With the widespread use of antimicrobial agents, bacterial drug resistance has become an increasingly severe issue, posing significant challenges to global healthcare. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has emerged as a research focus in the field of bacterial resistance due to its broad sources, high safety profile, low toxicity, and antimicrobial mechanisms distinct from those of chemical drugs. Studies have shown that various TCM herbs, such as Scutellaria baicalensis, exert antibacterial effects through multiple pathways, including disrupting the integrity of bacterial cell walls and membranes, inhibiting nucleic acid and protein synthesis, and impairing energy production and metabolism. Additionally, certain TCM herbs, including Scutellaria baicalensis, Coptis chinensis, and Fritillaria thunbergii, can reverse antimicrobial resistance by eliminating resistant plasmids, inhibiting bacterial efflux pump function, and suppressing β-lactamase activity. TCM holds promising potential for antibacterial applications and synergistically reversing antimicrobial resistance, though systematic analyses remain limited. This review summarizes the mechanisms of antibacterial action of TCM and current research on its synergistic use with antimicrobial agents to reverse drug resistance, aiming to provide insights for developing novel TCM-based antimicrobials and addressing bacterial resistance.

Small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) refer to a class of highly abundant and functionally important non-coding small RNAs that are localized in the eukaryotic nucleus. These snRNAs are highly conserved in different eukaryotes during evolution and form complexes with specific chaperones to fulfill critical biological functions, including precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) modification. Consequently, the regulation of snRNA gene expression is a crucial biological process for plants. In plants, the transcription and processing of snRNAs are regulated by RNA polymerase (Pol), snRNA-activating protein complex (SNAPc), defective in snRNA processing (DSP), and specific cis-elements in the snRNA promoter regions. Proper regulation of snRNA expression is essential for normal plant growth, development, and stress responses. This review summarizes the classification, structures, transcriptional regulation, and biological functions of plant snRNA genes, while outlining future research directions for snRNAs.
RNA, Small Nuclear/physiology* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Transcription, Genetic ; Plants/metabolism* ; RNA, Plant/genetics*

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between cumulative atherogenic index of plasma （cumAIP） and the risk of new-onset nonalcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） in young and middle-aged individuals. MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted among the young and middle-aged individuals （aged 18 to <60 years） in the Kailuan study cohort who underwent physical examination in Kailuan General Hospital and its 10 affiliated hospitals in June 2006 to October 2010， and after screening based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria， 33 987 individuals were included in the observation cohort. The individuals were divided into Q1， Q2， Q3， and Q4 groups based on the quantiles of cumAIP. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative incidence rate of new-onset NAFLD in the four groups， while the log-rank test was used for comparison between groups. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to obtain the hazard ratio （HR） and 95% confidence interval （CI） of the risk of new-onset NAFLD in the four groups. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups， and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical variables between groups. ResultsThe mean follow-up was 10.89±2.54 years， and there were 6 011 cases of new-onset NAFLD， including 995 cases in the Q1 group， 1 366 in the Q2 group， 1661 in the Q3 group， and 1 989 in the Q4 group， with an incidence density of 11.37， 16.02， 19.97， and 24.91 per thousand person-years. The log-rank test showed that there was a significant difference in cumulative incidence rate between the four groups （P<0.001）. With the presence or absence of NAFLD as the dependent variable and the quantiles of different exposure levels to cumAIP as the independent variable， the multivariate Cox regression model analysis showed that compared with the Q1 group， the Q2， Q3， and Q4 groups had an HR of 1.30 （95%CI： 1.20 — 1.41）， 1.52 （95%CI： 1.41 — 1.65）， and 1.79 （95%CI： 1.64 — 1.95）， respectively， for new-onset NAFLD， with a P_trend value of <0.001. With the presence or absence of new-onset NAFLD as the dependent variable and the cumulative exposure to AIP for 0， 2， 4， and 6 years as the independent variable， the Cox regression analysis showed that compared with cumulative exposure to AIP for 0 years， cumulative exposure to AIP for 2， 4， and 6 years had an HR of 1.24 （95%CI： 1.15 — 1.35）， 1.51 （95%CI： 1.40 — 1.64）， and 1.70 （95%CI： 1.56 — 1.84）， respectively， with a P_trend value of <0.001. A sensitivity analysis was performed after exclusion of the individuals with new-onset NAFLD within 2 years， the individuals who experienced atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events during follow-up， and the individuals taking antihypertensive， hypoglycemic， and lipid-lowering drugs， and the results were similar to those of the main analysis. Considering the competitive relationship between all-cause death and outcome events， a competing risk analysis of death was performed， which showed that the results of risk analysis were similar to those of the main analysis. ConclusionA high level of cumAIP exposure can increase the risk of new-onset NAFLD in young and middle-aged individuals.

