were 0.3 mL and 0.4 mL in the ANP and placebo groups, respectively (median difference: -7.1 mL; interquartile range [IQR]: -18.3 to 2.3 mL, P = 0.30). The changes in cerebral edema volume of the ANP and placebo groups on day 14 were 11.4 mL and 4.0 mL, respectively ( median difference: 3.0 mL, IQR: -1.3 to 9.9 mL, P = 0.15). The rates of SAE within 90 days were similar in the ANP (3/57, 5%) and placebo (7/60, 12%) groups ( P = 0.36). Changes in serum mercury and arsenic concentrations were comparable. In patients with large artery atherosclerosis, ANP reduced the cerebral infarct volume at 14 days (median difference: -12.3 mL; IQR: -27.7 to -0.3 mL, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: ANP showed a similar safety profile to placebo and non-significant tendency to reduce cerebral infarct volume in patients with moderate-to-severe stroke. Further studies are warranted to assess the efficacy of ANP in reducing cerebral infarcts and improving clinical prognosis. TRAIL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov , No. NCT04475328.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Ischemic Stroke/drug therapy* ; Pilot Projects ; Stroke/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

Perimenopause raises the risk and incidence of depression, whereas the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Disturbed glucose regulation has been widely documented in depressive disorders, which renders the brain susceptible to various stresses such as estrogen depletion. However, whether and how glucose dysfunction regulates depression-like behaviors and neuronal damage in perimenopausal transition remains unexplored. Here, a prominent depressive phenotype was found in perimenopausal mice induced by the ovarian toxin 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD). The VCD depression susceptible group (VCD^SS) and the VCD depression resilient group (VCD^RES) were determined using a ROC-based behavioral screening approach. We found that the hippocampus, a crucial region linked to depression, had hyperglycemia and mitochondrial abnormalities. Interestingly, oral administration of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin (EMPA) and intrahippocampal glucose infusion suggest a close relationship between hyperglycemia in the hippocampus and the susceptibility to depression. We verified that cytochrome c oxidase 7c (COX7C) downregulation is a potential cause of the high glucose-induced neuronal injury using proteomic screening and biochemical validations. High glucose causes COX7C to be ubiquitinated in a S-phase kinase associated protein 1 (SKP1)-dependent manner. According to these results, SKP1/COX7C represents a unique therapeutic target and a novel molecular route for treating perimenopausal depression.

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OBJECTIVE To explore the distribution pattern of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome types of primary o-varian insufficiency(POI)sleep disorders and the differences in the distribution of sleep quality index among different syndrome types,in order to provide a basis for syndrome differentiation treatment and prevention of POI associated with sleep disorders.METHODS 600 POI patients who met the inclusion criteria were collected for epidemiological investigation,and 405 patients who met the diagnosis of sleep disorders were selected as the research group.The patients'general information,TCM four diagnosis and sex hormone level in-formation were collected,and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)scale was used to evaluate patients'sleep conditions,and ana-lyze the characteristics and influencing factors of TCM syndrome types of POI associated with sleep disorders.RESULTS The main TCM syndrome types of POI accompanied by sleep disorders were heart and kidney disharmony syndrome(41.98%),spleen and kid-ney yang deficiency syndrome(22.22%),kidney deficiency and liver stagnation syndrome(20.99%),and kidney deficiency and blood stasis syndrome(14.81%).The heart and kidney disharmony syndrome had the longest sleep latency and shortest sleep time,relied more on hypnotic drugs,and had the highest PSQI total score;the heart and kidney disharmony syndrome and kidney deficiency and liver stagnation syndrome had the worst sleep quality;the spleen kidney yang deficiency syndrome had the highest daytime dysfunc-tion score.There was no significant difference in FSH levels among different TCM syndrome types;the distribution of E2 values from low to high was:heart and kidney disharmony syndrome,kidney deficiency and liver stagnation syndrome,spleen and kidney yang de-ficiency syndrome,and kidney deficiency and blood stasis syndrome,and there were significant differences among multiple groups(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The main TCM syndrome types of patients with POI and sleep disorders are heart and kidney disharmony syn-drome,spleen and kidney yang deficiency syndrome,kidney deficiency and liver stagnation syndrome,and kidney deficiency and blood stasis syndrome.Among them,the most common TCM syndrome type with the worst sleep quality is heart and kidney disharmony syn-drome,which may be closely related to estrogen E2 levels.

