ObjectiveTo investigate the potential machanism of Xiaozhong Zhitong Mixture （消肿止痛合剂， XZM） in the treatment of diabetes foot ulcer （DFU）. MethodsFifty SD rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， XZM group， inhibitor group， XZM plus inhibitor group （combination group）， with 10 rats in each group. Except for the blank group， rats were fed with high-sugar， high-fat， high-cholesterol diet， intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin， and subjected to skin defect to establish DFU model. After successful modeling， the XZM group and the combination group were given 1 ml/（100 g·d）of XZM by gavage， while the blank group， model group， and inhibitor group were all given an equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride injection by gavage. Thirty minutes later， the inhibitor group and the combination group were intraperitoneally injected with 5 mg/（kg·d） of Notch1 inhibitor DAPT. All groups were treated once a day. After 14 days of administration， the skin tissue from the dorsal foot of the blank group rats and wound tissue from the other groups were collected. The pathological changes of granulation tissue in the wound were detected using hematoxylin eosin （HE） staining. The microvascular density （MVD） in wounds was detected through immunohistochemical staining. Real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein levels of Notch1 homolog （Notch1）， Delta-like ligand 4 （Dll4）， Delta-like ligand 4 （VEGF）， and angiopoietin 2 （Ang-2）， respectively. ResultsHistological results showed that the epidermal structure in the dorsal foot skin tissue of the rats in the blank group was intact. In the wound tissue of the model group， the epidermis exhibited excessive keratinization， vacuolar cytoplasm， and a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrating the tissue， while in the XZM group， a large amount of scab formation was observed in the epidermis， with no significant inflammatory cell infiltration and a noticeable increase in fibroblasts. In the combination group and the inhibitor group， partial epidermal scab formation was observed in the wound tissue with a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared to those in the blank group， the MVD in the wound tissue increased in the model group， as well as the mRNA expression and protein levels of Notch1 and Dll4， while VEGFA and Ang-2 mRNA expression and protein levels significantly decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to those in the model group， the MVD in the wound tissue of all medication groups significantly increased， and the mRNA and protein levels of Notch1 and Dll4 decreased， while VEGFA and Ang-2 mRNA expression and protein levels increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the XZM group， the inhibitor group and the combination group showed decreased MVD in wound tissue， increased Notch1 and Dll4 mRNA and protein levels， and decreased expression of VEGFA and Ang-2 mRNA and proteins （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionXZM can effectively promote wound healing in DFU rats， and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of Dll4/Notch1 signaling pathway in the wound tissue， therey promoting angiogenesis.

Fifty whitespotted bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium playgiosum) of both sexes were used to establish a large capacity variable domain of the new antigen receptor (VNAR) library with a total capacity of over 10⁹ colony-forming units (CFU). It was applied to screen VNARs against human serum albumin (HSA) and human transcription factor EB (TFEB), respectively. Meanwhile, VNAR libraries specific to HSA and TFEB with capacities above 10⁸ CFU were obtained following conventional immunization. These two approaches were systematically studied in terms of VNAR yield and composition. By comparing the VNAR sequences obtained from naïve and antigen-immunized libraries, we found that the complementary-determining region 3 (CDR3) of the former differs in composition from that of the latter. It shares a higher degree of homology with the naïve library. Meanwhile, the binding efficiency assessed by ELISA is also different between the naïve and antigen-immunized libraries. The binding of VNARs from the TFEB-immunized library appeared to surpass that observed with the naïve libraries, whereas the performance of VNARs from the HSA-immunized library indicated that both the immunized and naïve libraries for HSA had positive binding responses in polyclonal and monoclonal ELISA. The results are useful to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic products based on shark VNARs.

Objective To evaluate the effect of Internet-based psychosocial intervention for primary caregivers of patients with terminal stage cancer.Methods The relevant randomized controlled trials of Internet-based psychosocial intervention for primary caregivers of patients with terminal stage cancer were systematically searched from 10 databases,such as Chinese Biomedical Literature Database,CNKI,PubMed,Embase and CINAHL and etc.The search period was from the establishment to December 18,2023,and 2 investigators screened the literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria and extracted data.Cochrane Manual 5.1.0 was used to assess the quality of the literature.Meta-analysis was performed using Revman 5.4 software.Results A total of 9 pieces of the literature including 592 primary caregivers were included.Meta-analysis showed that Internet-based psychosocial intervention reduced the level of anxiety and depression for primary caregivers of patients with terminal stage cancer[MD=-1.64,95％CI(-2.68,-0.59),P=0.002]and the burden of care[SMD=-0.39,95％CI(-0.60,-0.18),P＜0.001],and improved quality of life[SMD=0.25,95％CI(0.01,0.48),P=0.040];further research is needed to explore the effect of reducing the level of distress[MD=-0.88,95％CI(-1.91,0.16),P=0.100].Conclusion The Internet-based psychosocial intervention is effective in improving the anxiety,depression and the burden of care of the primary caregivers of patients with terminal stage cancer,and it can improve the quality of life;further research is needed to explore the level of distress reduction.

