Objective:To investigate the effects of combination therapy with aqueous extract of corn silk(CS)and training on exercise capacity and glycolipid metabolism in mice with metabolic syndrome(MS).Methods:In this study,db/db mice were used as the animal model of MS.The mice were administered aqueous extract of CS via gavage and subjected to different intensities of training for 12 weeks(3 months).The specific experimental design was as follows:24 db/db mice were randomly divided into four groups on average:negative control group(NC),aqueous extract of CS group(CS),aqueous extract of CS+moderate-intensity training group(CS+MT),and CS aqueous extract of CS+high-intensity training group(CS+HT).The maximum running speed,forelimb grip strength,body weight and fasting blood glucose of mice were measured before and after treatment.After the intervention,oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)and insulin tolerance test(ITT)were conducted to assess glucose metabolism,while serum triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)levels were measured to evaluate lipid metabolism.Results:After 3 months of intervention,there were significant differences in the maximum running speed and forelimb grip strength among the four groups(P＜0.05).The maximum running speed and forelimb grip strength of CS group,CS+MT group and CS+HT group were higher than those of NC group(P＜0.05).The CS+MT group exhibited higher forelimb grip strength,and the CS+HT group showed higher maximum running speed and forelimb grip strength compared to the CS group(P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found between the CS+MT and CS+HT groups(P＞0.05).Significant differences in body weight were observed among the four groups after 3 months of intervention(P＜0.05).Specifically,the CS+MT and CS+HT groups exhibited significantly lower body weight compared to both the NC and CS groups(P＜0.05),with the CS+MT group having the lowest body weight(P＜0.05).Fasting blood glucose levels also differed significantly among the groups after 2 and 3 months of intervention(P＜0.05).The CS,CS+MT,and CS+HT groups had lower fasting blood glucose levels compared to the NC group(P＜0.05),with the CS+MT and CS+HT groups showing the lowest levels(P＜0.05).No significant difference was found between the CS+MT and CS+HT groups(P＞0.05).After 3 months of intervention,significant differences in the area under the curve(AUC)of OGTT and ITT were observed among the four groups(P＜0.05).The AUC of OGTT and ITT were significantly lower in the CS,CS+MT,and CS+HT groups compared to the NC group(P＜0.05).The CS+MT and CS+HT groups exhibited the lowest AUC values for both OGTT and ITT(P＜0.05),with the CS+MT group showing the lowest AUC for OGTT(P＜0.05).Significant differences in serum lipid levels were observed among the four groups after 3 months of intervention(P＜0.05).TG,TC,and LDL-C levels were significantly lower,while HDL-C levels were higher in the CS,CS+MT,and CS+HT groups compared to the NC group(P＜0.05).The CS+MT group had the lowest TG levels and the highest HDL-C levels compared to the CS+HT group(P＜0.05),with no significant differences in TC and LDL-C levels between these two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion:Aqueous extract of CS combined with different intensity training can significantly improve the exercise capacity and glycolipid metabolism of MS mice and reduce body weight,especially CS combined with MT treatment is more effective in improving lipid metabolism.In addition,when combined with HT,aqueous extract of CS can also play an auxiliary role in reducing the side effects of high-intensity exercise and improving the therapeutic effect.

Aim To reveal the mechanism of CIP4 homologs protein 1(RICH1)are involved in the regu-lation of myocardial fibrosis.Methods Mouse cardiac fibroblasts(MCFs)cells were treated with transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β1)to induce the formation of a myocardial fibrosis cell model;the level of the target protein was detected by Western blotting;and the RICH1 gene was detected by transfection of the cells with plasmid.The RICH1 gene was overexpressed(RICH 1 OE)using plasmid transfection;the RICH1 gene was silenced using siRNA fragment(siRICH1);and the expression levels of myocardial fibrosis marker genes,such as Col1 a1,Col3 a1,and Acta2,were de-tected using RT-qPCR.Results RICH1 was signifi-cantly down-regulated in TGF-β1-treated MCFs;the expression levels of myocardial fibrosis marker genes,such as Col1 a1,Col3a1,and Acta2,were down-regu-lated in the RICH1 OE+TGF-β1 group;and in the siRICH1+TGF-β1 group,myocardial fibrosis marker genes,such as Col1 a1,Col3a1 and Acta2 were up-regulated at the expression level;phosphorylated SMAD2(p-SMAD2)and phosphorylated SMAD3(p-SMAD3)levels were down-regulated in the siRICH1 OE+TGF-β1 group.p-SMAD2 and P-SMAD3 levels were upregulated in the siRICH1+TGF-β1 group.Conclusion RICH1 inhibits TGF-β1-induced myo-cardial fibrosis;RICH1 inhibits TGF-β1-induced myo-cardial fibrosis by negatively regulating the SMAD2/3 signaling pathway.

