This study aims to explore the mechanism of lung and gut protection by Tanreqing Capsules on the mice infected with influenza virus based on "the lung-gut axis". A total of 110 C57BL/6J mice were randomized into control group, model group, oseltamivir group, and low-and high-dose Tanreqing Capsules groups. Ten mice in each group underwent body weight protection experiments, and the remaining 12 mice underwent experiments for mechanism exploration. Mice were infected with influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/08/1934(PR8) via nasal inhalation for the modeling. The lung tissue was collected on day 3 after gavage, and the lung tissue, colon tissue, and feces were collected on day 7 after gavage for subsequent testing. The results showed that Tanreqing Capsules alleviated the body weight reduction and increased the survival rate caused by PR8 infection. Compared with model group, Tanreqing Capsules can alleviate the lung injury by reducing the lung index, alleviating inflammation and edema in the lung tissue, down-regulating viral gene expression at the late stage of infection, reducing the percentage of neutrophils, and increasing the percentage of T cells. Tanreqing Capsules relieved the gut injury by restoring the colon length, increasing intestinal lumen mucin secretion, alleviating intestinal inflammation, and reducing goblet cell destruction. The gut microbiota analysis showed that Tanreqing Capsules increased species diversity compared with model group. At the phylum level, Tanreqing Capsules significantly increased the abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, while reducing the abundance of Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria to maintain gut microbiota balance. At the genus level, Tanreqing Capsules significantly increased the abundance of unclassified＿f＿Lachnospiraceae while reducing the abundance of Bacteroides, Eubacterium, and Phocaeicola to maintain gut microbiota balance. In conclusion, Tanreqing Capsules can alleviate mouse lung and gut injury caused by influenza virus infection and restore the balance of gut microbiota. Treating influenza from the lung and gut can provide new ideas for clinical practice.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Lung/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Capsules ; Orthomyxoviridae Infections/virology* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Influenza A virus/physiology* ; Influenza, Human/virology*

Aim To explore the antioxidative effect of the Chinese medicine Baitouweng(BTW)on treating ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods Sixty male mice were randomly divided into six groups:control,dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)(3 g·105 L-1),BTW(20,10,and 5 g·kg-1),and 5-aminosalicylic acid(5-ASA)(800 mg·kg-1).UC model was constructed by 3％DSS for seven days,and the UC model was given by ga-vage once daily from the 5 th day of modeling for seven days.Results BTW effectively reduced the symptoms and histopathological scores of UC mice.Additionally,it downregulated the inflammatory factors,interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-1 β,the immunoglobulins vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and intercellular adhesion mole-cule 1,and metalloprotease matrix metallopeptidase 9.Moreover,it downregulated high mobility group box 1 protein.Furthermore,it inhibited the nuclear factor er-ythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)pathway.Conclusions BTW improves the general condition,inflammatory indexes and oxidative stress level,and its mechanism may be related to inhib-iting the level of HMGB1 to regulate the Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathway and rescue intestinal barrier-related protein expression.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation, joint destruction, and functional impairment. Angiogenesis plays a key role in the pathological progression of RA with dysfunction of endothelial cells to promote synovial inflammation, sustain pannus formation, subsequently leading to joint damage. Colquhounia Root Tablets (CRT), a Chinese patent drug, has shown a satisfying clinical efficacy in treating RA, while the underlying mechanism by which CRT inhibits RA-associated angiogenesis remains unclear. In this study, we applied a research approach combining transcriptomic data analysis, bio-network mapping, and in vivo and in vitro experiments to explore the molecular mechanisms of CRT in suppressing angiogenesis in RA. Animal welfare and experimental procedures follow the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Institute of Basic Theory for Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (ratification number: IBTCMCACMS21-2307-06). Network analysis identified that key genes such as nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2), SMAD family member 3 (SMAD3), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) significantly enriched in pathways related to NOD-like receptor signaling and VEGF signaling, indicating that CRT may inhibit angiogenesis by regulating vascular endothelial cell function with modulating angiogenesis-related pathways. In vivo data showed that CRT significantly reduced the positive expression of CD31 and VEGF in the ankle joint of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats. In vitro data further confirmed that CRT effectively inhibited VEGF-induced migration, invasion, and tube formation in HUVECs, while significantly reduced the expression of angiogenesis-related factors VEGF/CD31/Ang-1, as well as the positive expression of VEGF and CD31 in HUVECs. Furthermore, CRT markedly decreased the protein expression of NOD2, VEGFA, and SMAD3. In conclusion, these findings indicate that CRT may inhibit the RA-related angiogenesis by targeting the NOD2/SMAD3/VEGF signaling axis to improve endothelial cell function, enriching the scientific connotation of CRT in inhibiting pathological angiogenesis in RA and also offer new insights for clinical prevention and treatment of RA.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major global health issue, with glycated hemoglobin levels serving as the gold standard for evaluating glucose level control in DM patients. However, it has limitations in reflecting glucose oscillations (i.e. glycemic variability, GV). Increasing evidence suggests that GV is closely related to the progression of diabetes complications and patient prognosis. As people realize the importance of avoiding hypoglycemia while achieving target glycated hemoglobin levels in treatment, the clinical significance of GV becomes more obvious. This article systematically reviewed the concept and connotation of GV, summarized the latest research on its role in the complications of diabetes, and revealed the biochemical and pathophysiological abnormalities caused by excessive glycemic oscillation, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the risk warning and early intervention of DM patients.
Humans ; Blood Glucose/metabolism* ; Diabetes Complications/physiopathology* ; Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism* ; Hypoglycemia ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications*