BackgroundSibling relationships play a critical role in shaping anxiety symptoms in firstborn children. Anxiety symptoms often originate in early childhood and can persist into adolescence and adulthood. However， there is insufficient research on anxiety symptoms in preschool children， especially firstborn preschool children. ObjectiveTo explore the influencing factors of anxiety symptoms among firstborn preschool children， so as to provide references for the intervention of anxiety symptom for children in families with multiple children. MethodsFrom October to December 2021， a total of 8 449 children from 234 kindergartens in Longhua District of Shenzhen were included using a cluster sampling method. Sibling Inventory of Behavior （SIB） and Spence Preschool Anxiety Scale （SPAS） were used to investigate. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify influencing factors of anxiety symptoms in firstborn preschool children. ResultsA total of 8 419 （99.64%） valid questionnaires were collected. Anxiety symptoms were detected in 344（4.09%） firstborn preschool children. Statistically significant differences were observed between anxiety group and non-anxiety group in terms of household registration， monthly family income， maternal age， maternal education level， paternal education level， family living conditions and whether they are left-behind children （χ²/t=9.906， 33.490， 5.136， 13.485， 9.690， 17.332， 21.975， P<0.05 or 0.01）. Compared with non-anxiety group， children in the anxiety group scored higher on the SIB dimensions of rivalry， aggression and avoidance （t=165.322， 74.471， 286.419， P<0.01）， and lower on companionship， empathy and teaching （t=59.133， 42.417， 39.112， P<0.01）. Risk factors for anxiety symptoms in firstborn preschool children included left-behind children， as well as negative sibling relationships characterized by rivalry and avoidance （OR=1.195， 1.143， 1.260， P<0.05 or 0.01）. ConclusionFirstborn preschool children who are left-behind are more susceptible to anxiety symptoms. Negative sibling relationships， characterized by competition and avoidance， may also contribute to the emergence of anxiety symptoms in firstborn preschool children.

Premature ovarian insufficiency belongs to the category of early menstrual cessation, blood depletion, and infertility in traditional Chinese medicine, which not only affects women′s fertility and forces them into a premature perimenopausal period, but also increases the risk of long-term complications such as osteoporosis, cognitive impairment, and cardiovascular diseases. Autophagy has a dual regulatory effect on follicular development and atresia, closely related to the onset of premature ovarian insufficiency. In women, blood is the basis and qi is the use. This article argues from the perspective of "qi", positing that the pathogenesis of premature ovarian insufficiency is fundamentally due to the deficiency of qi in the zang-fu organs leading to inadequate nourishment of the uterus, while the obstruction of the uterine vessels by qi depression in the zang-fu organs as manifestation. It also takes the correlation between autophagy and qi in the onset of premature ovarian insufficiency as the starting point, proposing a therapeutic principle centered on replenishing qi as the foundation and activating qi as the key. The internal and external treatment of traditional Chinese medicine can correct the abnormal autophagy of granulosa cells through "regulating qi", thus improving the ovarian microenvironment, protecting the ovarian function, and finally preventing and treating premature ovarian insufficiency.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is the most abundant environmental pollutant among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and is widely distributed in air, water, soil, barbecue, and fried foods. Human beings are inevitably exposed to BaP. Studies have shown that BaP is reproductively toxic and is involved in diseases related to the female reproductive system by affecting the secretion of ovarian hormones, interfering with the function of ovarian mitochondria (affecting oocyte maturation), affecting embryo development (interfering with the migration of trophoblast cells, invasion, proliferation, apoptosis) and the process of metaplasia. This article summarized the research progress on the associations between BaP exposure and female reproductive function, miscarriage, and reproductive system tumors based on relevant studies at home and abroad in recent years, with a view to providing a basis and new direction for future research.