Compounds isolated from Epimedium include the total flavonoids of Epimedium , icariin, and its metabolites (icaritin, icariside I, and icariside II), which have similar molecular structures. Modern pharmacological research and clinical practice have proved that Epimedium and its active components have a wide range of pharmacological effects, especially in improving sexual function, hormone regulation, anti-osteoporosis, immune function regulation, anti-oxidation, and anti-tumor activity. To date, we still need a comprehensive source of knowledge about the pharmacological effects of Epimedium and its bioactive compounds on the male reproductive system. However, their actions in other tissues have been reviewed in recent years. This review critically focuses on the Epimedium , its bioactive compounds, and the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that modulate vital pathways associated with the male reproductive system. Such intrinsic knowledge will significantly further studies on the Epimedium and its bioactive compounds that protect the male reproductive system and provide some guidances for clinical treatment of related male reproductive disorders.
Male ; Epimedium/chemistry* ; Humans ; Genitalia, Male/drug effects* ; Flavonoids/therapeutic use* ; Animals

AIM:To analyze differential proteins associated with the pathogenesis of dry eye(DE)using bioinformatics methods, in order to reveal their potential molecular mechanisms.METHODS: Articles published in PubMed and EMBASE databases from the inception of the database to August 31, 2023, that used proteomic methods to detect protein expression in clinical samples of dry eye were searched. Differential proteins were selected and further analyzed using the STRING database and Cytoscape software for hub gene screening and module analysis. Protein-protein interaction(PPI)analysis, gene ontology(GO)functional annotation, and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis were performed.RESULTS: A total of 21 articles were included, identifying 74 differentially expressed proteins. The most frequently occurring differential proteins were calgranulin A(SA1008), lipocalin-1(LCN1), lysozyme C(LYZ), mammaglobin-B(SCGB2A1), proline-rich protein 4(PRR4), transferrin(TF), and calgranulinB(S100A9). The top 10 hub genes were serum albumin(ALB), tumor necrosis factor(TNF), interleukin 6(IL6), IL1B, IL8, matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9), alpha-1-antitrypsin(SERPINA1), IL10, complement component 3(C3), and lactotransferrin(LTF). Module analysis suggested MMP9 and PRR4 as seed genes. KEGG analysis showed that differential proteins were mainly enriched in the IL17 signaling pathway(61.9%).CONCLUSION: The results reveal potential molecular targets and pathways for DE and confirm the association between the pathogenesis of DE and inflammation. Further in-depth research is needed to confirm the significance of these biomarkers in clinical practice.

Objective:To explore the correlation between the oxygenation index and the monitored parameters of lung injury view in ventilator,so as to provide a basis for monitoring the change of oxygenation index by the parameters of lung injury view.Methods:A total of 28 patients who received mechanical ventilation treatment and admitted to respiratory department of the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University from May 14 to September 30,2024 were selected.The monitored parameters of lung injury views of them during mechanical ventilation treatment with invasive ventilators were collected,including platform pressure(Pplat),driving pressure(ΔP),mechanical energy(Emech),ratio of tidal volume to ideal body weight(TVe/IBW),etc..Then,the data of oxygenation index were obtained.Finally,135 valid data were screened out.The 84 pieces of data with oxygenation index≤300mmHg were included in low oxygen group,and 51 data with oxygenation index>300mmHg were included in normal group.The correlations between oxygenation index and Pplat,ΔP,Emech,TVe/IBW were conducted by pairwise analysis.Results:In the low oxygen group,the oxygenation index was[(196.302±74.522)mmHg]significantly negative correlation with Emech[(12.686±5.401)J/min](ρ=-0.425,P<0.05),but not was significant correlation with Pplat,ΔP,and TVe/IBW(P>0.05).In the normal group,there were not significant correlations between the oxygenation index and Pplat,ΔP,Emech and TVe/IBW(P>0.05).There was a significant negative correlation between Emech and rank of oxygenation index(β=-0.389,P<0.05)in the low oxygen group.Conclusion:The visualization function of the Emech of the monitored parameters in lung injury view of ventilator can provide help for monitoring the changes of oxygenation index of patients in the low oxygen group,and can improve the oxygenation of patients by optimizing mechanical energy.However,it is necessary to balance the contradiction between ventilation intensity and protection for lung.