Influenza has high morbidity worldwide, affecting people of all ages, with the greatest impact on children and the elderly. Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective means to reduce the burden of influenza. However, due to the antigenic drift and shift of influenza viruses, the protection rate of the current seasonal influenza vaccines is not ideal, and the protection they provide against potential influenza pandemics is very limited. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop a universal influenza vaccine that has cross-immune protection against different subtypes of influenza virus. This article discusses several key factors of universal influenza vaccines and the current research progress, and prospects the future development trend of universal influenza vaccines.

Objective:To explore the effects of IFN-γ on IL-8 secretion by human liver cancer cells and the impact on their malignant biological functions in vitro. Methods:HuH7 and Hep3B cells were treated with different concentrations of IFN-γ for 24 or 48 h. Changes in the cellular activity, IL-8 secretion, and the proportion of CD133 + liver cancer stem cells were evaluated using CCK8 kit and flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the effects of IFN-γ on the expression of several molecules such as phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt), phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), vimentin, and E-cadherin in the liver cancer cells. Effects of IFN-γ with or without IL-8 on the migration of liver cancer cells were detected by transwell assay. Additionally, effects of IFN-γ combined with IL-8 or IL-8 receptor inhibitor repertaxin on the differentiation of liver cancer stem cells were detected by flow cytometry. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey-Kramer test were used for statistical analysis. Results:HuH7 and Hep3B cells secreted significantly higher levels of IL-8 than normal hepatocytes LO2 ( P<0.01) and high expression level of IL-8 gene ( CXCL8) was closely correlated with the expression levels of vimentin gene ( VIMENTIN), CD133 gene ( PRCM1), PD-L1 gene ( CD274), PD-1 gene ( PDCD1), and CD163 gene ( CD163), as well as the poor prognosis of liver cancer patients ( P<0.01). IFN-γ (1-100 ng/ml) had no significant effect on the proliferative activity of HuH7 and Hep3B cells ( P>0.05), but could significantly inhibit IL-8 secretion, cell migration, CD133 + liver cancer stem cell differentiation and suspension tumor sphere formation through the Akt and JNK pathways ( P<0.01). IFN-γ combined with IL-8 could significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of IFN-γ on liver cancer cell migration, stem cell differentiation, and suspension tumor sphere formation ( P<0.01). IFN-γ in combination with repertaxin could synergistically inhibited the differentiation of CD133 + liver cancer stem cells ( P<0.01). Conclusion:IFN-γ inhibits the differentiation and migration of human liver cancer cells through the Akt/JNK-IL-8 signaling pathway, providing a new strategy for future clinical immunotherapy of liver cancer.

Objective:To explore the association between childhood trauma and prefrontal cortex functional networks in early adulthood using functional near-infrared spectroscopy(fNIRS).Methods:Twenty-eight individu-als with childhood trauma comprised the trauma group,while 32 without trauma formed the control group.The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire(CTQ)assessed abuse and neglect,the Ruminative Responses Scale(RRS)meas-ured repetitive thinking about negative events,and the Iowa Gambling Task(IGT)evaluated decision-making tend-encies.fNIRS data collected during the IGT were used to calculate degree centrality(DC),betweenness centrality(BC),and local efficiency(LE)in prefrontal networks.Mediation analysis explored relationships among childhood trauma,brain function(DC,BC,LE),and ruminative thinking.Results:Compared to controls,the trauma group had decreased DC in bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices,increased DC,BC,and LE in the right inferior frontal gy-rus,and elevated LE in the bilateral frontal poles.BC and LE in the right inferior frontal gyrus partially mediated the relationship between CTQ sexual abuse and RRS scores(48.57％and 41.43％,respectively).Conclusion:Child-hood trauma is significantly associated with changes in prefrontal network properties in early adulthood.Sexual a-buse,in particular,may influence emotional regulation and cognitive functions by altering the network attributes of the right inferior frontal gyrus.

Objective:To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with psittacosis, in order to provide a basis for early diagnosis and prevention of the disease.Methods:Clinical data of psittacosis cases reported in 2023 from China Disease Prevention and Control Information System in Daxing District, Beijing were collected, and the patients' general information, epidemiological characteristics, clinical characteristics, imaging examination results, laboratory test results, treatment and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed.Results:A total of 7 cases of psittacosis were reported in Daxing District in 2023, with no clustered infection in households or workplaces. There were 4 males and 3 females, with a median age of 66 years old, and a range of 52 to 82 years old. Epidemiological investigation revealed that 6 patients had a clear history of contact with poultry (4 had first contact with parrots or pigeons, and 2 had long-term exposure to pigeons, parrots or wild birds). The onset time was concentrated in April and May. The primary clinical manifestations included high fever (6 cases), fatigue (4 cases), and chills (3 cases). The imaging examination results showed that inflammatory changes occurred in the unilateral lung of 6 patients, and both lungs were affected in 1 patients. Laboratory test results indicated elevated neutrophill percentage in 6 patients, decreased white blood cell counts in 2 patients, elevated white blood cell counts in 2 patients, and elevated C-reactive protein levels in 7 patients. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing test showed that all seven patients were positive for Chlamydia psittaci. All 7 patients were treated with quinolone or tetracycline antibiotics, with 6 cured and discharged, and 1 died. Conclusion:Psittacosis is usually manifested clinically as high fever, fatigue, and unilateral lung inflammation, often associated with poultry exposure.