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study. METHODS: A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m ²) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m ²) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m ²) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m ² ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Adult ; Mortality ; Cause of Death ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight/mortality*

Objective:To establish a TaqMan-MGB probe-based method for detecting the polymorphic loci C677T and A1298C of the MTHFR gene.Methods:Specific primers and TaqMan-MGB probes targeting the C677T and A1298C polymorphic loci of the MTHFR gene were designed and optimized based on the gene sequence information.A real-time quantitative PCR detection system was established.Gradient dilution experiments were conducted to determine the limit of detection,and reproducibility experiments were performed to evaluate detection consistency.Specificity was validated using wild-type and mutant plasmid templates.The method was applied to detect 56 clinical samples,and its accuracy and practicality were assessed through comparison with traditional Sanger sequencing.Results:The TaqMan-MGB probe method demonstrated high specificity for detecting the C677T and A1298C loci,with no cross-reactivity between wild-type and mutant probes,enabling accurate genotype differentiation.Sensitivity experiments revealed detection limits of 1.13 × 103 copies/μL for C677T and 8.39 × 101 copies/μL for A1298C.Reproducibility experiments showed coefficients of variation below 1％,indicating stable and reliable results.Among the 56 clinical samples,the overall detection rate for the C677T locus was 86.99％,and for the A1298C locus,it was 97.92％.The TaqMan-MGB method exhibited good concordance with Sanger sequencing results.Conclusion:The TaqMan-MGB method exhibits high specificity,sensitivity,and excellent reproducibility in detecting the polymorphic loci C677T and A1298C of the MTHFR gene,making it suitable for rapid detection in large-scale clinical samples.This method provides an effective molecular diagnostic tool for the early diagnosis and prevention of folate-related diseases.

Objective:To establish a TaqMan-MGB probe-based method for detecting the polymorphic loci C677T and A1298C of the MTHFR gene.Methods:Specific primers and TaqMan-MGB probes targeting the C677T and A1298C polymorphic loci of the MTHFR gene were designed and optimized based on the gene sequence information.A real-time quantitative PCR detection system was established.Gradient dilution experiments were conducted to determine the limit of detection,and reproducibility experiments were performed to evaluate detection consistency.Specificity was validated using wild-type and mutant plasmid templates.The method was applied to detect 56 clinical samples,and its accuracy and practicality were assessed through comparison with traditional Sanger sequencing.Results:The TaqMan-MGB probe method demonstrated high specificity for detecting the C677T and A1298C loci,with no cross-reactivity between wild-type and mutant probes,enabling accurate genotype differentiation.Sensitivity experiments revealed detection limits of 1.13 × 103 copies/μL for C677T and 8.39 × 101 copies/μL for A1298C.Reproducibility experiments showed coefficients of variation below 1％,indicating stable and reliable results.Among the 56 clinical samples,the overall detection rate for the C677T locus was 86.99％,and for the A1298C locus,it was 97.92％.The TaqMan-MGB method exhibited good concordance with Sanger sequencing results.Conclusion:The TaqMan-MGB method exhibits high specificity,sensitivity,and excellent reproducibility in detecting the polymorphic loci C677T and A1298C of the MTHFR gene,making it suitable for rapid detection in large-scale clinical samples.This method provides an effective molecular diagnostic tool for the early diagnosis and prevention of folate-related diseases.

