ObjectiveTo study the therapeutic mechanism of Xihuang Wan for hyperplasia of mammary glands based on network pharmacology， molecular docking， and cell experiments. MethodsThe active ingredients and targets of Xihuang Wan were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP） and A Bioinformatics Annotation daTabase for Molecular mechANism of Traditional Chinese Medicine （BATMAN-TCM） and supplemented by searching against PubChem and Swiss Target Prediction. The targets of differential metabolites in tissues and urine were obtained from previous metabolomics studies through PubChem and Swiss Target Prediction. GeneCards， Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man （OMIM）， PharmGKB， Therapeutic Target Database （TTD）， Drunbank were searched for the targets of hyperplasia of mammary glands. After the common targets were obtained via Veeny2.1.0， the STRING database was used to analyze the protein-protein interactions， and Cytoscape was used for the core target analysis and visualization. Gene Ontology （GO） and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） were employed for enrichment analysis. Molecular docking was carried out in Autodock， and cell experiments were conducted to verify the prediction results. In the cell experiments， estradiol and progesterone （E₂+P） were used to intervene in human mammary epithelial/MCF-10A cells， and thus the MCF-10A cell proliferation model was established. The cells were then treated with Xihuang Wan-medicated serum. The cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） was used to measure the cell proliferation， and flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis. The mRNA and protein levels of key factors in MCF-10A cells were determined by real-time PCR and Western blot， respectively. ResultsThe results of network pharmacology showed that 90 active ingredients and 316 common targets were obtained， from which 20 core targets and 38 corresponding active ingredients were screened out. The results of GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that Xihuang Wan exerted effect against hyperplasia of mammary glands by regulating a variety of biological processes， which may be related to protein kinase B （Akt）-related molecular functions， estrogen signaling pathway， prolactin signaling pathway and other biological processes. The results of molecular docking showed that estrogen receptor 1 （ESR1）， serine/threonine kinase 1 （Akt1）， non-receptor tyrosine kinase （SRC）， and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3） all had strong binding activity with the nine active ingredients， suggesting that Xihuang Wan exert the effect through the ESR1/SRC/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/Akt signaling pathway and the Janus kinase （JAK）/STAT3 signaling pathway. The results of cell experiments showed that E₂+P intervention in MCF-10A cells promoted the proliferation of MCF-10A cells （P<0.05）， while the Xihuang Wan-medicated serum inhibited the proliferation of MCF-10A cells exposed to E₂+P （P<0.05）. Flow cytometry showed that the Xihuang Wan-medicated serum promoted the apoptosis of MCF-10A cells exposed to E₂+P （P<0.01）. The results of Real-time PCR showed that the Xihuang Wan-medicated serum down-regulated the mRNA levels of PI3K， Akt， JAK2， and STAT3 in MCF-10A cells treated with E₂+P （P<0.01）. The results of Western blot showed that the Xihuang Wan-medicated serum inhibited the expression of p-PI3K/PI3K， p-Akt/Akt， p-JAK2/JAK2， and p-STAT3/STAT3 in MCF-10A cells treated with E₂+P （P<0.05）. ConclusionXihuang Wan may exert the effect against hyperplasia of mammary glands by inhibiting the proliferation and promoting the apoptosis of MCF-10A cells， which may related to the inhibition of the activation of PI3K/Akt and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways.