Aim To explore the effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA)on lipocalin 2(LCN2)-induced fer-roptosis in HT22 cells and the related mechanism.Methods Thirty male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were used to establish the middle cerebral artery occlu-sion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)model by the suture method.The rats were randomly divided into the Sham group,the MCAO/R group,and the MCAO/R+HSYA group.The infarct area was measured by TTC staining,and the degree of neurological deficit was evaluated by the Z-Longa scoring method.The expressions of LCN2 and 24P3R in brain tissues were detected by Western blot.LCN2 protein was added to HT-22 cells,and the cells were divided into the normal group,the LCN2 group,and the LCN2+HSYA group.The optimal con-centration of LCN2-induced neuronal ferroptosis was screened by LDH assay and Western blot,and the ex-pression levels of ferritin,FPN1,GPX4,SLC7A11,COX2,and 24P3R were detected.LCN2 was knocked down by siRNA transfection,and the expressions of GPX4 and ferritin were detected.The contents of glu-tathione(GSH),malondialdehyde(MDA),GPX4,and Fe2+were determined by colorimetry,and the expres-sion of GPX4 was detected by immunofluorescence.The binding force between HSYA and LCN2 was ana-lyzed by molecular docking technology.Results Ani-mal experiments showed that HSYA could reduce the cerebral infarction area and decrease the neurological function score of MCAO/R rats.Compared with the sham group,the levels of LCN2 and 24P3R increased in the MCAO/R group,while HSYA inhibited their ex-pressions.Cell experiments showed that the optimal concentration of LCN2 to induce ferroptosis in HT22 cells was 2 μmol·L-1.After knocking down LCN2 by siRNA transfection,compared with the LCN2 group,the expression levels of GPX4 and ferritin in the siLCN2 group increased significantly.Compared with the nor-mal group,the expressions of SLC7A11,GPX4,FPN1,ferritin,and GSH in the LCN2 group decreased signifi-cantly,while the concentration of Fe2+,and the expres-sions of MDA,COX2,and 24P3R increased.HSYA could increase the expressions of SLC7A11,GPX4,FPN1,ferritin,and GSH,reduce the contents of Fe2+and MDA,and inhibit the expressions of COX2 and 24P3R.Molecular docking showed that the binding en-ergy between HSYA and LCN2 was-8.0 kJ·mol-1.Conclusion HSYA can inhibit LCN2-induced ferrop-tosis in HT22 cells through the SLC7A11/GPX4 signa-ling pathway.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a highly aggressive hematologic malignancy with a poor prognosis, despite advancements in treatment. Many patients struggle with relapse or refractory disease. Investigating the role of the super-enhancer (SE) regulated gene ubiquitin-specific protease 20 (USP20) in T-ALL could enhance targeted therapies and improve clinical outcomes. Analysis of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) data from six T-ALL cell lines and seven pediatric samples identified USP20 as an SE-regulated driver gene. Utilizing the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and BloodSpot databases, it was found that USP20 is specifically highly expressed in T-ALL. Knocking down USP20 with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) increased apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in T-ALL cells. In vivo studies showed that USP20 knockdown reduced tumor growth and improved survival. The USP20 inhibitor GSK2643943A demonstrated similar anti-tumor effects. Mass spectrometry, RNA-Seq, and immunoprecipitation revealed that USP20 interacted with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1A) and stabilized it by deubiquitination. Cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) results indicated that USP20 co-localized with HIF1A, jointly modulating target genes in T-ALL. This study identifies USP20 as a therapeutic target in T-ALL and suggests GSK2643943A as a potential treatment strategy.

