OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the regulatory effects of lncRNA LINC00261 on proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells. METHODS: The differentially expressed RNAs in ESCC were identified using the GSE149612 dataset from the GEO database. PCR was used to detect LINC00261 expression levels in clinical ESCC and normal esophageal tissue samples and in multiple ESCC cell lines and normal esophageal epithelial cells (HEEC). In ESCC cells, the effects of overexpression of LINC00261 on cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis and apoptosis were analyzed using CCK-8 assay, clone formation assay, Transwell assay and flow cytometry. The potential targets of LINC00261 were predicted using bioinformatics tools including ENCORI and verified using dual-luciferase reporter assay and Western blotting. The effects of LINC00261 overexpression on ESCC were confirmed in a nude mouse model bearing ESCC xenograft. RESULTS: Analysis of the GSE149612 dataset revealed significantly lower LINC00261 expression in ESCC tissues and cell lines. In cultured ESCC cells, LINC00261 overexpression markedly suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis and promoted cell apoptosis. Dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that LINC00261 targets the miR-23a-3p/ZNF292 axis. In the tumor-bearing mouse model, LINC00261 overexpression significantly inhibited ESCC xenograft proliferation and metastasis. CONCLUSIONS LINC00261 suppresses ESCC progression by targeting the miR-23a-3p/ZNF292 axis, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for ESCC treatment.
Humans ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Cell Proliferation ; Esophageal Neoplasms/genetics* ; Animals ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma ; Mice, Nude ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Mice ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics* ; Apoptosis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Neoplasm Metastasis

Microorganisms, abundant in nature, are prolific producers of a diverse array of natural products (NPs) that are fundamental in the development of innovative therapeutics. Despite their significant potential, the field faces considerable challenges, including the continuous emergence of potential health threats, as well as novel pathogen strains and viruses. The advent and implementation of advanced technologies, such as culture strategies, genomics mining, and artificial intelligence (AI), are facilitating a paradigm shift in pharmaceutical research, introducing innovative methodologies and perspectives. The development and maturation of these technologies have enhanced the exploration of microbial-derived NPs, thereby advancing pharmaceutical research and development. This review synthesizes recent developments in this context, emphasizing their applications in pharmaceutical discovery and development. Through systematic analysis and synthesis, it provides objective insights into the promising prospects and future direction of this essential field.
Biological Products/chemistry* ; Drug Discovery ; Humans ; Artificial Intelligence ; Bacteria/metabolism*