Objective:To explore the value of morphometric analysis program (MAP) in detecting focus of pediatric epilepsy related to focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) II.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed; 42 epilepsy children with FCD II and postoperative Engel grading I in Department of Neurosurgery, He'nan Provincial People's Hospital from June 2020 to January 2023 were enrolled. Preoperative MRI data were analyzed by MAP. Difference in general data and focus detection rate by MRI and MAP were compared between the positive MAP group and negative MAP group, and consistency of MAP positive areas (true positive MAP and false positive MAP by postoperative CT) with interictal PET low metabolism positive areas was analyzed.Results:Of the 42 children, 28 had positive MAP and 14 had negative MAP in the epileptogenic focus. Gender was statistically different between positive MAP group and negative MAP group ( P<0.05). MAP had significantly better performance in focus detection compared with MRI (28/42 vs. 19/42, P<0.05). Significant difference was noted between consistency of true positive MAP area with interictal PET low metabolism positive areas (40/43) and that of false positive MAP area with interictal PET low metabolism positive areas (4/33, P<0.05). Conclusion:MAP can improve the focus detection rate of pediatric epilepsy related to FCD II effectively, and PET contributes to rule out false positive results.

Objective:To investigate the pathogenic role and possible mechanism of NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) in type 1 diabetic keratopathy mouse models.Methods:Forty Nox4 knockout ( Nox4-/-) heterozygous male mice were selected and 120 age- and sex-matched wild-type C57BL/6 ( Nox4+ /+ ) mice were selected as controls. Nox4-/- and Nox4+ /+ mice were randomized into diabetic group (DM group) and non-DM group by random number method.Type 1 DM model was established in DM groups by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.The DM and non-DM groups of Nox4+ /+ mice were randomized into regular feed group and Nox4 inhibitor GKT137831 (GKT) supplementary feed group by random number method.At 16 weeks after modeling, tear secretion of mice in different groups was measured by the phenol red thread test.Corneal epithelial integrity was evaluated by fluorescent staining.Changes in corneal never fiber density were observed by the in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy.Reactive oxygen species (ROS) products in corneal epithelium were assayed by CellROX staining.The expressions of E-Cadherin and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) proteins were detected by immunofluorescence staining.Central corneal nerve fiber density was examined by flatmount staining with TUBB3 antibody.The use and care of laboratory animals complied with ARVO statement.The study protocol was approved by Laboratory Animal Care Committee of Xi'an Jiaotong University (No.XJTULAC201301). Results:In Nox4+ /+ mice, the tear secretion was (2.40±1.18)mm/minute in DM group, which was significantly less than (5.30±1.02)mm/minute in non-DM group ( P<0.01).The tear secretion was (4.19±0.63)mm/minute in DM group of Nox4-/- mice, which was significantly more than that in DM group of Nox4+ /+ mice ( P<0.05).Significant difference was found between (2.23±0.83)mm/minute of regular feed group and (4.02±0.71)mm/minute of GKT supplementary feed group ( P<0.01).In Nox4+ /+ mice, the DM group showed significantly increased corneal staining score, reduced corneal nerve fiber density, increased fluorescence intensity of ROS in corneal epithelium, weakened fluorescence intensity of E-Cadherin protein expression, and enhanced fluorescence of NF-κB protein expression compared with non-DM group.In Nox4-/- mice and mice fed with GKT supplementary feed, the increased fluorescence of ROS and decreased fluorescence of E-Cadherin protein expression were seen in the corneal epithelium of the DM groups compared with non-DM groups.In Nox4-/- mice and mice fed with GKT supplementary feed, NF-κB protein fluorescence was weak in corneal epithelial cells in DM groups, which was similar to that in non-DM groups.Immunofluorescence staining of corneal flatmount showed that the density of TUBB3-stained nerve fibers in DM group of Nox4+ /+ mice was significantly lower than that in non-DM group of Nox4+ /+ mice, and there was no significant reduction of nerve fibers in the corneal stromal layer in DM group of Nox4-/- mice or mice fed with GKT supplementary feed. Conclusions:Nox4 is involved in the pathogenic process of diabetic keratopathy, and its mechanism may be related to oxidative stress-induced aggregation of ROS products and activation of NF-κB-mediated inflammatory responses.