AIM: To investigate the role of pyroptosis in the development of diabetic retinopathy(DR)and to explore the regulatory mechanism by which circular RNA(circRNA)and its targeted microRNA(miRNA)mediate pyroptosis in DR, providing new therapeutic targets and strategies for the prevention and treatment of DR.METHODS: A streptozotocin(STZ)-induced model of type 1 diabetes in SD rats was established. The expression of circRNA_0076631, miR-214, and pyroptosis-related factors were measured in retinal tissues. CCK-8 and tube formation assays were used to detect the effect of different concentration of glucose on cell proliferation and angiogenic abilities of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(HRMECs). The expression levels of circRNA_0076631, miR-214, and pyroptosis-related markers were evaluated through qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis, with additional experiments conducted following circRNA_0076631 knockdown to assess its effect on pyroptosis markers. Previous bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays identified a shared binding site among circRNA_0076631, miR-214, and caspase-1. To clarify the interaction between these molecules, co-transfection experiments using circRNA_0076631 inhibitors(ASO-circRNA_0076631), miR-214 overexpression transfection reagent, and miR-214 inhibitors(AMO-miR-214)were conducted to elucidate the regulatory pathway involved in DR.RESULTS: Both the diabetic rat model and D-glucose-treated HRMECs showed significantly elevated expression of circRNA_0076631 and pyroptosis-related factors(NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1β), while miR-214 expression was reduced(all P<0.05). The mRNA expression of pyroptosis-related factors caspase-1 was reduced after the overexpression of miR-214, and it was upregulated after the inhibition of miR-214(all P<0.05). Knockdown of circRNA_0076631 reduced the mRNA expression of pyroptosis markers caspase-1(P<0.05). Co-transfection experiments revealed that the inhibition circRNA_0076631 suppressed pyroptosis(all P<0.05), but this suppression was reversed upon co-transfection with miR-214 inhibitors, leading to increased mRNA expression of the pyroptosis marker caspase-1(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The circRNA_0076631 and pyroptosis play critical roles in the pathogenesis of DR, and circRNA_0076631 may regulate pyroptosis by modulating miR-214, which in turn influences the expression of caspase-1 in the pyroptosis signaling pathway, thereby contributing to DR progression. The circRNA_0076631 may serve as a novel therapeutic target, providing new insights for the prevention and treatment of DR.

AIM: To investigate the role of pyroptosis in the development of diabetic retinopathy(DR)and to explore the regulatory mechanism by which circular RNA(circRNA)and its targeted microRNA(miRNA)mediate pyroptosis in DR, providing new therapeutic targets and strategies for the prevention and treatment of DR.METHODS: A streptozotocin(STZ)-induced model of type 1 diabetes in SD rats was established. The expression of circRNA_0076631, miR-214, and pyroptosis-related factors were measured in retinal tissues. CCK-8 and tube formation assays were used to detect the effect of different concentration of glucose on cell proliferation and angiogenic abilities of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(HRMECs). The expression levels of circRNA_0076631, miR-214, and pyroptosis-related markers were evaluated through qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis, with additional experiments conducted following circRNA_0076631 knockdown to assess its effect on pyroptosis markers. Previous bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays identified a shared binding site among circRNA_0076631, miR-214, and caspase-1. To clarify the interaction between these molecules, co-transfection experiments using circRNA_0076631 inhibitors(ASO-circRNA_0076631), miR-214 overexpression transfection reagent, and miR-214 inhibitors(AMO-miR-214)were conducted to elucidate the regulatory pathway involved in DR.RESULTS: Both the diabetic rat model and D-glucose-treated HRMECs showed significantly elevated expression of circRNA_0076631 and pyroptosis-related factors(NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1β), while miR-214 expression was reduced(all P<0.05). The mRNA expression of pyroptosis-related factors caspase-1 was reduced after the overexpression of miR-214, and it was upregulated after the inhibition of miR-214(all P<0.05). Knockdown of circRNA_0076631 reduced the mRNA expression of pyroptosis markers caspase-1(P<0.05). Co-transfection experiments revealed that the inhibition circRNA_0076631 suppressed pyroptosis(all P<0.05), but this suppression was reversed upon co-transfection with miR-214 inhibitors, leading to increased mRNA expression of the pyroptosis marker caspase-1(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The circRNA_0076631 and pyroptosis play critical roles in the pathogenesis of DR, and circRNA_0076631 may regulate pyroptosis by modulating miR-214, which in turn influences the expression of caspase-1 in the pyroptosis signaling pathway, thereby contributing to DR progression. The circRNA_0076631 may serve as a novel therapeutic target, providing new insights for the prevention and treatment of DR.