Trace elements are a general term for chemical elements that exist in the body in extremely low concentra-tions.They participate in various metabolic activities in the human body and play an important role in maintaining the nor-mal physiological and biochemical functions of eyes.The deficiency or increase of trace elements can cause disorders in the physiological and biochemical functions of eyes,leading to various eye diseases.The currently known trace elements are diverse,including zinc,selenium,cuprum,chromium,iodine,cobalt,molybdenum,ferrum,etc.In recent years,there has been increasing evidence supporting the role of different trace elements in the treatment of eye diseases.Therefore,the International Associations of Ophthalmology and the Ophthalmic Imaging and Intelligent Medicine Branch of Chinese Medi-cine Education Association and the Ophthalmology Comumittee of International Association of Intelligent Medicine have or-ganized experts to summarize the current application status of trace elements in eye diseases,aiming to provide practical guidelines for clinical doctors to identify,evaluate,and treat eye diseases related to trace element deficiency.

Aim To reveal the mechanism of CIP4 homologs protein 1(RICH1)are involved in the regu-lation of myocardial fibrosis.Methods Mouse cardiac fibroblasts(MCFs)cells were treated with transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β1)to induce the formation of a myocardial fibrosis cell model;the level of the target protein was detected by Western blotting;and the RICH1 gene was detected by transfection of the cells with plasmid.The RICH1 gene was overexpressed(RICH 1 OE)using plasmid transfection;the RICH1 gene was silenced using siRNA fragment(siRICH1);and the expression levels of myocardial fibrosis marker genes,such as Col1 a1,Col3 a1,and Acta2,were de-tected using RT-qPCR.Results RICH1 was signifi-cantly down-regulated in TGF-β1-treated MCFs;the expression levels of myocardial fibrosis marker genes,such as Col1 a1,Col3a1,and Acta2,were down-regu-lated in the RICH1 OE+TGF-β1 group;and in the siRICH1+TGF-β1 group,myocardial fibrosis marker genes,such as Col1 a1,Col3a1 and Acta2 were up-regulated at the expression level;phosphorylated SMAD2(p-SMAD2)and phosphorylated SMAD3(p-SMAD3)levels were down-regulated in the siRICH1 OE+TGF-β1 group.p-SMAD2 and P-SMAD3 levels were upregulated in the siRICH1+TGF-β1 group.Conclusion RICH1 inhibits TGF-β1-induced myo-cardial fibrosis;RICH1 inhibits TGF-β1-induced myo-cardial fibrosis by negatively regulating the SMAD2/3 signaling pathway.

The lab module of exploratory experiment is newly designed in the practical course of bio-chemistry.Here we describe one of the experimental projects,and it originates from new scientific re-search results on the dynamic structure of ATP synthase.This exploratory experiment is organized in the form of real scientific research,which would fully mobilize the initiative and creativity of students in learning theoretical knowledge and experimental technology.Students work in groups and start with refer-ence reading.Through cooperation,they must develop certain experimental plan,handle samples with photocrosslinking technique and utilize the high-throughput electrophoresis method to analyze the dynamic structural change of ε subunit in ATP synthase under different physiological conditions.High quality re-sults from high-throughput electrophoresis can only be obtained through optimized operation and treat-ment,from which students would experience the process of technological innovation.The teaching process of this lab module embodies the student-centered teaching concept and is widely approved and supported by students.The project of ATP synthase closely combines the content of lab course with cut-ting-edge technology.Students can deeply experience the importance of experimental technology innova-tion in solving scientific problems.The practical ability of students would be comprehensively improved through this lab module.

BACKGROUND: The association of systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) with prognosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients has never been investigated in a large sample with long-term follow-up. This study aimed to explore the association of SIRI with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a nationally representative sample of CAD patients from United States. METHODS: A total of 3386 participants with CAD from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018 were included in this study. Cox proportional hazards model, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were performed to investigate the association of SIRI with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Piece-wise linear regression and sensitivity analyses were also performed. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 7.7 years, 1454 all-cause mortality occurred. After adjusting for confounding factors, higher lnSIRI was significantly associated with higher risk of all-cause (HR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.09-1.23) and CVD mortality (HR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.05-1.30) but not cancer mortality (HR = 1.17, 95% CI: 0.99-1.38). The associations of SIRI with all-cause and CVD mortality were detected as J-shaped with threshold values of 1.05935 and 1.122946 for SIRI, respectively. ROC curves showed that lnSIRI had robust predictive effect both in short and long terms. CONCLUSIONS SIRI was independently associated with all-cause and CVD mortality, and the dose-response relationship was J-shaped. SIRI might serve as a valid predictor for all-cause and CVD mortality both in the short and long terms.

