Severe pneumonia is one of the most common and critical respiratory diseases in clinical practice. It is characterized by rapid progression， difficult treatment， high mortality， and many complications， posing a significant threat to the life and health of patients. The pathogenesis of severe pneumonia is highly complex， and studies have shown that its occurrence and development are closely related to multiple signaling pathways. Currently， the treatment of severe pneumonia mainly focuses on anti-infection， mechanical ventilation， and glucocorticoids， but clinical outcomes are often not ideal. Therefore， finding safe and effective alternative therapies is particularly important. In recent years， with the deepening of research into traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， it has gained widespread attention in the treatment of severe pneumonia. This paper reviewed the relationship between severe pneumonia and relevant signaling pathways in recent years and how TCM regulated these pathways in the treatment of severe pneumonia. It was found that TCM could regulate the Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， Janus kinase （JAK）/signal transducer and activator of transcription （STAT）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， and nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2） signaling pathways， playing a role in reducing the inflammatory response， inhibiting cell apoptosis and pyroptosis， improving oxidative stress， and other effects in the treatment of severe pneumonia. Among these pathways， it was found that all of them regulated inflammation to treat severe pneumonia. Therefore， reducing inflammation is the core mechanism by which Chinese medicine treats severe pneumonia. This review provides direction for the clinical treatment of severe pneumonia and offers a scientific basis for the research and development of new drugs.

Energy metabolism reconstruction is the new target of the treatment of heart failure. By combing the researches of Chinese medicinals for energy metabolism reconstruction of heart failure， it was found that Chinese medicinal compound formula and single Chinese medicinal have a certain role in regulating energy metabolism， mainly through three aspects， including the optimization of substrate utilization， improvement of mitochondrial structure， function， and homeostasis， and improvement of mitochondrial energy transport， so as to make the energy metabolism of the cardiomyocyte adjusted in the direction of beneficial to the organism， increasing the supply of energy， and improving the cardiac function.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Mingshi prescription regulates the retinal melanopsin-dopamine （Opn4-DA） axis in myopic mice to inhibit endoplasmic reticulum （ER） stress in the retina and sclera， thereby delaying axial elongation associated with myopia. MethodsSixty 4-week-old male SPF-grade C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal group， a form-deprived myopia group （FDM group）， an intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells ablation group （ipRGCs group）， a Mingshi Prescription group （MSF group， 5.2 g·kg^-1）， and an ipRGCs + MSF group （5.2 g·kg^-1）. Except for the normal group， all other groups underwent FDM modeling. Additionally， the ipRGCs and ipRGCs + MSF groups received retinal ipRGC ablation. Three weeks after modeling， the MSF and ipRGCs + MSF groups were administered Mingshi prescription via continuous gavage for six weeks. After refraction and axial length were measured in all mice， eyeballs were collected along with retinal and scleral tissues. Pathological and morphological changes in the retina， choroid， and sclera were observed using periodic acid-Schiff （PAS） staining. Western blot was employed to detect the relative protein expression levels of dopamine D1 receptor （DRD1）， C/EBP homologous protein （CHOP）， and glucose-regulated protein 78 （GRP78） in the retina， and CHOP and GRP78 in the sclera. Real-time PCR was used to detect the relative mRNA expression of Opn4， CHOP， and GRP78 in the retina， and CHOP and GRP78 in the sclera. Immunofluorescence staining （IF） was performed to detect the expression of Opn4 and DRD1 in retinal tissues. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the FDM group showed a significant myopic shift in refraction （P<0.05） and a significant increase in axial length （P<0.05）. The retinal layers were thinner， the number of ganglion cells was reduced， and collagen fibers in the sclera were loosely arranged with evident gaps. Opn4 and DRD1 protein and mRNA expression in the retina were significantly decreased （P<0.05）， while CHOP and GRP78 protein and mRNA expression in both retinal and scleral tissues were significantly increased （P<0.05）. Compared with the FDM group， the ipRGCs group exhibited further increases in myopic refraction and axial length （P<0.05）， more pronounced thinning and looseness in the retinal， choroidal， and scleral layers， lower expression of Opn4 and DRD1 protein and mRNA in the retina （P<0.05）， and higher expression of CHOP and GRP78 protein and mRNA in the retina and sclera （P<0.05）. Compared with the FDM group， the MSF group showed significantly reduced refractive error and axial length （P<0.05）， with improved cellular number， arrangement， and thickness in ocular tissues， increased Opn4 and DRD1 protein and mRNA expression in the retina （P<0.05）， and reduced CHOP and GRP78 protein and mRNA expression in both retina and sclera （P<0.05）. Similarly， the ipRGCs + MSF group showed significant improvements in terms of the above items compared with the ipRGCs group （P<0.05）. ConclusionMingshi Prescription delays myopic axial elongation and refractive progression by regulating the Opn4-DA axis in the retina of myopic mice， thereby inhibiting ER stress in the retina and sclera. This intervention promotes Qi and blood nourishment of the eyes， softens the fascia， and restores ocular rhythm.

