ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of action of Kaixinsan in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease （AD） based on network pharmacology， molecular docking， and animal experimental validation. MethodsThe Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform（TCMSP） and the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine（ETCM） databases were used to obtain the active ingredients and targets of Kaixinsan. GeneCards， Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man（OMIM）， TTD， PharmGKB， and DrugBank databases were used to obtain the relevant targets of AD. The intersection （common targets） of the active ingredient targets of Kaixinsan and the relevant targets of AD was taken， and the network interaction analysis of the common targets was carried out in the STRING database to construct a protein-protein interaction（PPI） network. The CytoNCA plugin within Cytoscape was used to screen out the core targets， and the Metascape platform was used to perform gene ontology（GO） functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes（KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis. The “drug-active ingredient-target” interaction network was constructed with the help of Cytoscape 3.8.2， and AutoDock Vina was used for molecular docking. Scopolamine （SCOP） was utilized for modeling and injected intraperitoneally once daily. Thirty-two male C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into blank control （CON） group （0.9% NaCl， n=8）， model （SCOP） group （3 mg·kg^-1·d^-1， n=8）， positive control group （3 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 of SCOP+3 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 of Donepezil， n=8）， and Kaixinsan group （3 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 of SCOP+6.5 g·kg^-1·d^-1 of Kaixinsan， n=8）. Mice in each group were administered with 0.9% NaCl， Kaixinsan， or Donepezil by gavage twice a day for 14 days. Morris water maze experiment was used to observe the learning memory ability of mice. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining method was used to observe the pathological changes in the CA1 area of the mouse hippocampus. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to determine the serum acetylcholine （ACh） and acetylcholinesterase （AChE） contents of mice. Western blot method was used to detect the protein expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3（STAT3） and nuclear transcription factor（NF）-κB p65 in the hippocampus of mice. ResultsA total of 73 active ingredients of Kaixinsan were obtained， and 578 potential targets （common targets） of Kaixinsan for the treatment of AD were screened out. Key active ingredients included kaempferol， gijugliflozin， etc.. Potential core targets were STAT3， NF-κB p65， et al. GO functional enrichment analysis obtained 3 124 biological functions， 254 cellular building blocks， and 461 molecular functions. KEGG pathway enrichment obtained 248 pathways， mainly involving cancer-related pathways， TRP pathway， cyclic adenosine monophosphate（cAMP） pathway， and NF-κB pathway. Molecular docking showed that the binding of the key active ingredients to the target targets was more stable. Morris water maze experiment indicated that Kaixinsan could improve the learning memory ability of SCOP-induced mice. HE staining and ELISA results showed that Kaixinsan had an ameliorating effect on central nerve injury in mice. Western blot test indicated that Kaixinsan had a down-regulating effect on the levels of NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and STAT3 phosphorylation in the hippocampal tissue of mice in the SCOP model. ConclusionKaixinsan can improve the cognitive impairment function in SCOP model mice and may reduce hippocampal neuronal damage and thus play a therapeutic role in the treatment of AD by regulating NF-κB p65， STAT3， and other targets involved in the NF-κB signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prognostic significance of PDZ-binding kinase (PBK) in pan-cancer and its potential as a therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer. METHODS: PBK expression levels were investigated in 33 cancer types based on data from TCGA, GEO and CPTAC databases. RT-PCR and Western blotting were employed to examine PBK expression in clinical pancreatic cancer specimens and cell lines. The diagnostic and prognostic value of PBK in pancreatic cancer was evaluated using survival analysis, Cox regression analysis, ROC curve analysis, and clinical correlation studies. Gene enrichment and immune correlation analyses were conducted to explore the potential role of PBK in tumor microenvironment, and its correlation with drug sensitivity was investigated using GDSC and CTRP datasets. In pancreatic cancer BXPC-3 cells, the effects of lentivirus-mediated PBK knockdown on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were examined using CCK-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays. The interaction between PBK and non-SMC condensin II complex subunit G2 (NCAPG2) was analyzed using co-immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. RESULTS: PBK was overexpressed in multiple cancer types, including pancreatic cancer. A high PBK expression was associated with a poor prognosis of the patients and correlated with immune infiltration and alterations in the tumor microenvironment. Elevated PBK expression was positively correlated with the sensitivity to MEK inhibitors (Trametinib) and EGFR inhibitors (Afatinib) but negatively with the sensitivity to Bcl-2 inhibitors (TW37) and niclosamide. In BXPC-3 cells, PBK knockdown significantly suppressed NCAPG2 expression and inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Co-immunoprecipitation confirmed a direct binding between PBK and NCAPG2. CONCLUSIONS PBK is a key regulator of pancreatic cancer and interacts with NCAPG2 to promote tumor progression, suggesting its value as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.
Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Adenocarcinoma/metabolism* ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Cell Movement ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases

Permeability is one of the determinants of intestinal absorption and oral bioavailability. The non-cell-based permeation model is a kind of in vitro permeability measurement tool, which has the advantages of high efficiency, low cost, stable property, easy to use and customizable. According to the barrier type, non-cell-based permeation model can be divided into biomimetic barriers containing (phosphate) lipids and non-biomimetic barriers without lipids. Biomimetic permeation models include parallel artificial membrane permeability assay, vesicle-based permeation assay and PermeaPad®. Non biomimetic permeation models include Hollow fiber membrane models based on polyether sulfone materials. In foreign countries, the application of these four barriers for different purposes is gradually becoming a hot spot in drug absorption research. However, in China, there are only more applied studies on PMAPM and few published applied studies on the other three barriers. In order to meet the development needs of insoluble drug formulations, the author summarized the permeability devices and permeability calculation methods, searched the application of non-cell-based permeation model in the permeability of BSCⅡ drugs in recent years, and summarized the characteristic applications of three Biomimetic permeation models and hollow fiber membranes.

Hemophilic arthritis(HA),caused by recurrent bleeding,can seriously affect patient quality of life and consumes extensive social and medical resources.There is thus a need to establish an animal model of HA for research;however,this is limited by ethical requirements.Here we review the recent literature and summarize research progress into animal models of HA at home and abroad,from the aspects of species selection,modeling method,histopathology,and imaging evaluation method.Species selection includes rodents such as mice,New Zealand rabbits,beagles,miniature pigs,and crab-eating macaques.Modeling method comprise gene knockout trauma models,gene knockout spontaneous models,and injection models.Among these,the gene knockout spontaneous model closely mimics the pathological process of spontaneous bleeding and concurrent arthritis in human HA,making it more relevant to human HA.However,due to high modeling costs,phenotypic instability,and low survival rates,this model is not the preferred choice for animal experimental studies.In contrast,gene knockout trauma models exhibit characteristics such as short modeling time,strong stability,and high success rates,thus being widely utilized in animal experimental research.Evaluation of HA models involves various imaging method including MRI,micro-CT,MSKUS/PD,in addition to various gross scoring method.By reviewing the progress of HA model research,more experimental evidence is provided for investigating the pathogenesis and validating the efficacy of HA treatments,thereby compensating for the lack of clinical data,particularly in the field of traditional Chinese medicine therapy.

Objective To investigate the differential diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose(18F-FDG)/PET/CT combined with serum lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),β2-microglobulin(β2-MG),and C-reactive protein(CRP)in sarcoidosis and lymphoma.Methods The 18F-FDG PET/CT images of 19 patients with sarcoidosis and 33 patients with lymphoma were analyzed retrospectively.The lymph node maximum diameter,density,distribution morphology,maximum standardized uptake value(SUVmax),extra-nodal involvement,and serum LDH,β2-MG,and CRP results were analyzed and compared.Results There was no statistically significant difference between sarcoidosis and lymphoma in lymph node density,necrosis rate,and SUVmax(P＞0.05).There was statistically significant difference in the maximum diameter between lymph nodes in sarcoidosis(2.4±0.7)cm and lymphoma(3.3±1.3)cm(P＜0.05).The incidence of symmetric enlargement of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes was 84.2％in sarcoidosis,the lymph node fusion rate was 21.1％,the lung involvement rate was 57.8％,the spleen involvement rate was 10.5％,and the rates of lymphoma were 15.2％,63.6％,0.0％,and 36.4％,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).There were statistically significant differences in LDH and β2-MG between the two groups(P＜0.05),but the differences in CRP were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Conclusion PET/CT can show the anatomy of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes and extra-nodal affected organs as well as glucose metabolism,showing a certain differential diagnostic value of sarcoidosis and lymphoma when combined with serum LDH and β2-MG levels.