Pyroptosis is an identified programmed cell death that has been highly linked to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dynamics. However, the crucial proteins for modulating dynamic ER membrane curvature change that trigger pyroptosis are currently not well understood. In this study, a biotin-labeled chemical probe of potent pyroptosis inducer α-mangostin (α-MG) was synthesized. Through protein microarray analysis, reticulon-4 (RTN4/Nogo), a crucial regulator of ER membrane curvature, was identified as a target of α-MG. We observed that chemically induced proteasome degradation of RTN4 by α-MG through recruiting E3 ligase UBR5 significantly enhances the pyroptosis phenotype in cancer cells. Interestingly, the downregulation of RTN4 expression significantly facilitated a dynamic remodeling of ER membrane curvature through a transition from tubules to sheets, consequently leading to rapid fusion of the ER with the cell plasma membrane. In particular, the ER-to-plasma membrane fusion process is supported by the observed translocation of several crucial ER markers to the "bubble" structures of pyroptotic cells. Furthermore, α-MG-induced RTN4 knockdown leads to pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2)-dependent conventional caspase-3/gasdermin E (GSDME) cleavages for pyroptosis progression. In vivo, we observed that chemical or genetic RTN4 knockdown significantly inhibited cancer cells growth, which further exhibited an antitumor immune response with anti-programmed death-1 (anti-PD-1). In translational research, RTN4 high expression was closely correlated with the tumor metastasis and death of patients. Taken together, RTN4 plays a fundamental role in inducing pyroptosis through the modulation of ER membrane curvature remodeling, thus representing a prospective druggable target for anticancer immunotherapy.
Pyroptosis/immunology* ; Humans ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/immunology* ; Animals ; Nogo Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Mice ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Xanthones/pharmacology* ; Neoplasms/pathology* ; Mice, Nude

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of rituximab(RTX)combined with calcineurin inhibitors(CNI)in the treatment of refractory nephrotic syndrome(RNS).Methods:A total of 80 patients with steroid-dependent/resistant RNS were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to an observation group(RTX+CNI,n=40)and a control group(CNI monotherapy,n=40).Patients were followed up for 24 months.Dynamic comparisons were made between the two groups regarding complete remission rate,relapse rate,24-hour urinary protein,kidney injury molecule-1(KIM-1),and adverse reactions.Results:The complete remission rate(CR)in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group at all time points(24-month CR:100％vs 90％,P＜0.05).The 24-month relapse rate was significantly lower in the observation group compared to the control group(0％vs 10％,P＜0.05).Combination therapy significantly reduced 24-hour urinary protein levels(6 months:2.13±0.63 vs 3.86±1.01 g/24 h,P＜0.001)and the renal injury marker KIM-1(6 months:1.53±0.41 vs 2.23±0.65 ng/mL,P＜0.001),and increased the CD4+/CD8+ ratio(24 months:2.03±0.52 vs 1.72±0.41,P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(15％vs 20％,P=0.556).Conclusion:RTX combined with CNI significantly improves the long-term remission rate and reduces the risk of relapse in RNS.Its dual immunomodulatory and multi-target renal protective effects provide evidence-based support for optimizing the treatment of refractory nephrotic syndrome.

Lymphoma is a highly heterogeneous malignancy characterized by complex molecular regulatory mechanisms that result in significant differences in aggressiveness and prognosis across its subtypes.Gene copy number alteration(CNA)analysis,an emerging technology,has become a pivotal tool in the precision re-search and management of lymphoma.By detecting DNA deletions,amplifications,and chromosomal copy number changes,CNA analysis addresses the limitations of traditional cytogenetic techniques,enhances the ac-curacy of subtype classification,and aids in evaluating tumor heterogeneity and disease progression.This re-view provides a comprehensive summary of CNA detection methods and their applications in lymphoma,with a focus on recent advancements in the field.It offers a comparative analysis of CNA detection techniques and discusses their role in precision diagnosis,subtype classification,monitoring disease progression,predicting therapeutic resistance,and assessing prognosis.Additionally,the review explores the potential applications of CNA analysis in uncovering molecular regulatory mechanisms,optimizing therapeutic strategies,and impro-ving patient survival outcomes.

