Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment of eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) involving the orbit.Methods:We described a case and review the literature of EAF involving the orbit.Results:The literature review has shown 34 similar cases. Nineteen patients combined with other site involvement (17 cases had nasal involvement), whereas 15 had primary orbital involvement. Ocular swelling (18 cases) and epiphora (4 cases) were the most common initial presenting symptoms. The typical histopathologic findings include a perivascular, eosinophil-rich infiltrate and a "onion-skin" type of fibrosis concentrated around small vessels and all cases in this group conformed the above typical characteristics. In this series, 20 patients provided immunohistochemical results for IgG4, among them, 16 cases were positive while 4 cases were negative. No manifestations of obliterative phlebitis and storiform fibrosis were observed. The age, gender, and lesion locations (single or multiple) of the IgG4 staining positive group and the negative group were analyzed. There was no statistically significant difference in the age of onset, gender ratio and lesion the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:For patients presented with ocular swelling, epiphora, with or without nasal lesions, EAF should be considered. The diagnosis of EAF is based largely on histopathologic findings. Although some cases were positive for IgG4 by immunohistochemistry, storiform fibrosis and obliterative phlebitis is not seen in our series, which aid in distinguishing EAF from IgG4-related disease.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2024.03.030.].

Myocardial fibrosis is a serious cause of heart failure and even sudden cardiac death. However, the mechanisms underlying myocardial ischemia-induced cardiac fibrosis remain unclear. Here, we identified that the expression of sterile alpha and TIR motif containing 1 (SARM1), was increased significantly in the ischemic cardiomyopathy patients, dilated cardiomyopathy patients (GSE116250) and fibrotic heart tissues of mice. Additionally, inhibition or knockdown of SARM1 can improve myocardial fibrosis and cardiac function of myocardial infarction (MI) mice. Moreover, SARM1 fibroblasts-specific knock-in mice had increased deposition of extracellular matrix and impaired cardiac function. Mechanically, elevated expression of SARM1 promotes the deposition of extracellular matrix by directly modulating P4HA1. Notably, by using the Click-iT reaction, we identified that the increased expression of ZDHHC17 promotes the palmitoylation levels of SARM1, thereby accelerating the fibrosis process. Based on the fibrosis-promoting effect of SARM1, we screened several drugs with anti-myocardial fibrosis activity. In conclusion, we have unveiled that palmitoylated SARM1 targeting P4HA1 promotes collagen deposition and myocardial fibrosis. Inhibition of SARM1 is a potential strategy for the treatment of myocardial fibrosis. The sites where SARM1 interacts with P4HA1 and the palmitoylation modification sites of SARM1 may be the active targets for anti-fibrosis drugs.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment of eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) involving the orbit.Methods:We described a case and review the literature of EAF involving the orbit.Results:The literature review has shown 34 similar cases. Nineteen patients combined with other site involvement (17 cases had nasal involvement), whereas 15 had primary orbital involvement. Ocular swelling (18 cases) and epiphora (4 cases) were the most common initial presenting symptoms. The typical histopathologic findings include a perivascular, eosinophil-rich infiltrate and a "onion-skin" type of fibrosis concentrated around small vessels and all cases in this group conformed the above typical characteristics. In this series, 20 patients provided immunohistochemical results for IgG4, among them, 16 cases were positive while 4 cases were negative. No manifestations of obliterative phlebitis and storiform fibrosis were observed. The age, gender, and lesion locations (single or multiple) of the IgG4 staining positive group and the negative group were analyzed. There was no statistically significant difference in the age of onset, gender ratio and lesion the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:For patients presented with ocular swelling, epiphora, with or without nasal lesions, EAF should be considered. The diagnosis of EAF is based largely on histopathologic findings. Although some cases were positive for IgG4 by immunohistochemistry, storiform fibrosis and obliterative phlebitis is not seen in our series, which aid in distinguishing EAF from IgG4-related disease.