BACKGROUND:Compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule has good therapeutic effects on early steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head,but the exact mechanism of treatment is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule on fucosyltransferase 8,osteogenic gene and Wnt/β-catenin in bone tissue of rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head. METHODS:Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into blank group,model group,low-,middle-,and high-dose drug groups(n=12 per group).In the latter four groups,animal models of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head were established by subcutaneous injection of imiquimod(once every 2 weeks,2 times in total)and gluteal muscle injection of methylprednisolone(once a week,4 times in total).The low-,middle-and high-dose drug groups were given 1.89,3.78 and 7.56 g/kg per day compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule solution by gavage respectively on the second day after the last modeling.The same amount of saline was given by gavage to the model group.Administration lasted 8 weeks.After the administration,micro-CT scan,histological staining,compression test,RT-qPCR and western blot were performed on the femoral head. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Micro-CT scan results showed that compared with the blank group,trabecular volume fraction,trabecular number and trabecular thickness were significantly decreased(P<0.05),while trabecular separation was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule could increase trabecular volume fraction,trabecular number and trabecular thickness(P<0.05),and decrease trabecular separation(P<0.05)in a dose-dependent manner.Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that compared with the model group,the rate of empty bone lacunae was reduced in a dose-dependent group in the low-,middle-,and high-dose compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule groups(P<0.05).Immunohistochemical staining results showed that compared with the blank group,the protein expression of fucosyltransferase 8,Runx2 and bone morphogenetic protein 2 was reduced in the model group(P<0.05);compared with the model group,the compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule increased the protein expression of fucosyltransferase 8,Runx2 and bone morphogenetic protein 2 in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05).Results from the compression test showed that there was a dose-dependent increase in the maximum load and elastic modulus of the femoral head in the low-,middle-,and high-dose compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule groups compared with the model group(P<0.05).RT-qPCR and western blot results showed that the mRNA and protein expressions of fucosyltransferase 8,Runx2,alkaline phosphatase,osteocalcin,osteoblast-specific transcription factor and bone morphogenetic protein 2 were decreased in the model group compared with the blank group(P<0.05);compared with the model group,there was a dose-dependent increase in the mRNA and protein expressions of the above indicators in the low-,middle-,and high-dose compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule groups compared with the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the blank group,the mRNA and protein expression of Wnt2,low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 and β-catenin were decreased(P<0.05)and the mRNA and protein expressions of glycogen synthase kinase 3β were increased(P<0.05)in the model group;compared with the model group,there was a dose-dependent increase in the mRNA and protein expressions of Wnt2,low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 and β-catenin(P<0.05)but a dose-dependent decrease in the mRNA and protein expressions of lycogen synthase kinase 3β(P<0.05)in the low-,middle-,and high-dose compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule groups.To conclude,the mechanism by which the compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule treats steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head may activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway through the up-regulation of fucosyltransferase 8,thereby promoting bone formation.