Background and aims:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a malignant tumor with a high mortality rate,but there are still no effective treatments.The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer po-tential of the combined use of brefeldin A(BFA)and tunicamycin(TM)in HepG2 cells,as well as the underlying mechanisms.Methods:HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of BFA(0.1-2.5 mg/L)and TM(1-5 mg/L)for 24 h.DMSO(0.1％,v/v)was used as a vehicle control.Cell viability and cell migration were measured using MTT assay and scratch wound assay,respectively.Apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry and acridine orange(AO)staining.The protein and mRNA levels of various factors involved in apoptosis(poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1(PARP-1),caspase-12,caspase-3,and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1)and endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress(binding immunoglobulin protein(BiP),protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK),p-PERK,phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2alpha(p-eIF2α),activating transcription factor(ATF)4,and C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP))were measured using Western blotting and qRT-PCR,respectively.Results:Both BFA and TM alone significantly reduced the viability of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent way.The co-incubation with TM(1 mg/L)further significantly reduced the viability of HepG2 cells treated with BFA(0.25 mg/L)alone(P＜0.05).BFA significantly increased the protein and mRNA levels of caspase-3 and PARP-1(P＜0.05)compared to control and DMSO-treated cells,indicating that BFA induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells by increasing the expression of caspase-3 and PARP-1.The induction of apoptosis by BFA could be further significantly enhanced by co-incubation with TM.In addition,BFA significantly increased the mRNA levels of BiP,PERK and ATF4(P＜0.05)compared to control and DMSO-treated cells.After co-incubation of BFA and TM,the protein levels of BiP,p-PERK,p-eIF2α and CHOP were significantly increased,indicating that TM could enhance BFA-induced ER stress in HepG2 cells through the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP pathway.Conclusions:BFA could induce apoptosis and ER stress,and TM could enhance the ability of BFA to induce apoptosis and ER stress in HepG2 cells through the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP pathway.The findings highlight the therapeutic potential of the combined use of BFA and TM in treating HCC.

Objective:To report the nationwide surveillance results of pathogenic profiles and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Gram-positive bloodstream infections in China in 2023.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-posttive bacteria from blood cultures were collected in member hospitals of National Bloodstream Infection Bacterial Resistant Investigation Collaborative System（BRICS）during January to December 2023. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the dilution method recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. Statistical analyses were conducted using WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 software.Results:A total of 4 385 Gram-positive bacterial isolates were obtained from 60 participating center. The top five pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus（ n=1 544，35.2%），coagulase-negative Staphylococci（ n=1 441，32.9%）， Enterococcus faecium（ n=574，13.1%）， Enterococcus faecalis（ n=385，8.8%），and α-hemolytic Streptococci（ n=187，4.3%）. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus（MRSA）and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci（MRCNS）was 26.2%（405/1 544）and 69.8%（1 006/1 441），respectively. Notably，all Staphylococci remained susceptible to glycopeptide or daptomycin. Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated excellent susceptibility（>97.0%）to cephalobiol，rifampicin，trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole，linezolid，minocycline，tigecycline，and eravacycline. No Enterococcus exhibiting resistance to linezolid were detected. Glycopeptide resistance was uncommon but more frequent in Enterococcus faecium（resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin：both 1.7%）compared to Enterococcus faecalis（both 0.3%）. The detection rates of MRSA and MRCNS exhibited significant regional variations across the country（ χ2=17.674 and 148.650，respectively，both P<0.001）. No vancomycin-resistant Enterococci were detected in central China. Institutional comparison demonstrated higher prevalence of MRSA（ χ2=14.111， P<0.001）and MRCNS（ χ2=4.828， P=0.028）in provincial hospitals than that in municipal hospitals. Socioeconomic analysis identified elevated detection rates of both MRSA（ χ2=18.986， P<0.001）and MRCNS（ χ2=4.477， P=0.034）in less developed regions（per capita GDP