Taxifolin (TAX) is a natural compound known for its liver protection effect, but the mechanism remains unknown. Phosphorylated proteomics analyses discovered that the phosphorylation level of NDRG1 at T328 was a key event of TAX-improved liver fibrosis. We established models with NDRG1 knockout (KO) in vivo and in vitro, demonstrating that NDRG1 KO attenuated the development of hepatocyte injury, and combining NDRG1 KO and TAX administration did not result in a reduction in protection against liver injury. Cellular thermal shift assay and surface plasma resonance analysis showed that TAX directly binds to NDRG1 rather than its upstream kinase, subsequently demonstrating that TAX regulated phosphorylation of NDRG1 at T328 through binding to its C289 site. NDRG1 T328A (phosphorylated mutation) and T328E (mimic phosphorylation) in vivo and in vitro confirmed that pNDRG1_T328 exacerbates hepatocyte injury along with DNA damage, inflammatory response, and apoptosis, thereby contributing to hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation. In contrast, TAX can inhibit the above pathological abnormalities and block hepatocyte injury-triggered HSCs activation and fibrosis. Overall, TAX is a potent liver protection drug primarily targeting NDRG1 and inhibiting pNDRG1_T328 in hepatocytes.

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.

Objective:To explore the association between frailty index (FI) and the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and provide new evidence for the prevention of CVD in adults in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Methods:The FI was constructed by using the data from a prospective cohort with a sample size of 25 055 individuals in 6 years of follow-up, and the prevalence of frailty in adults in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was described by the FI, and Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to evaluate the association between the FI and the incidence of CVD in adults in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Results:The FI of the study population was 0.24±0.09. The population in the pre-frail (FI: 0.21-0.27) and frail (FI≥0.28) phases had increased risk for CVD compared to non-frail (FI≤0.20) population [pre-frail: hazard ratio ( HR)=1.232, 95% CI: 1.127-1.347; frail phase: HR=1.418, 95% CI:1.299-1.548]. For every 0.10 increase in FI, the risk for cardiovascular disease increased by 20.3% ( HR=1.203,95% CI:1.156-1.252). Conclusions:In this study, we constructed a FI, which can suggest the risk for CVD. As the increase of frailty degree, the risk for CVD increases.

Cornus officinalis,a medicinal and edible plant known for its liver-nourishing properties,has shown promise in inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells(HSCs),crucial indicators of hepatic fibrosis,especially when processed by high pressure wine steaming(HPWS).Herein,this study aims to investigate the regulatory effects of cornus officinalis,both in its raw and HPWS forms,on inflammation and apoptosis in liver fibrosis and their underlying mechanisms.In vivo liver fibrosis models were established by subcutaneous injection of CCl4,while in vitro HSCs were exposed to transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β).These findings demonstrated that cornus officinalis with HPWS conspicuously ameliorated his-topathological injury,reduced the release of proinflammatory factors,and decreased collagen deposition in CCl4-induced rats compared to its raw form.Utilizing ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer(UHPLC-QTOF-MS)combined with network analysis,we identified that the pharmacological effects of the changed components of cornus officinalis before and after HPWS,primarily centered on the adenosine phosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK)pathway.Of note,cornus officinalis activated AMPK and sirtuin 3(SIRT3),promoting the apoptosis of activated HSCs through the caspase cascade by regulating caspase3,caspase6 and caspase9.small interfering RNA(siRNA)experiments showed that cornus officinalis could regulate AMPK activity and its mediated-apoptosis through SIRT3.In conclusion,cornus officinalis exhibited the ability to reduce inflammation and apoptosis,with the SIRT3-AMPK signaling pathway identified as a potential mecha-nism underlying the synergistic effect of cornus officinalis with HPWS on anti-liver fibrosis.