Aim To explore the antioxidative effect of the Chinese medicine Baitouweng(BTW)on treating ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods Sixty male mice were randomly divided into six groups:control,dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)(3 g·105 L-1),BTW(20,10,and 5 g·kg-1),and 5-aminosalicylic acid(5-ASA)(800 mg·kg-1).UC model was constructed by 3％DSS for seven days,and the UC model was given by ga-vage once daily from the 5 th day of modeling for seven days.Results BTW effectively reduced the symptoms and histopathological scores of UC mice.Additionally,it downregulated the inflammatory factors,interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-1 β,the immunoglobulins vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and intercellular adhesion mole-cule 1,and metalloprotease matrix metallopeptidase 9.Moreover,it downregulated high mobility group box 1 protein.Furthermore,it inhibited the nuclear factor er-ythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)pathway.Conclusions BTW improves the general condition,inflammatory indexes and oxidative stress level,and its mechanism may be related to inhib-iting the level of HMGB1 to regulate the Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathway and rescue intestinal barrier-related protein expression.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of ultrasound-guided ethanol injection com-bined with microwave ablation (MWA) and MWA alone in the treatment of very large benign thyroid nodules. Methods:83 patients with benign thyroid nodules with volume>30 mL underwent ultrasound-guided thermal ablation were retrospectively analyzed from January 2020 to February 2023 in department of ultrasound,the first medical center of PLA general hospital. The patients were divided into two groups:ethanol injection combined with MWA (EA+MWA) group and MWA group. A comparison was made between the two groups in terms of ablation time,ablation energy,ablation energy per unit volume,nodule volume and reduction rate at 1,3,6 and 12 months post-surgery,symptom score,cosmetic score,thyroid function as well as intraoperative and postopera-tive complications. Results:The mean ablation time[(244.06±226.53)s vs (447.43±197.50)s,P<0.001],ablation energy[(8.15±9.60)kJ vs (15.24±7.61)kJ/mL]and unit volume ablation energy[(0.17±0.19)kJ/mL vs (0.34±0.16)kJ/mL]were significantly lower in EA+MWA group than those in MWA group(P<0.001). The VRR of EA+MWA group was significantly higher than that of MWA group at 6 months and 12 months after operation(P=0.002,P=0.011). Aesthetic and symptom scores were significantly lower in both groups 12 months after surgery(P<0.001). There was no significant change in thyroid function between the two groups during follow-up compared with be-fore treatment(P>0.05),and no serious complications were observed. Conclusion:ethanol in-jection before MWA can shorten the ablation time,reduce the microwave energy,and effectively promote the shrinkage of thyroid nodules.

It is the focus of higher education reform in the new era to comprehensively promote the con-struction of ideology and political education based on the characteristics of professional courses and en-hancing the effectiveness of ideology and political education.As an important basic course for medical students in colleges,molecular biology is closely related to basic medical disciplines and clinical medi-cine,and is a rapidly developing cutting-edge discipline,which has the natural advantage of serving as a carrier of ideology and political education.In this study,the innovative integration of project-based group study (PBGS) with the outcome-oriented behavior (OBE) of moral education is applied to the teaching of the ideology and politics of the medical molecular biology course,and the integration of the two has made a useful exploration to enhance the effectiveness of the ideology and politics teaching of the course.Taking students as the center,we have constructed an ideology and politics teaching system for medical molecular biology courses by combining on-line and off-line teaching activities through improving the teaching objectives,innovating the teaching design,digging into the case of ideology and politics,intro-ducing a variety of teaching methods,strengthening the management of teaching practice,and optimizing the evaluation mode.After two years of teaching practice,this model has effectively improved the teach-ing effect of the medical molecular biology course.The academic performance of the students in the prac-tice group has improved significantly,and the teachers and students have been given excellent evalua-tion.The results of the questionnaires before and after class showed that more than 80％ of the students believed that their horizons had been broadened and their knowledge had been increased through learn-ing.More than 50％ of the students believed that their learning ability and innovation consciousness had been improved;their scientific research quality had been improved;and their confidence in studying medicine had been strengthened.By strengthening the cultivation of students' scientific research and in-novation capabilities,we guided students to participate in subject competitions and won many national a-wards.Throughout the teaching process,we aim to expand the breadth and depth of ideology and political education,cultivate scientific spirits,innovation ability,moral cultivation,and humanistic qualities.In sum,our work provides experiences for the cultivation of high-quality medical talents.