Based on a letrozole-induced rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), serum metabolomics was employed to characterize metabolic abnormalities, identify potential biomarkers, and investigate their roles in the pathogenesis and progression of PCOS. Metabolomic analyses revealed significantly decreased levels of cholesterol, pregnenolone, leucine, and citrate in the serum of model rats, accompanied by elevated levels of androsterone glucuronide (ADTG) and linoleic acid, indicating dysregulation of key pathways including steroid biosynthesis, branched-chain amino acid metabolism, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and lipid metabolism. To elucidate the tissue origins and molecular mechanisms underlying these metabolic alterations, ovarian proteomics and qRT-PCR analyses were further integrated. The results confirmed the upregulation of key enzymes involved in the related metabolic pathways, such as 17α-hydroxylase (CYP17A1), 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD11B1), branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase (BCAT2), fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2), and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH). These findings suggest that both “cholesterol precursor depletion-androgen accumulation” and “energy/lipid metabolic reprogramming” constitute core features of metabolic disturbances in PCOS. Through multi-omic cross-validation, six serum metabolites with high stability and clinical translational potential were identified as promising combinational biomarkers for the auxiliary diagnosis of PCOS. This study employed a metabolomics-guided strategy, supported by proteomic and transcriptomic validation, which has not only deepened our understanding of PCOS metabolic mechanisms but also provided us with a theoretical foundation for its auxiliary diagnosis.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the head and neck region. NPC has the characteristics of insidious onset, strong invasiveness and early lymph node metastasis. A variety of signaling pathways play a role in the invasion and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, but the specific mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated. Recent studies have found that DNA methylation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma-related genes can affect the invasion and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through a variety of signaling pathways including Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. This article reviews the specific mechanism of DNA methylation affecting the invasion and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through the above-mentioned signaling pathways.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of warm needling moxibustion plus flash cupping for remission-stage peripheral facial paralysis (FP) due to wind-cold.
Methods:Fifty eligible patients were randomized into a warm needling moxibustion group and an acupuncture-cupping group, 25 cases in each group. The warm needling moxibustion group was intervened by acupuncture at Fengchi (GB 20), Yangbai (GB 14) towards Yuyao (EX-HN 4), Xiaguan (ST 7), Dicang (ST 4) towards Jiache (ST 6), Quanliao (SI 18), and Hegu (LI 4), plus warm needling moxibustion at Quanliao (SI 18); the acupuncture-cupping group received flash cupping on the affected side in addition to the intervention given to the warm needling moxibustion group. The two groups were both treated once a day, 10 times as a treatment course, for 3 courses in total. The House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve grading system was observed before and after the intervention to evaluate the facial nerve function in the two groups, and the therapeutic efficacies were also compared between the two groups.
Results:The two treatment protocols both can promote the recovery of facial nerve function. The total effective rate was 92.0% in the acupuncture-cupping group versus 72.0% in the warm needling moxibustion group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).
Conclusion:Warm needling moxibustion plus flash cupping can produce a more significant efficacy than dry warm needling moxibustion in treating remission-stage peripheral FP due to wind-cold.

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy differences among acupuncture combined with western medicine, acupuncture alone and western medicine alone for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

METHODSNinety patients were randomly assigned into a needle-medicine group, an acupuncture group and a western medicine group, 30 patients in each group. The patients in the needle-medicine group were treated with acupuncture combined with western medicine; the scalp points included Shenting (GV 24), Xinhui (GV 22), Qianding (GV 21), Baihui (GV 20), Chengguang (BL 6), Tongtian (BL 7), etc. The body points were Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Pangguangshu (BL 28), Ciliao (BL 32), etc. The acupuncture was given 30 min per treatment, once a day. Besides, oral administration of 0.2g levofloxacin (twice per day) and 0.2 mg tamsulosin (once a day) was applied. The patients in the acupuncture group and western medicine group were treated by acupuncture and western medicine respectively. 12-d treatment was taken as one session, and totally 2 sessions were given. The clinical efficacy of the three groups after treatment was compared as well as the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) total score and pain score, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) before and after treatment.

RESULTSDuring the trial two patients dropped out, as a result, 30 patients in the needle-medicine group, 29 patients in the acupuncture group and 29 patients in the western medicine group were included in the analysis. After treatment, 21 patients were cured, 6 patients were markedly effective, 2 patients were effective and 1 patient failed in the needle-medicine group;12 patients were cured, 10 patients were markedly effective, 5 patients were effective and 2 patients failed in the acupuncture group; 11 patients were cured, 12 patients were markedly effective, 4 patients were effective and 2 patients failed in the medicine group; the efficacy in the needle-medicine group was superior to those in the acupuncture group and medicine group (both<0.05). Each score was improved after treatment in each group (all<0.01); the total score of NIH-CPSI as well as SAS and SDS scores in the needle-medicine group were superior to those in the acupuncture group and medicine group (<0.05,<0.01); the pain scores of NIH-CPSI in needle-medicine group and acupuncture group were superior to that in the medicine group (<0.05,<0.01), but the difference between the needle-medicine group and acupuncture group was not significant (>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe efficacy of acupuncture combined with western medicine for CP/CPPS is superior to that of acupuncture alone and western medicine alone, which could improve the symptom of prostatitis as well as status of anxiety and depression.