Background and purpose:Long noncoding RNA(lncRNA)can regulate gene transcription,mRNA shear,stabilization and translation,and it is an important regulatory factor in a variety of biological processes.This study aimed to investigate the expression and clinical features of lncRNA FLJ30679 in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)and its effect on the malignant biological behavior of OSCC.Methods:The expression of FLJ30679 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)tissues and normal tissues was analyzed by the UCSC Xena database for expression and prognosis.The expression of FLJ30679 in OSCC cell lines was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RTFQ-PCR).The subcellular localization of FLJ30679 in OSCC cells was detected by RNA nuclear-cytoplasmic fractionation assays.FLJ30679 Smart Silencer was used to establish the FLJ30679 knockdown group(SS-FLJ30679),and overexpression plasmid of FLJ30679 was used to establish FLJ30679 overexpression group(FLJ30679).The effects of altered FLJ30679 expression on the proliferative and migration capacity of OSCC cells were examined by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)and transwell migration assays.RTFQ-PCR and Western blot were used to determine the effect of altered FLJ30679 expression on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-related genes in OSCC cells.The effects of altered FLJ30679 expression on the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase(AKT)pathway were detected by Western blot.Results:Online query of database showed that FLJ30679 expression was higher in HNSCC tissues compared to normal tissues(P＜0.01).HNSCC patients with higher FLJ30679 expression had lower overall survival(P＜0.01).The RTFQ-PCR results showed that FLJ30679 was expressed at a higher level in six OSCC cell lines compared with normal cells,and was predominantly localized in the nucleus.The ability of OSCC cells in the SS-FLJ30679 group to proliferate and migrate was significantly lower compared with the SS-NC group(P＜0.01).OSCC cells in the FLJ30679 overexpression group had significantly higher proliferative and migratory capacities than those in the vector group(P＜0.001).RTFQ-PCR and Western blot results showed that FLJ30679 knockdown resulted in upregulation of mRNA and protein expression levels of E-cadherin(P＜0.01)and downregulation of mRNA and protein expression levels of N-cadherin and vimentin(P＜0.01).FLJ30679 overexpression resulted in downregulation of protein expression levels of E-cadherin(P＜0.01)and upregulation of mRNA and protein expression levels of N-cadherin and vimentin(P＜0.05).Western blot results showed that knockdown of FLJ30679 resulted in decreased protein expression levels of phosphorylated-PI3K(p-PI3K)and phosphorylated-AKT(p-AKT)(P＜0.001),and overexpression of FLJ30679 resulted in increased protein expression levels of p-PI3K and p-AKT(P＜0.01).Conclusion:The expression of FLJ30679 was increased in OSCC tissues and cells.It promoted the proliferation and migration ability of OSCC cells,which may be caused by FLJ30679 promoting EMT via PI3K/AKT pathway.

AIM:To investigate the impact and regulatory mechanisms of zinc finger protein 36-like protein 1(ZFP36L1)on pancreatic carcinoma cell growth.METHODS:The ZFP36L1 expression in pancreatic carcinoma and its correlation with patient prognosis were analyzed using online databases UALCAN and GEPIA.Western blot was utilized to detect ZFP36L1 protein expression in pancreatic ductal cells(HPNE)and three different pancreatic carcinoma cell lines.CCK-8 and cell colony formation assays were performed to evaluate the effects of ZFP36L1 on pancreatic cancer cell prolif-eration.Wound healing and Transwell assays were used to assess the impact of ZFP36L1 expression changes on pancreatic carcinoma cell migration and invasion.Flow cytometry experiments were used to analyze the effect of ZFP36L1 on the pan-creatic carcinoma cell cycle process.Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to predict potential ZFP36L1 interacting pro-teins.Co-immunoprecipitation experiments were carried out to confirm the interaction between ZFP36L1 and mitogen-acti-vated protein kinase 14(MAPK14).Rescue experiments were performed to assess the function of MAPK14 in ZFP36L1-regulated pancreatic carcinoma cell growth.RESULTS:(1)ZFP36L1 is highly expressed in pancreatic carcinoma and is positively correlated with poor prognosis in pancreatic carcinoma patients.Compared to HPNE,ZFP36L1 is highly ex-pressed in MIA PaCa-2 and ASPC-1 cells,but relatively low in PANC-1 cells.(2)ZFP36L1 overexpression significantly increased the cell viability,colony formation,migration,and invasion abilities of PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells,while siRNA interference of ZFP36L1 led to opposite results.(3)ZFP36L1 promotes the entry of pancreatic carcinoma cells into the S phase of the cell cycle.(4)ZFP36L1 interacts with MAPK14 to regulate pancreatic cancer cell growth.MAPK14 overexpression reversed the cell viability and migration abilities of pancreatic carcinoma cells overexpressing ZFP36L1.Furthermore,it also decreased the cell viability and migration abilities of pancreatic carcinoma cells with ZFP36L1 inter-ference.CONCLUSION:ZFP36L1 is a potential oncogene in pancreatic carcinoma growth and may regulate pancreatic carcinoma cell growth through cell cycle modulation and interaction with MAPK14.

Green analytical chemistry (GAC) focuses on mitigating the adverse effects of analytical activities on human safety, human health, and environment. In addition to the 12 principles of GAC, proper GAC tools should be developed and employed to assess the greenness of different analytical assays. The 15 widely used GAC metrics, i.e., national environmental methods index (NEMI), advanced NEMI, assessment of green profile (AGP), chloroform-oriented toxicity estimation scale (ChlorTox Scale), Analytical Eco-Scale, Green Certificate Modified Eco-Scale, analytical method greenness score (AMGS), green analytical procedure index (GAPI), ComplexGAPI, red-green-blue (RGB) additive color model, RGB 12 algorithm, analytical greenness calculator (AGREE), AGREE preparation (AGREEprep), HEXAGON, and blue applicability grade index (BAGI), are selected as the typical tools. This article comprehensively presents and elucidates the principles, characteristics, merits, and demerits of 15 widely used GAC tools. This review is helpful for researchers to use the current GAC metrics to assess the environmental sustainability of analytical assays.