BACKGROUND:The majority of studies on developmental dysplasia of the hip focus on hip malformations,but there are few reports on the effects of acetabular dysplasia on the spine. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the compensation of spinopelvic parameters in coronal and sagittal views in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip,and to explore the correlation between acetabular development and spinopelvic parameters. METHODS:A total of 101 patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from January 2018 to June 2022 were selected as the trial group,and 114 healthy subjects were selected as the control group during the same period.The spinopelvic parameters of the subjects were measured through the full-length X-ray films of the coronal and sagittal spines:lumbar lordosis,anterior pelvic tilt,thoracolumbar kyphosis,Cobb angle,and the distance between the C7 plumb line and the center sacral vertical line,sacral slope,pelvic incidence,and thoracic kyphosis.The differences in spinopelvic parameters were compared between the two groups.In addition,the differences in spinopelvic parameters in patients with unilateral,bilateral and different Crowe classifications of developmental dysplasia of the hip were compared.Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between Sharp angle and spinopelvic parameters. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In the sagittal view,the lumbar lordosis in the trial group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).The pelvic tilt and kyphosis angle of the thoracolumbar segment in the trial group were significantly greater than those in the control group(P<0.05).In the coronary position,the Cobb angle and the distance between the C7 plumb line and center sacral vertical line in the trial group were significantly greater than those in the control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the remaining spinopelvic parameters between the two groups(P>0.05).(2)The lumbar lordosis of patients with bilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip was significantly lower than that of patients with unilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip(P<0.05).The pelvic tilt,thoracolumbar kyphosis,Cobb angle and the distance between the C7 plumb line and center sacral vertical line in bilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip patients were significantly greater than those in unilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip patients(P<0.05).(3)The lumbar lordosis decreased with the increase of Crowe classification severity(P<0.05).The pelvic tilt increased with the severity of the Crowe classification(P<0.05).(4)Pearson correlation analysis showed that Sharp angle was negatively correlated with lumbar lordosis(P<0.05),while Sharp angle was positively correlated with anterior pelvic tilt,Cobb angle,C7 plumb line and center sacral vertical line(P<0.05).(5)It is concluded that the pelvic tilt,thoracolumbar kyphosis,Cobb angle and the distance between the C7 plumb line and center sacral vertical line increase,while lumbar lordosis decreases in developmental dysplasia of the hip patients.The degree of acetabular dysplasia was significantly correlated with lumbar lordosis,pelvic tilt,Cobb angle,C7 plumb line and center sacral vertical line.

BACKGROUND:Currently,there is a lack of large sample studies to analyze the bone metabolism level of patients with femoral head necrosis of different etiologies and stages,which is not conducive to the development of better necrosis-promoting repair strategies. OBJECTIVE:To study the bone metabolism of patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head with different etiologies and Association Research Circulation Osseous(ARCO)stages. METHODS:A retrospective study was performed on 401 patients diagnosed with osteonecrosis of the femoral head as the trial group,and 81 healthy subjects as the control group.The trial group could be divided into three groups according to different etiologies:steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head,alcoholic osteonecrosis of the femoral head and traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head,and were divided into stages Ⅱ/Ⅲ/Ⅳ according to different ARCO stages.Seven bone metabolism-related indicators of all subjects were collected,including bone metabolism-regulating hormone 25-hydroxyvitamin D and bone conversion markers:N-terminal propeptide of type Ⅰ procollagen,degradation product of type Ⅰ collagen,n-terminal middle molecular fragment of osteocalcin,general biochemical markers of bone metabolism:serum calcium,serum phosphorus,serum alkaline phosphatase.The bone metabolism levels of each group were compared and the independent factors associated with osteonecrosis of the femoral head were determined by binary Logistic regression analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,levels of degradation product of type Ⅰ collagen,N-terminal propeptide of type Ⅰ procollagen,n-terminal middle molecular fragment of osteocalcin,serum phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase in the trial group were significantly increased(all P＜0.05).Based on the presence or absence of the disease,according to binary Logistic regression analysis,degradation product of type Ⅰ collagen,N-terminal propeptide of type Ⅰ procollagen,and n-terminal middle molecular fragment of osteocalcin were independent factors associated with osteonecrosis of the femoral head.The levels of degradation product of type Ⅰ collagen and N-terminal propeptide of type Ⅰ procollagen in three groups of patients with different etiologies were higher than normal reference values.The bone metabolism-regulating hormone 25-hydroxyvitamin D and serum calcium in the alcoholic osteonecrosis of the femoral head group were higher than those in the other two groups(P＜0.05).The level of bone metabolism-regulating hormone 25-hydroxyvitamin D in steroid-induced and traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head groups was lower than the normal value.There