Integrated metabolomic and lipidomic profiling,utilizing liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry(LC-HRMS),has emerged as a pivotal strategy for biomarker discovery.However,the inherent polarity disparity between metabolites and lipids complicates simultaneous analysis.To address this,a dual-stationary phase polarity-extended liquid chromatography(PELC)system was developed,which surpassed conventional one-dimensional LC(1D-LC)by enabling comprehensive coverage of both polar and non-polar compounds within a single injection.This system enhanced chromatographic resolution,peak capacity,and throughput while minimizing analytical variability.Extracellular vesicles(EVs),lipid bilayer-enclosed nanoparticles ubiquitously present in biofluids,had gained prominence as reservoirs of cancer biomarkers due to their cargo stability and pathophysiological relevance.Herein,the application of PELC-HRMS for concurrent metabolome-lipidome profiling in EVs was pioneered.A total of 193 metabolites were identified using this technique coupled with MS-DIAL software and Human Metabolome Database.Subsequently,this technique was employed to explore potential biomarkers for prostate cancer(PCa).Multivariate analysis identified 17 differentially abundant metabolites in PCa,implicating dysregulated pathways including purine metabolism,starch and sucrose metabolism,galactose metabolism,cysteine and methionine metabolism,and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids.Notably,creatine(AUC=0.92)and DG 42:5(AUC=0.80)demonstrated robust diagnostic efficacy,attributable to their broad polarity ranges and EV-specific enrichment.This study established PELC as a high-fidelity platform for multi-omics integration in complex biospecimens,advancing mechanistic insights into metabolic rewiring and disease pathophysiology.

Objective To conduct an analysis on objective data of tongue manifestations and complexions among college students with yang deficiency constitution and balanced constitution,thus to explore the correlation between yang deficiency constitution and the objective data of tongue manifestations and complexions among college students.Methods From August 2023 to January 2024,data collection was carried out in 325 cases of yang deficiency constitution(yang deficiency group)and 175 cases of balanced constitution(balanced group)from college students of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine,Central South University,Hunan Normal University,Hunan University and Changsha University of Science and Technology in Hunan Province.YM-MA-Ⅰ digital detection system for tongue manifestations and complexions of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)was utilized for data collection and image analysis,and the differences in the Lab parameters of tongue color,tongue shape,tongue coating color,complexions,and lip color were compared between yang deficiency group and balanced group.Of the Lab parameters,letter"L"stands for luminance,which expresses the luminance from absolute black to absolute white,and takes the value of 0-100;letter"a"and letter"b"stand for two color channels,letter"a"represents the color from dark green to grey then to bright pink,and takes a value from-128 to 127,and letter"b"represents the color from bright blue to grey then to yellow,and also takes a value from-128 to 127.Results(1)The analysis of tongue manifestations showed that in comparison with the balanced group,enlarged tongue(72.62％),tooth-marked tongue(83.69％),and greasy coating(59.38％)were frequently seen in the yang deficiency group,and the differences were all statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(2)The analysis of complexions showed that in comparison with the balanced group,lusterless complexion(79.08％)and pale lip(42.15％)were frequently seen in the yang deficiency group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.01).(3)The yang deficiency group had higher L value of tongue color,L value of tongue coating color,L value of complexions,and L and b values of lip color than the balanced group,and the differences were all statistically significant(P＜0.05),indicating that the tongue color,complexions,and lip color of the yang deficiency group were all pale.Conclusion The objective data and image analysis of tongue manifestations and complexions can accurately identify the population of yang deficiency constitution from college students,and the results will provide approaches and references for the identification of other TCM constitutions from the population.

Trace elements are a general term for chemical elements that exist in the body in extremely low concentra-tions.They participate in various metabolic activities in the human body and play an important role in maintaining the nor-mal physiological and biochemical functions of eyes.The deficiency or increase of trace elements can cause disorders in the physiological and biochemical functions of eyes,leading to various eye diseases.The currently known trace elements are diverse,including zinc,selenium,cuprum,chromium,iodine,cobalt,molybdenum,ferrum,etc.In recent years,there has been increasing evidence supporting the role of different trace elements in the treatment of eye diseases.Therefore,the International Associations of Ophthalmology and the Ophthalmic Imaging and Intelligent Medicine Branch of Chinese Medi-cine Education Association and the Ophthalmology Comumittee of International Association of Intelligent Medicine have or-ganized experts to summarize the current application status of trace elements in eye diseases,aiming to provide practical guidelines for clinical doctors to identify,evaluate,and treat eye diseases related to trace element deficiency.

The lab module of exploratory experiment is newly designed in the practical course of bio-chemistry.Here we describe one of the experimental projects,and it originates from new scientific re-search results on the dynamic structure of ATP synthase.This exploratory experiment is organized in the form of real scientific research,which would fully mobilize the initiative and creativity of students in learning theoretical knowledge and experimental technology.Students work in groups and start with refer-ence reading.Through cooperation,they must develop certain experimental plan,handle samples with photocrosslinking technique and utilize the high-throughput electrophoresis method to analyze the dynamic structural change of ε subunit in ATP synthase under different physiological conditions.High quality re-sults from high-throughput electrophoresis can only be obtained through optimized operation and treat-ment,from which students would experience the process of technological innovation.The teaching process of this lab module embodies the student-centered teaching concept and is widely approved and supported by students.The project of ATP synthase closely combines the content of lab course with cut-ting-edge technology.Students can deeply experience the importance of experimental technology innova-tion in solving scientific problems.The practical ability of students would be comprehensively improved through this lab module.