Huaihuasan， first recorded in Experiential Prescriptions for Universal Relief （Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang）， is a classic prescription for the treatment of ''hematochezia due to intestinal wind''. In 2018， it was included by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine as one of the first 100 classic prescriptions. This formula consists of four ingredients， i.e.， Sophorae Flos， Platycladi Cacumen， Schizonepetae Spica， and Aurantii Fructus. It is known for its ability to clear the intestines， dispel wind， cool the blood， and stop bleeding. In modern clinical practice， Huaihuasan， often with modifications， is widely used to treat various digestive tract diseases， including ulcerative colitis （UC）， with significant long-term effects. UC is a chronic， non-specific inflammatory bowel disease. Currently， Western medicine primarily treats UC with glucocorticoids， aminosalicylates， and immunosuppressants， which have good short-term efficacy but numerous adverse reactions， high recurrence rates， and the need for lifelong medication. Modern clinical studies have shown that Huaihuasan can significantly improve symptoms of UC， such as abdominal pain and diarrhea， reduce disease activity scores （Sutherland）， promote intestinal mucosal healing， alleviate anxiety and depression， and significantly improve the quality of life of patients. Pharmacological studies have shown that the main active components of Huaihuasan include quercetin， rutin， kaempferol， naringenin， and volatile oils. These compounds exert their effects by inhibiting inflammatory responses and protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier. They also exhibit antioxidant properties and regulate various signaling pathways， including tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-2 （IL-2）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 （MCP-1）， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， Janus kinase （JAK）/signal transducer and activator of transcription （STAT）， and the KRAS-regulated mitogen-activated protein kinase （MEK）-extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK） pathway. These multi-target pathways improve UC symptoms， inhibit inflammation-cancer transition， and help maintain intestinal homeostasis. However， the precise mechanism of action has not yet been systematically elucidated. This paper reviews the research progress on Huaihuasan and main ingredients from its component drugs， focusing on their effects against UC. It also discusses current research limitations and suggests strategies for improvement， aiming to provide a reference for further studies on Huaihuasan in the treatment of UC and the development of new drugs.

Objective Based on the “excellent” performance achieved by our institution in the 2024 national intercomparison of monitoring individual dose from external exposure, this paper systematically summarizes key technical elements and optimization experiences in instrument calibration, operational protocols, and data analysis, aiming to provide methodological references and practical support for continuously enhancing the accuracy and reliability of individual dose monitoring. Methods As a participant in the intercomparison activity, our laboratory strictly followed the technical protocol formulated by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Results In the 2024 national intercomparison of monitoring individual dose from external exposure, the measurement results met the criteria of single-group performance \begin{document}$ \left|{P}_{i}\right| $\end{document} ≤ 0.10 and comprehensive performance B² + S² ≤ 0.10², and were rated as excellent. Conclusion The accuracy and reliability of monitoring individual dose from external exposure depend on the precision of instrument calibration, standardization of operations, and strictness of quality control. The effectiveness of the above quality control methods has been confirmed by the practice of our laboratory. These methods can be used to ensure the accuracy of measurement results.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL), a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is classified as an independent subtype of extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification (Turner et al., 2010). The 5th edition of the World Health Organization (WHO 2022) classification of hematolymphoid tumors retains this subtype (Alaggio et al., 2022). IVLBCL, which is characterized by neoplastic lymphocyte proliferation within the lumen of small blood vessels, tends to invade organs, such as the nervous system, skin, bone marrow (BM), and lung (D'Angelo et al., 2019; Satoh et al., 2019; Vásquez et al., 2019; Fukami et al., 2020).