Objective:To understand the cognition of the family caregivers of terminal cancer patients on digital health intervention, to clarify their actual needs, and to analyze the obstacles to their acceptance of digital health intervention, so as to develop a digital health intervention plan for the family caregivers of terminal cancer patients.Methods:From February 2024 to March 2024, the family caregivers of 16 patients with terminal cancer in Hunan Cancer Hospital Pain Hospice Ward were selected by objective sampling, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were interviewed in a semi-structured manner about the cognition and needs of digital health intervention, and the interview contents were sorted and analyzed using the Colaizzi7 step method.Results:A total of 16 family caregivers of terminal cancer patients, 4 males and 12 females, aged 26-55 years, were interviewed. Four themes were distilled from the interview results: family caregivers of terminally cancer patients agree on the importance of digital health interventions; lack of awareness of digital health interventions; expectations of digital health interventions; and possible confounders affecting digital health interventions.Conclusions:The family caregivers of terminal cancer patients had insufficient awareness of digital health intervention, but all showed affirmation of the development of digital health intervention services. It is recommended to actively improve the basic conditions of digital health services, strengthen publicity, raise the level of awareness of the family caregivers, and positively overcome the relevant interfering factors, so as to gradually promote the development of digital health services.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe and disabling mental illness characterized by recurrent episodes of mania/hypomania or depression. Eating disorder (ED) refers to a group of syndromes mainly characterized by abnormal eating behaviors and excessive attention to food, weight, and body shape. Studies have found that BD and ED have high rates of comorbidity. ED is less common in males. We reported a male patient with comorbidity of BD and ED and introduced the diagnosis and therapy process to provide references for clinics.

As a representative chemotherapeutic drug, docetaxel (DTX) has been used for breast cancer treatment for decades. However, the poor solubility of DTX limits its efficacy, and the DTX based therapy increases the metastasis risk due to the upregulation of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) expression during the treatment. Herein, we conjugated CXCR4 antagonist peptide (CTCE) with DTX (termed CTCE-DTX) as an anti-metastasis agent to treat breast cancer. CTCE-DTX could self-assemble to nanoparticles, targeting CXCR4-upregulated metastatic tumor cells and enhancing the DTX efficacy. Thus, the CTCE-DTX NPs achieved promising efficacy on inhibiting both bone-specific metastasis and lung metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer. Our work provided a rational strategy on designing peptide-drug conjugates with synergistic anti-tumor efficacy.

As a novel and promising antitumor target, AXL plays an important role in tumor growth, metastasis, immunosuppression and drug resistance of various malignancies, which has attracted extensive research interest in recent years. In this study, by employing the structure-based drug design and bioisosterism strategies, we designed and synthesized in total 54 novel AXL inhibitors featuring a fused-pyrazolone carboxamide scaffold, of which up to 20 compounds exhibited excellent AXL kinase and BaF3/TEL-AXL cell viability inhibitions. Notably, compound 59 showed a desirable AXL kinase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀: 3.5 nmol/L) as well as good kinase selectivity, and it effectively blocked the cellular AXL signaling. In turn, compound 59 could potently inhibit BaF3/TEL-AXL cell viability (IC₅₀: 1.5 nmol/L) and significantly suppress GAS6/AXL-mediated cancer cell invasion, migration and wound healing at the nanomolar level. More importantly, compound 59 oral administration showed good pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo antitumor efficiency, in which we observed significant AXL phosphorylation suppression, and its antitumor efficacy at 20 mg/kg (qd) was comparable to that of BGB324 at 50 mg/kg (bid), the most advanced AXL inhibitor. Taken together, this work provided a valuable lead compound as a potential AXL inhibitor for the further antitumor drug development.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe and disabling mental illness characterized by recurrent episodes of mania/hypomania or depression. Eating disorder (ED) refers to a group of syndromes mainly characterized by abnormal eating behaviors and excessive attention to food, weight, and body shape. Studies have found that BD and ED have high rates of comorbidity. ED is less common in males. We reported a male patient with comorbidity of BD and ED and introduced the diagnosis and therapy process to provide references for clinics.