ObjectiveTo investigate the pharmacological action and mechanism of Shuangshenling granules in treating chronic renal failure in rats，providing laboratory data to support clinical application of Shuangshenling granules. MethodSD rats （150-180 g），half males and half females in number，were used，with ten rats designated as the normal group，ten as the sham operation group，and the remaining rats undergoing chronic renal failure modeling induced by 5/6 nephrectomy. Two weeks after operation，serum creatinine （SCr） and blood urea nitrogen （BUN） levels were measured via orbital blood sampling to select successful model rats. Based on SCr values，the rats were evenly divided into the model group，Shenshuaining positive group （0.84 g·kg^-1·d^-1），and high，medium，and low dose groups of Shuangshenling granules （4.8，2.4，1.2 g·kg^-1·d^-1），with ten animals in each group. Each treatment group received drugs at 10 mL·kg^-1 via intragastric administration once daily for six weeks. At 2，4，6 weeks after administration，SCr，BUN，24-hour urine volume，total urinary protein （UTP），urinary creatinine （UCr），creatinine clearance rate （CCr），serum albumin （SAlb），and total serum protein （STP） were measured. Following the experiment，kidney tissues were dissected for pathological examination. The expression levels of autophagy-related proteins，including PTEN-induced kinase 1 （PINK1），E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase parkin （Parkin），and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B （LC3B），were detected by immunofluorescence. ResultCompared with the normal group，the model group exhibited significantly increased levels of SCr，BUN，24-hour urine volume，UTP，and UCr （P<0.01），and decreased levels of SAlb and STP （P<0.01）. CCr showed an initial increase followed by a decrease. Histopathological results revealed glomerular hyperplasia and atrophy，with varying degrees of mesangial cell reduction，blood stasis in the glomeruli，and significant widening of Bowman's capsule. Visceral parietal layer cells were displaced or absent，leading to incomplete and damaged glomeruli. A large number of protein casts were present in the proximal and distal convoluted tubules，with reduced and displaced cells，swelling in some tubules，and interstitial inflammatory exudation predominantly comprising lymphocytes and a small number of neutrophils. Compared with the model group，all dose groups of Shuangshenling granules significantly reduced levels of SCr，BUN，24-hour urine volume，UTP，and UCr （P<0.05，P<0.01） and increased SAlb and STP levels （P<0.01） at 2，4，and 6 weeks after administration. The three dose groups also improved CCr and alleviated renal pathological injury in varying degrees at 2-6 weeks after administration. Immunofluorescence results showed that the expression levels of PINK1，Parkin，and LC3B were significantly reduced in the model group compared with the normal group，whereas all dose groups of Shuangshenling granules significantly upregulated the expression levels of PINK1，Parkin，and LC3B compared with the model group. ConclusionShuangshenling granules significantly improved renal function and pathological injury in rats with chronic renal failure，likely through the upregulation of PINK1-mediated autophagy.

Objective Neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES)-evoked kinesthetic information in muscle spindle can be purely extracted from the mixed motor and sensory afferents using Ischemic nerve block(INB).This study aims to investigate the somatosensory cortical response evoked by NMES activating muscle spindle afferents in forearm.Methods All subjects performed four experimental tasks designed according to a 2×2 factors,including one factor of the INB state(without INB and within INB)and the other of the stimulation intensity(above and below motor threshold).During the experiment,we recorded EEG data with 64 channels and then beta event-related desynchronization(Beta ERD)were utilized quantize somatosensory cortical excitability evoked by the tasks.The subjective perception about the sensation and movement of the right hand were evaluated by a psychophysical test after the right wrist was performed by INB.Results INB significantly reduced beta ERD on the contralateral somatosensory cortex evoked by NMES above the motor threshold,and there was significant difference of NMES-evoked beta ERD values on the contralateral somatosensory cortex between above and below motor threshold.Meanwhile,contralateral dominance of NMES-evoked beta ERD on the somatosensory cortex was transferred to ipsilateral hemisphere under INB.Conclusion INB can significantly reduce NMES-evoked somatosensory cortical response above motor threshold and decrease cortical perception on the stimulus intensity,which may be due to INB resulting in rapid functional reorganization of somatosensory cortex.

ObjectiveTo establish a qualitative analysis method for the chemical constituents of the reference sample of Xiao Xumingtang， and to establish the fingerprint of 15 batches of Xiao Xumingtang， so as to evaluate the quality consistency among batches. MethodAccording to the key information of Xiao Xumingtang in the Key Information Table of Ancient Famous Classical Formulas（25 Formulas）， the reference sample of this formula was prepared， and it was detected by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS）. The chemical components were identified by self-constructed database， consulting relevant literature， and comparing with the reference substances， and the components were assigned by comparing with single drug samples and negative samples lacking single drug. The fingerprint of the reference sample of Xiao Xumingtang was established using high performance liquid chromatography（HPLC）， and the common peaks were assigned and identified through single drug samples and negative samples lacking single drug. ResultBased on the information of MS fragments， relevant literature， and database retrieval， a total of 64 compounds were identified and inferred from the reference sample of Xiao Xumingtang， including 31 flavonoids， 8 terpenoids， 12 triterpenoid saponins， 2 phthalides， 3 phenylpropanoids， 2 gingerols， 5 alkaloids， and 1 cyanoside. Among them， 21 were derived from Scutellariae Radix， 10 from stir-fried Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， 9 from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma， 8 from Paeoniae Radix Alba， 4 from Saposhnikoviae Radix， 3 from Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix， 3 from Chuanxiong Rhizoma， 2 from Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata， 2 from Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens， 1 from Ephedrae Herba， and 1 from Armeniacae Semen Amarum. The established HPLC fingerprint of the reference sample of Xiao Xumingtang had 23 common peaks， among which， peaks 1 and 2 were derived from Paeoniae Radix Alba， peaks 3 and 7 from Saposhnikoviae Radix， peaks 4， 8 and 9 from Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix， peaks 10， 17， 18， 20 and 21 from stir-fried Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， peaks 11-16， 19 and 22 from Scutellariae Radix， peak 5 from Chuanxiong Rhizoma， peak 23 from Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens， peak 6 was the common component of stir-fried Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix. A total of 10 compounds including albiflorin（peak 1）， paeoniflorin（peak 2）， cimicifugoside（peak 3）， 5-O-methylvisammioside（peak 7）， baicalin（peak 11）， sec-O-glucosylhamaudol（peak 13）， oroxylin A-7-O-β-D-glucuronide（peak 15）， wogonoside（peak 16）， glycyrrhizic acid（peak 21） and 6-gingerol（peak 23） were identified. The similarities of 15 batches of reference samples were>0.999， indicating that the reference samples had good consistency. ConclusionThrough the identification of the chemical constituents in the reference sample of Xiao Xumingtang， it is clear that the composition of the samples is mainly composed of flavonoids and triterpenoid saponins. The established fingerprint can basically reflect the overall chemical characteristics of the reference sample of Xiao Xumingtang， which can provide a basis for the quality research of its compound preparations.