were no significant differences in seven bone metabolism-related indicators in patients with ARCO stages Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ osteonecrosis of the femoral head(all P＞0.05),but degradation product of type Ⅰ collagen and N-terminal propeptide of type Ⅰ procollagen in these three groups were higher than normal reference values.Bone metabolism-regulating hormone 25-hydroxyvitamin D in patients with ARCO stage Ⅱ and ARCO stage Ⅳ was lower than the normal reference value.It is concluded that the bone metabolism level of osteonecrosis of the femoral head patients was abnormal.The degradation product of type Ⅰ collagen and N-terminal propeptide of type Ⅰ procollagen of osteonecrosis of the femoral head patients with different etiologies and ARCO stages were all higher than the normal reference value,and they were in a state of high bone turnover.Degradation product of type Ⅰ collagen,N-terminal propeptide of type Ⅰ procollagen and n-terminal middle molecular fragment of osteocalcin may be risk factors for the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of Yudantong decoction in mice with α-naphthyl isothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced cholestasis, as well as its targets and mechanism based on intestinal flora and intestinal barrier function. Methods A total of 24 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, Yudantong decoction group (YDTF group), and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) group, with 6 mice in each group. The mice in the model group, the YDTF group, and the UDCA group were given ANIT 35 mg/kg/day by gavage on days 1, 4, 7, 10, and 13, and those in the YDTF group and the UDCA group were given Yudantong decoction or UDCA by gavage for 15 consecutive days; related samples were collected on day 16. Liver histopathology was observed, and liver function parameters were measured; immunohistochemistry was used to measure the protein expression levels of caspase-1, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and FXR in the liver, and flow cytometry was used to measure the percentages of CD11b + , CD86 + , and CD45 + immune cells in the liver; 16S rDNA sequencing and information analysis were performed for fecal microorganisms; immunohistochemistry was used to measure the protein expression of the intestinal FXR/NLRP3 pathway, and immunofluorescence assay was used to measure the protein expression of intestinal E-cadherin and occludin. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data with homogeneity of variance between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t -test was used for further comparison between two groups; the Welch test was used for comparison of data with heterogeneity of variance between multiple groups, and the Games-Howell test was used for further comparison between two groups. Results HE staining showed that the model group had partial hepatocyte fatty degeneration, massive necrosis of hepatocytes in hepatic lobules, damage of lobular structure, and massive inflammatory cell infiltration, and the YDTF group and the UDCA group had alleviation of hepatocyte fatty degeneration and hepatocyte necrosis in hepatic lobules, with a reduction in inflammatory cells. Compared with the control group, the model group had significantly higher serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil), and total bile acid (TBA) (all P < 0.05); compared with the model group, the YDTF group had significant reductions in the serum levels of ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, TBil, DBil, and TBA (all P < 0.05), and the UDCA group had significant reductions in the serum levels of GGT, TBil, DBil, and TBA (all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the model group had significant increases in the levels of caspase-1 and IL-1β and a significant reduction in the expression of FXR in the liver (all P < 0.05); compared with the model group, the YDTF group had significant reductions in the levels of caspase-1 and IL-1β in the liver and the UDCA group had a significant reduction in the level of IL-1β in the liver, and both the YDTF group and the UDCA group had a significant increase in the expression level of FXR in the liver (all P < 0.05). The model group had a significant change in the composition of intestinal flora compared with the control group ( P < 0.05); there was a significant difference in the structure of intestinal flora between the YDTF group and the model group ( P < 0.05), and there was also a significant difference in the composition of intestinal flora between the UDCA group and the control/model groups ( P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the model group had a significant increase in the abundance of intestinal Akkermansia muciniphila and a significant reduction in the abundance of Lactobacillus johnsonii (both P < 0.05); compared with the model group, both the YDTF group and the UDCA group had a significant reduction in the abundance of intestinal Akkermansia muciniphila , and the YDTF group had a significant increase in the abundance of Lactobacillus murinus , while the UDCA group had significant increases in the abundance of Lactobacillus murinus and Bifidobacterium pseudolongum (all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the model group had a significant reduction in the protein expression of intestinal FXR, a significant increase in the protein expression of intestinal NLRP3, and significant reductions in the expression of intestinal E-cadherin and occludin (all P < 0.05); compared with the model group, both the YDTF group and the UDCA group had a significant increase in the protein expression of intestinal FXR, a significant reduction in the protein expression of intestinal NLRP3, and significant increases in the expression of intestinal E-cadherin and occludin (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Yudantong decoction can alleviate liver injury in mice with ANIT-induced cholestasis, possibly by improving intestinal flora and enhancing intestinal barrier function.