Humans ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/drug therapy* ; Vascular Neoplasms/therapy*

Neuropathic pain is frequently comorbidity with cognitive deficits. Neuralized1 (Neurl1)-mediated ubiquitination of CPEB3 in the hippocampus is critical in learning and memory. However, the role of Neurl1 in the cognitive impairment in neuropathic pain remains elusive. Herein, we found that lumbar 5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL) in male rat-induced neuropathic pain was followed by learning and memory deficits and LTP impairment in the hippocampus. The Neurl1 expression in the hippocampal CA1 was decreased after SNL. And this decrease paralleled the reduction of ubiquitinated-CPEB3 level and reduced production of GluA1 and GluA2. Overexpression of Neurl1 in the CA1 rescued cognitive deficits and LTP impairment, and reversed the reduction of ubiquitinated-CPEB3 level and the decrease of GluA1 and GluA2 production following SNL. Specific knockdown of Neurl1 or CPEB3 in bilateral hippocampal CA1 in naïve rats resulted in cognitive deficits and impairment of synaptic plasticity. The rescued cognitive function and synaptic plasticity by the treatment of overexpression of Neurl1 before SNL were counteracted by the knockdown of CPEB3 in the CA1. Collectively, the above results suggest that the downregulation of Neurl1 through reducing CPEB3 ubiquitination and, in turn, repressing GluA1 and GluA2 production and mediating synaptic plasticity impairment in hippocampal CA1 leads to the genesis of cognitive deficits in neuropathic pain.
Animals ; Male ; Neuralgia/metabolism* ; Rats ; Down-Regulation/physiology* ; Ubiquitination/physiology* ; Neuronal Plasticity/physiology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal/metabolism* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/metabolism* ; RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism* ; Receptors, AMPA/metabolism*

Nucleic acid elements are essential functional sequences that play critical roles in regulating gene expression, optimizing pathways, and enabling gene editing to enhance the production of target products in biomanufacturing. Therefore, the design and optimization of these elements are crucial in constructing efficient cell factories. Artificial intelligence (AI) provides robust support for biomanufacturing by accurately predicting functional nucleic acid elements, designing and optimizing sequences with quantified functions, and elucidating the operating mechanisms of these elements. In recent years, AI has significantly accelerated the progress in biomanufacturing by reducing experimental workloads through the design and optimization of promoters, ribosome-binding sites, terminators, and their combinations. Despite these advancements, the application of AI in biomanufacturing remains limited due to the complexity of biological systems and the lack of highly quantified training data. This review summarizes the various nucleic acid elements utilized in biomanufacturing, the tools developed for predicting and designing these elements based on AI algorithms, and the case studies showcasing the applications of AI in biomanufacturing. By integrating AI with synthetic biology and high-throughput techniques, we anticipate the development of more efficient tools for designing nucleic acid elements and accelerating the application of AI in biomanufacturing.
Artificial Intelligence ; Synthetic Biology ; Nucleic Acids/genetics* ; Algorithms ; Gene Editing ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Biotechnology/methods*

Objective : To pathological changes and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 serine 307(p-IRS1ser 307), phosphorylated protein kinase B serine 473(p-AKTser 473), glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β), and gluconeogenic synthase(GS) proteins were observed in the liver of rats under the condition of chronic intermittent hypoxia-replicated oxygen in control. And to explore the role of iNOS/IRS1/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway in chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced insulin resistance. Methods : Forty SD rats were randomly divided into a control group(NC group) and an experimental group(CIH group), with 20 rats in each group. The NC group was placed in a normoxic environment for 12 weeks, while the CIH group was first subjected to intermittent hypoxia for 8 weeks, and then resumed normoxic rearing until the 12th week. Fasting blood glucose(FBG) and fasting insulin(FINS) were measured at baseline, week 8 and week 12, and liver tissues were taken for pathology and measurement of iNOS, p-IRS1ser 307, p-AKTser 473, GSK3β and GS levels, to compare the differences between groups. Results: t baseline, there was no significant difference in liver pathology between the two groups, and the observed indexes were not statistically significant(P>0.05); at 8 weeks, compared with the NC group, liver pathology in the CIH group showed significant disorganization of hepatic blood sinusoids and hepatocyte cords, obvious hepatocyte edema, smaller nuclei, increased lymphocyte infiltration, and a small number of fat vacuoles, significantly higher levels of FBG, FINS, insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR), iNOS mRNA, p-IRS1ser 307 protein, GSK-3β protein levels, and decreased p-AKTser 473 protein and GS protein levels, all of which were statistically significant(allP<0.05). IRS1ser 307 protein, GSK-3β protein levels were increased, p-AKTser 473 protein and GS protein levels were decreased, and the differences were statistically significant(allP<0.05); at 12 weeks, no lymphocyte infiltration was seen in the CIH group compared with that of the NC group and fat vacuoles significantly increased, and there was no improvement in the other pathological damage that had already occurred, and the levels of p-AKTser 473 protein significantly increased. AKTser 473 protein level significantly increased, p-IRS1ser 307 protein and GS protein levels were significantly reduced, all of which were statistically significant(allP<0.05), and the rest of the observational indexes were not statistically significant. Pearson′s correlation analysis showed that HOMA-IR of CIH group was significantly positively correlated with the levels of iNOS mRNA, p-IRS1ser 307 protein, and GSK-3β protein at 8 weeks(r=0.874, 0.817,0.872;allP<0.05), and significantly negatively correlated with the levels of p-AKTser 473 protein and GS protein(r=-0.886,-0.879;allP<0.05). Conclusion Chronic intermittent hypoxia can lead to hepatic pathological damage that cannot be reversed even by reoxygenation interventions and may mediate the development of insulin resistance by upregulating the IRS1/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway through the upregulation of iNOS mRNA expression.