Developing new therapeutic agents for cancer immunotherapy is highly demanding due to the low response ratio of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in cancer patients. Here, we discovered that the novel immune checkpoint VISTA is highly expressed on a variety of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, especially myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and CD8⁺ T cells. Then, peptide C1 with binding affinity to VISTA was developed by phage displayed bio-panning technique, and its mutant peptide VS3 was obtained by molecular docking based mutation. Peptide VS3 could bind VISTA with high affinity and block its interaction with ligand PSGL-1 under acidic condition, and elicit anti-tumor activity in vivo. The peptide DVS3-Pal was further designed by d-amino acid substitution and fatty acid modification, which exhibited strong proteolytic stability and significant anti-tumor activity through enhancing CD8⁺ T cell function and decreasing MDSCs infiltration. This is the first study to develop peptides to block VISTA/PSGL-1 interaction, which could act as promising candidates for cancer immunotherapy.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Dahuang Mudantang in alleviating the intestinal injury in the rat model of acute pancreatitis via the high-mobility group box 1 （HMGB1）/receptor for advanced glycation endproduct （RAGE）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway. MethodOne hundred and twenty SPF-grade Wistar rats received retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct for the modeling of intestinal injury in acute pancreatitis. The rats were randomized into blank， model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （3.5， 7， 14 g·kg^-1， administrated by gavage） Dahuang Mudantang， and octreotide （1×10^-5 g·kg^-1， subcutaneous injection） groups （n=20）. The rats in blank and model groups received equal volume of distilled water by gavage. Drugs were administered 1 h before and every 12 h after modeling， and samples were collected 24 h after modeling. The general status of the rats was observed. The biochemical methods were employed to measure the levels of amylase （AMS） and C-reactive protein （CRP） in the serum. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， interleukin （IL）-1β， and IL-6 in the colon tissue. The morphological changes of pancreatic and colon tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot were employed to measure the expression levels of HMGB1， RAGE， inhibitor of NF-κB kinase （IKK）， and NF-κB suppressor protein α（IκBα）in the colon tissue. ResultThe rats in the model group showed poor general survival， writhing response， reduced frequency of defecation， and dry stool. The symptoms of rats in the model group were mitigated in each treatment group， and the high-dose Dahuang Mudantang showed the most significant effect. Compared with the normal group， the model group had elevated AMS and CRP levels （P<0.05）， which were lowered by Dahuang Mudantang （P<0.05）， especially that at the high dose （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， the modeling elevated that levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 （P<0.05）. Such elevations were lowered by Dahuang Mudantang （P<0.05）， and the high-dose group and the octreotide group showed better performance （P<0.05）. The modeling caused necrotic， congested， and destructed pancreatic and colonic tissues， which were ameliorated by the drugs， especially high-dose Dahuang Mudantang. Compared with the normal group， the modeling up-regulated the mRNA levels of HMGB1， RAGE， IKK， IκBα， and NF-κB （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， Dahuang Mudantang and octreotide down-regulated the mRNA levels of HMGB1， RAGE， IKK， IκBα， and NF-κB （P<0.05）， and the high-dose Dahuang Mudantang demonstrated the best performance （P<0.05）. Western blot results showed a trend consistent with the results of Real-time PCR. ConclusionDahuang Mudantang can improved the general status， reduce inflammation， and alleviate histopathological changes in the pancreatic and colon tissues in the rat model of acute pancreatitis by inhibiting the HMGB1/RAGE/NF-κB signaling pathway.