OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of formulated granules of Tianma Gouteng Yin (TGY) on motor deficits in a mouse model of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced subacute Parkinson's disease (PD) and explore the possible molecular mechanisms. METHODS: Ninety C57BL/6 mice were randomized equally into 6 groups, including a control group, a PD model group, a NEC-1 (6.5 mg/kg) treatment group, two TGY treatment groups at 5 and 2.5 g/kg, and a Madopar (76 mg/kg) treatment (positive control) group. Mouse models of PD were established by intraperitoneal injection of MPTP (30 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days with the corresponding treatments for 15 days. The mice were randomly selected for motor function tests. Western blotting was used to detect the changes in expressions of TH, α-syn, RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL in the striatum of the mice. Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking studies were performed to explore TGY-mediated regulation of the necroptosis pathway for PD treatment. RESULTS: Compared with those in the control group, the PD model mice exhibited obvious motor deficits with significantly increased α-syn protein expression and lowered TH protein expression in the striatum. Treatment with NEC-1 obviously improved motor deficits, inhibited the necroptosis pathway, and alleviated the changes in TH and α‑syn proteins in PD mice. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses suggested that the therapeutic effect of TGY in PD was associated with the modulation of RIPK1, a key protein in the necroptosis pathway. In PD mouse models, TGY treatment at the two doses significantly improved motor deficits of the mice, increased TH expression, and decreased the expressions of α-syn and necroptosis-related proteins in the striatum. CONCLUSIONS TGY can effectively inhibit the necroptosis pathway, increase TH expression and decrease α-syn expression in the striatum to improve motor deficits in PD mice.
Animals ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Necroptosis/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Parkinson Disease/drug therapy* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male

Objective To investigate the potential mechanism by which dihydromyricetin(DHM)ameliorates diabetic nephropathy(DN),and to screen and validate its possible key molecular targets.Methods A DN model was established using db/db mice,and 100 mg/(kg·d)DHM was administered via gavage 5 d per week for totally 10 weeks.Renal morphological changes were observed after staining to evaluate the effects of DHM.GSE161885 and GSE270526 datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database and analyzed in combination with the GeneCards database to screen for DN-related differentially expressed genes(DEGs).Protein-protein interaction(PPI)network and molecular docking were employed to predict potential DHM targets.Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect the effects of DHM on pyroptosis-related pathways in the renal tissues of db/db mice and in high glucose(HG)-induced human renal tubular epithelial cells(HK-2).The specific NLR family pyrin domain containing protein 3(NLRP3)inhibitor MCC950 was also used to validate the predicted mechanism.Results In vivo experiments showed that DHM significantly ameliorated renal pathological damage in db/db mice,alleviated glomerular hypertrophy and mesangial expansion,and markedly reduced Paller scores(P<0.001).Immunofluorescence staining revealed significantly weakened fluorescence signals for α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),fibronectin,and collagen Ⅰ in renal tissues.Western blot results showed that the expression levels of collagen Ⅰ,collagen Ⅲ,α-SMA,and transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1)were significantly decreased(P<0.05).A total of 16 DN-related DEGs were identified.Enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were primarily enriched in pathways such as viral protein interactions,cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction,and the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications,and were primarily involved in gene functions such as the positive regulation of lymphocyte-mediated immunity,positive regulation of adaptive immune response,and chemokine activity.Molecular docking confirmed NLRP3 as a potential target of DHM.In vivo validation showed that DHM significantly down-regulated gasdermin-D(GSDMD)fluorescence signals and inhibited the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins including NLRP3,Caspase 1,Cleaved-Caspase 1,interleukin 18(IL-18),and GSDMD(P<0.05).In vitro studies further confirmed that both DHM and the specific NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 alleviate high glucose-induced fibrosis and pyroptosis in HIC-2 cells.Conclusion DHM can ameliorate the progression of DN,and its mechanism is related to inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis,thereby alleviating renal inflammation and fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the application of bronchoscope for children(BF-XP290)in diagnosing and treating peripheral pulmonary lesions(PPL)in adults.Methods Bronchoscope for children(BF-XP290)was used to diagnose and treat PPL.Results BF-XP290 could diagnose and treat PPL in direct view,and other techniques could overcome its shortcomings.Conclusion Bronchoscope for children(BF-XP290)can partially replace radial endobronchial ultra-sound(R-EBUS)in diagnosing and treating PPL in adults,reducing the investment of medical equipment,and is worthy of clinical promotion.

The application of high-throughput sequencing technologies has greatly enhanced our understanding to the human microbiome. The causal relations between human microbiome and diseases have become a critical issue to elucidate disease development and develop precision medicine. Recently, the study about vaginal microbiome (the microbial flora that inhabits the female vagina) has received wide interests. It has been shown that dysbiosis of vaginal microbiome was closely related to the development of genital tract diseases. This article summarizes the interaction between vaginal microbiome and disease and the treatment for the dysbiosis of vaginal microbiome. The culturomics of virginal microbiome, engineered probiotics and synthetic microbiome were also proposed.
Female ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Probiotics ; Vagina

Objective To screen B and T cell antigen epitopes on Acinetobacter baumannii outer membrane protein 33×103-36×103 (OMP33-36).Methods B and T cell epitopes on OMP33-36 of Acinetobacter baumannii were predicted by bioinformatics methods and synthesized.Recombinant expression plasmid pET-30a-OMP33-36 was cloned and used to express OMP33-36 in a prokaryotic expression system.The expressed OMP33-36 was used to immunize BALB/c mice after purification.Serum sample was collected from each mouse in immunization and negative control groups, and then analyzed by indirect ELISA with synthesized peptides to identify B cell epitopes.Splenocytes were separated from every mouse and then cultured with each of the synthesized peptides, respectively.Double sandwich ELISA was performed to detect IFN-γ secretion in the supernatant of cell cultures for screening of T cell epitopes.Results Candidates of B and T cell epitopes were constructed, which were PB1, PB2, PB3, PT1, PT2 and PT3.Results of the indirect ELISA showed that peptides PB1 and PB2 reacted with the serum samples collected from immunized mice and A450 values of the immunization group were significant higher than those of the negative control group.Compared with the negative control group, enhanced secretion of IFN-γ following peptide PT3 stimulation was observed in the immunization group as indicated by the double sandwich ELISA.Conclusion Two B cell epitopes PB1 and PB2, and one T cell epitope PT3 on the OMP33-36 of Acinetobacter baumannii were successfully constructed and screened out.