Objective To explore the effects of the Otago Exercise Program(OEP)on activities of daily living,muscle strength,balance,and physical function in older adults with sarcopenia,to compare OEP with conventional exercise training,and to provide a basis for clinical rehabilitation programs for older adults with sarcopenia.Methods In this randomized controlled trial,120 older adults clinically diagnosed with sarcopenia were enrolled.The participants were randomly assigned to the OEP intervention group(experimental group)and the conventional exercise intervention group(control group),with 60 in each group.The experimental group underwent 12 weeks of OEP training,three times a week,with each session lasting 45 minutes.The control group underwent conventional exercise training following the same schedule.The Modified Barthel Index was used as the primary outcome measure to assess activities of daily living.Secondary outcome measures included muscle strength,gait stability,dynamic balance,and physical function status,evaluated using grip strength,6-meter walking speed,the Timed Up and Go Test(TUGT),and the Short Physical Performance Battery(SPPB).Results A total of 120 older adults with sarcopenia were included.The mean age of the participants was(80.17±8.48)years.Baseline data before treatment showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups.Both groups completed the treatment within 12 weeks without experiencing any adverse events.The baseline data for the experimental group were as follows,MBI at(67.00±22.76)points,hand grip strength at(15.29±4.94)kg,gait speed at(0.61±0.26)m/s,TUGT time at(15.05±6.74)s,and SPPB score at(6.17±1.40)points,while the corresponding post-intervention findings were as follows,(78.72±15.83)points,(17.67±5.83)kg,(0.77±0.28)m/s,(13.49±6.16)s,and(9.25±1.71)points,respectively.The experimental group showed improvements in all measures from baseline to post-intervention(P＜0.05 for all measures).As for the control group,the baseline data for the corresponding measures were as follows,(67.20±22.12)points,(15.00±5.35)kg,(0.58±0.23)m/s,(17.29±6.90)s,and(6.00±1.24)points,respectively.The post-intervention findings increased to(71.13±20.28)points,(15.47±5.72)kg,(0.64±0.28)m/s,(16.50±6.99)s,and(6.73±1.61)points,respectively,but the changes were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Furthermore,an intergroup comparison of intervention effects(post-intervention minus preintervention)revealed significant differences in mean changes from baseline.The experimental group demonstrated improvements of(+11.72±6.32)points in modified Barthel Index,(+11.72±6.32)kg in grip strength,(+0.16±0.09)m/s in gait speed,(—1.56±1.32)s in TUGT time,and(—1.56±1.32)points in SPPB score.In contrast,the control group showed smaller changes of(+3.93±5.65)points,(+0.47±1.37)kg,(+0.06±0.07)m/s,(—0.79±1.54)s,and(+0.73±1.12)points,respectively(all P＜0.05).Intergroup comparisons revealed superior outcomes in the experimental group across all measures.Conclusion OEP significantly enhances activities of daily living,improves muscle strength,balance,and physical function in older adults,and is more effective than conventional rehabilitation exercise programs,making it suitable for extensive clinical application.