Objective:To establish the reference interval of 12 types of cytokines(IL-1β,IL-2,IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-12p70,IL-17,IFN-γ,IFN-α,TNF-α)in adult plasma based on multiple microsphere flow immunofluorescence(MBFFI).Methods:A total of 140 healthy adult patients who were examined at Xuzhou Central Hospital between January 2022 and December 2023 were included in the study.Plasma cytokine levels were detected and reference intervals were established by the flow cytometer and the assay kits produced by Qingdao Raisecare Biotechnology Co.,Ltd and Jiangsu BioPredia Biotechnology Co.,Ltd.Results:All of the cytokines exhibited a non-normal distribution,and there was a discrepancy in the 95％reference interval between the two re-agents.The reference intervals for the 12 cytokine kits produced by Qingdao Raisecare Biotechnology Co.,Ltd.were as follows:IFN-α:<4.91 pg/ml,IL-12 p70:<1.95 pg/ml,IL-5:<12.72 pg/ml,IL-8:<60.68 pg/ml,IL-1β:<27.67 pg/ml,IL-2:<5.01 pg/ml,IL-4:<1.22 pg/ml,IL-6:<6.11 pg/ml,TNF-α:<2.92 pg/ml,IL-17:<10.27 pg/ml,IL-10:<6.88 pg/ml,IFN-γ:<17.68 pg/ml.The reference intervals of the 12 cytokines produced by Jiangsu BioPredia Biotechnology Co.,Ltd.were as follows:IFN-α:<4.05 pg/ml,IL-12 p70:<7.33 pg/ml,IL-5:<7.80 pg/ml,IL-8:<13.24 pg/ml,IL-1β:<19.24 pg/ml,IL-2:<2.42 pg/ml,IL-4:<0.99 pg/ml,IL-6:<2.10 pg/ml,TNF-α:<0.87 pg/ml,IL-17:<1.42 pg/ml,IL-10:<1.10 pg/ml,IFN-γ:<1.34 pg/ml.Conclusion:In this study,the ref-erence range of two reagents for the detection of 12 kinds of cytokines in plasma of healthy adults is established by MBFFI,which pro-vides a valuable reference for the diagnosis and treatment of clinical-related diseases.

BACKGROUND:Ca2+expression in astrocytes has been found to be closely related to cognitive function,and the Ca2+signaling pathway regulated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors(IP3R2)and ryanodine receptor(RYR)2 receptors has become a hot spot in the study of cognitive disorder-related diseases. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression of Ca2+signals mediated by IP3R2 and RYR2 in hippocampal astrocytes in animal models of delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning,and to explore the possible pathogenesis of delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning. METHODS:C57BL mice with qualified cognitive function were selected by Morris water maze experiment and randomly divided into control group and experimental group.An animal model of delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning was established by static carbon monoxide inhalation in the experimental group,and the same amount of air was inhaled in the control group.Behavioral and neuronal changes,astrocyte specific marker glial fibrillary acidic protein,IP3R2,RYR2 receptor and Ca2+concentration in astrocytes of the two groups were detected using Morris water maze,hematoxylin-eosin staining,western blot,immunofluorescence double labeling and Ca2+fluorescence probe at 21 days after modeling. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the Morris water maze,the escape latency of the experimental group was significantly longer than that of the control group(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that in the experimental group,the number of hippocampal pyramidal cells decreased,the cell structure was disordered,and the nucleus was broken and dissolved.Immunofluorescence results showed that IP3R2 and RYR2 were co-expressed with glial fibrillary acidic protein in the hippocampus,and the expressions of IP3R2,RYR2 and glial fibrillary acidic protein were up-regulated in the hippocampus of the experimental group(P<0.05).Western blot analysis showed that the expressions of IP3R2,RYR2,and glial fibrillary acidic protein in the hippocampus of the experimental group were increased(P<0.05).Ca2+concentration in hippocampal astrocytes increased significantly in the experimental group(P<0.05).To conclude,astrocytes may affect Ca2+signals by mediating IP3R2 and RYR2 receptors,then impair the cognitive function of mice with carbon monoxide poisoning,and eventually lead to delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning.