OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effect and mechanism of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglucoside （TWM） on nephrotic syndrome in rats. METHODS The nephrotic syndrome model was established by intravenous injection of adriamycin via the tail vein. The modeling rats were randomly divided into the model group （distilled water）， prednisone group （10 mg/kg）， and TWM high- and low-dose groups （10 and 5 mg/kg， respectively）. Additionally， blank group （distilled water） without model induction was established. Each group consisted of 9 rats. Rats in each group were administered the corresponding drugs or distilled water by gavage， once a day， for 6 consecutive weeks. The histopathological morphology of kidney tissues in rats was observed； the levels of 24-hour urinary protein （24 h-UTP） and serum biochemical indicators [albumin （ALB）， blood urea nitrogen （BUN）， serum creatinine （SCr）， cholesterol （CHOL）， and triglyceride （TG）] in rats were determined； the levels of oxidative stress indicators [superoxide dismutase （SOD）， malondialdehyde （MDA）] in kidney tissue of rats were determined； expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α）/microRNA-155-5p （miR-155-5p）/nuclear factor erythriod 2- related factor 2 （Nrf2） signaling pathway-related mRNA and protein in the renal tissues of rats were detected. RESULTS Compared with the blank group， the rats in the model group exhibited disordered renal tissue structure， with a small amount of glomerular necrosis and edema of the renal tubular epithelial cells. 24 h-UTP， serum levels of SCr， BUN， CHOL and TG， MDA content， mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α and Keap1 as well as the expression of miR-155-5p in renal tissues were increased significantly （ P ＜0.05）. Serum level of ALB， SOD level in renal tissue as well as mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2 were decreased significantly （ P ＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， TWM high-dose and low-dose groups exhibited significant improvements in renal injury， with notable reversals in the levels of the above quantitative indicators （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS TWM can alleviate oxidative stress-induced damage and thereby improve nephrotic syndrome in rats by regulating the HIF-1α/miR-155-5p/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Soybean meal (SBM) prepared by soybean crushing is the most popular protein source in the poultry and livestock industries (Cai et al., 2015) due to its economic manufacture, high protein content, and good nutritional value. Despite these benefits, SBM contains various antigen proteins such as glycinin and β-conglycinin, which account for approximately 70% of the total proteins of the SBM and reduce digestibility and damage intestinal function (Peng et al., 2018). Treating SBM with proteases (neutrase, alcalase, and trypsin) or fermentation can eliminate these antigen proteins (Contesini et al., 2018). Because of its safety and rapid growth cycle, Bacillus strains are considered ideal for the fermentation industry (Yao et al., 2021). SBM fermented by Bacillus yields products with high nutritional value and low levels of antinutritional factors (ANFs), stimulating research in this area (Yuan et al., 2017). Kumari et al. (2023) demonstrated that fermentation with Bacillus species effectively degrades antigen proteins and increases crude protein content. The degradation of antigen proteins relies on protease hydrolysis. Low protease production is the major obstacle hindering the widespread use of microbial fermentation techniques.
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens/metabolism* ; Fermentation ; Glycine max/metabolism* ; Soybean Proteins/metabolism* ; Peptide Hydrolases/metabolism* ; Ribosomes/metabolism* ; Globulins ; Antigens, Plant ; Seed Storage Proteins

Growth arrest DNA damage-inducible protein 45 β (GADD45B) has been reported to be a regulatory factor for active DNA demethylation and is implicated in the modulation of synaptic plasticity and chronic stress-related psychopathological processes. However, its precise role and mechanism of action in stress susceptibility remain elusive. In this study, we found a significant reduction in GADD45B expression specifically in the ventral, but not the dorsal hippocampal CA1 (dCA1) of stress-susceptible mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that GADD45B negatively regulates susceptibility to social stress and NMDA receptor-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) in the ventral hippocampal CA1 (vCA1). Importantly, through pharmacological inhibition using the NMDA receptor antagonist MK801, we provided further evidence supporting the hypothesis that GADD45B potentially modulates susceptibility to social stress by influencing NMDA receptor-mediated LTP. Collectively, these results suggested that modulation of NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic plasticity is a pivotal mechanism underlying the regulation of susceptibility to social stress by GADD45B.
Animals ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/antagonists & inhibitors* ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal/drug effects* ; Male ; Stress, Psychological/physiopathology* ; Mice ; Neuronal Plasticity/drug effects* ; Long-Term Potentiation/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Antigens, Differentiation/metabolism* ; Dizocilpine Maleate/pharmacology* ; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists/pharmacology* ; GADD45 Proteins

Objective:To explore the application value of three-dimensional visualization reconstruction technology in robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy（RAPN）for the treatment of highly complex（R.E.N.A.L. score≥10）renal hilar tumors.Methods:The clinical data of 87 patients with highly complex renal hilar tumors with R.E.N.A.L. scores ≥10 who were treated in First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2021 to December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed，of which 36 underwent 3D visualization reconstruction and 51 underwent conventional CT. The 3D visualization reconstruction method was to import the patient’s enhanced CT images in DICOM format into the 3D reconstruction image data processing software to produce a 3D visualization model. There were 22 males and 14 females in the 3D visualization group，with an average age of（54.2 ± 9.5）years，a body mass index of（24.8 ± 4.5）kg/m 2，and a tumor size of（4.3 ± 1.0）cm. Tumors were located on the left side in 16 cases and on the right side in 20 cases. Tumor stages were classified as T 1a in 11 cases，T 1b in 21 cases，and T 2a in 4 cases. The R.E.N.A.L. scores were distributed as follows：10 points in 21 cases，11 points in 12 cases，and 12 points in 3 cases. The estimated glomerular filtration rate（eGFR）before operation was（78.2±9.6）ml/（min·1.73 m 2）. There were 35 males and 16 females in the conventional CT group，with an average age of（51.3±8.9）years，a body mass index of（25.4 ± 3.9）kg/m 2，and a tumor size of（4.1 ± 1.2）cm. Tumors were located on the left side in 25 cases and on the right side in 26 cases. Tumor stages were classified as T 1a in 12 cases，T 1b in 33 cases，and T 2a in 6 cases. The R.E.N.A.L. scores were distributed as follows：10 points in 31 cases，11 points in 18 cases，and 12 points in 2 cases . The preoperative eGFR was（80.6 ± 8.8）ml/（min·1.73 m 2）. There was no statistical difference in general data and preoperative renal function between the two groups（ P > 0.05）. Both groups underwent RAPN. The two groups were analyzed and compared in terms of operation time，warm ischemia time，intraoperative blood loss，postoperative hospital stay，postoperative complications，and changes in renal function 3 months after surgery. Results:There were no cases of conversion to radical treatment or open surgery in both the 3D visualization group and the conventional CT group. The 3D visualization group had shorter operation time［（94.6 ± 18.5）min vs.（110.2 ± 17.2）min， P < 0.001］，shorter renal artery occlusion time［（23.3 ± 4.0）min vs.（27.2 ± 3.3）min， P < 0.001］，less intraoperative blood loss［120（100，250）ml vs. 150（120，300）ml， P = 0.018］，and a lower proportion of intraoperative collecting system incision（19/36 vs. 38/51， P = 0.042）than the conventional CT group. There was no significant statistical difference in the time of postoperative drainage tube removal and postoperative hospital stay between the two groups（ P > 0.05）. One case in the 3D visualization group had postoperative fever，and two cases in the conventional CT group had postoperative obvious macroscopic hematuria. Postoperative pathological diagnosis of the patients was clear cell carcinoma in 78 cases，papillary cell carcinoma in 6 cases，chromophobe cell carcinoma in 2 cases，and oncocytoma in 1 case. No positive resection margin was found in both groups. Three months after surgery，there was no significant statistical difference in eGFR between the two groups［（70.6 ± 8.5）ml/（min·1.73 m 2）vs.（71.4 ± 9.2）ml/（min·1.73 m 2）， P = 0.681］. During the median follow-up of 17.8 months，no tumor recurrence or metastasis was observed in either group. Conclusions:RAPN has good safety and feasibility in the treatment of highly complex（R.E.N.A.L. score ≥10）renal hilar tumors. Preoperative three-dimensional visualization reconstruction technology helps to reduce RAPN operation time，renal artery occlusion time and intraoperative blood loss，and has good clinical application value.

Objective:To evaluate the outcomes of intensive conservative treatment compared to conventional conservative treatment in patients with acute aortic syndrome(AAS).Methods:The study prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with AAS who were admitted to Beijing Anzhen Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, and Beijing Dawanglu Emergency Rescue Hospital from January 2024 to December 2024. These patients with surgical contraindications or refused surgery for various reasons opted for conservative treatment. A total of 282 patients were included, and 15 patients with missing data or those who died without any treatment were excluded. Finally, 267 patients were enrolled, of whom 94 received intensive conservative treatment, and 173 received conventional conservative treatment, the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to reduce the influence of confoundings. After adjusting of baseline datas via IPTW, the survival outcomes of the two groups were compared at 14 days, 30 days, and at the end of follow-up.Results:The results showed significant differences in acute phase survival rates between the enhanced conservative treatment group and the conventional conservative treatment group at 14 days(82.40%vs.53.20%, P<0.0001). Significant survival differences were also observed at 30 days and at 276-day mid-term follow-up (96.29% vs.51.60%, P<0.0001; 78.50% vs.48.50%, P<0.0001). In the subgroup analysis, for type A aortic dissection, the enhanced conservative treatment group had higher survival rates compared to the conventional conservative treatment group at 14, 30 and 276 days (63.46% vs.41.35%, P<0.05; 52.17% vs.37.90%, P<0.05; 50.00% vs. 31.97%, P<0.05). However, for type B aortic dissection, although the enhanced conservative treatment group had higher survival rates than the conventional conservative treatment group, no statistically significant differences were observed (96.29% vs. 80.00%, P=0.054; 95.65% vs.78.37%, P=0.067; 94.12% vs.74.20%, P=0.088). Conclusion:For patients diagnosed with AAS are forced to choose conservative treatment if emergency surgery is not possible in the first place, intensive conservative treatment strategies can significantly reduce the mortality in the acute phase compared with conventional conservative treatment. Mid-term follow-up, intensive conservative treatment still has a significant survival advantage.

AIM: To explore the clinical application effect of visual training equipment combined with conventional corrective treatment on children with ametropic amblyopia(AMA).METHODS: Prospective randomized control study. A total of 188 children(376 eyes)with AMA treated in our hospital from June 2021 to December 2022 were selected, and they were divided into two groups using a random number table. The conventional correction group(94 cases, 188 eyes)received conventional correction treatment, while the visual training group(94 cases, 188 eyes)received visual training equipment combined with conventional correction treatment, both lasted for 12 mo. The best corrected visual acuity, diopter, eye accommodation function, adverse reactions, amblyopia recurrence rates, and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups at 6 and 12 mo after treatment.RESULTS:The two groups each had 8 cases(16 eyes)detached, the rate of loss to follow-up was 8.5%, and 86 cases(172 eyes)were included in each group. There were statistically significant differences in the best corrected visual acuity, diopter, amplitude of accommodation, accommodation facility and accommodative lag between the two groups of children before and after treatment(all P<0.05). The total effective rate of the visual training group(98.8%)was higher than that of the conventional correction group(91.9%; P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the total effective rate of clinical efficacy between the two groups in different age groups and different degrees of amblyopia(all P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of redness and swelling between the two groups(P>0.05). The recurrence rate of amblyopia in the visual training group(1.2%)was lower than that in the conventional correction group(8.1%; P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The combination of visual training equipment and conventional correction therapy has a significant clinical effect on children with AMA, which can effectively correct visual acuity, adjusting diopter and improve eye accommodation function, and recurrence rate of amblyopia is low and safety is high.

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) is a cytosolic pattern recognition receptor that recognizes multiple pathogen-associated molecular patterns and damage-associated molecular patterns. It is a cytoplasmic immune factor that responds to cellular stress signals, and it is usually activated after infection or inflammation, forming an NLRP3 inflammasome to protect the body. Aberrant NLRP3 inflammasome activation is reportedly associated with some inflammatory diseases and metabolic diseases. Recently, there have been mounting indications that NLRP3 inflammasomes play an important role in liver injuries caused by a variety of diseases, specifically hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury, hepatitis, and liver failure. Herein, we summarize new research pertaining to NLRP3 inflammasomes in hepatic injury, hepatitis, and liver failure. The review addresses the potential mechanisms of action of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and its regulation in these liver diseases.
Humans ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Inflammasomes/physiology* ; Animals ; Liver Diseases/metabolism* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Reperfusion Injury/metabolism*

Objective To explore the feasibility and safety of non-anticoagulation veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(VV-ECMO)in patients with severe chest trauma.Methods A retrospective cohort study method was used.A total of 19 patients with severe chest trauma who received VV-ECMO with a delayed anticoagulation strategy at Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to October 2021 were included in the delayed anticoagulation group,and 20 patients with severe chest trauma who received VV-ECMO with a non-anticoagulation strategy from November 2021 to October 2024 were included in the non-anticoagulation group.The overall clinical characteristics of the patients were statistically analyzed,including gender,age,injury severity score(ISS),acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ),reason for VV-ECMO,use of vasoactive drugs,oxygenation index(PaO2/FiO2),and interval from injury to VV-ECMO.The primary outcomes were hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications.The secondary outcomes were blood transfusion during VV-ECMO,VV-ECMO time,mechanical ventilation time,intensive care unit(ICU)length of stay,and 28-day mortality.Results There was no significant difference in gender,age,ISS score,APACHEⅡscore,reason for VV-ECMO,use of vasoactive drugs,PaO2/FiO2,and interval from injury to VV-ECMO between the non-anticoagulation group and the delayed anticoagulation group.There was no significant difference in overall incidence of hemorrhagic and thrombotic between the two groups[incidence of hemorrhagic complications:15.0%(3/20)vs.31.6%(6/19),incidence of thrombotic:15.0%(3/20)vs.5.3%(1/19),both P>0.05].The infusion rate of 4 or more paked red blood cell(PRBC)within 24 hours during VV-ECMO in the non-anticoagulation group was significantly lower than that in the delayed anticoagulation group[5.0%(1/20)vs.31.6%(6/19),P<0.05].The amount of PRBC and platelet transfusion and the time on VV-ECMO in the non-anticoagulation group during VV-ECMO were significantly lower than those in the delayed anticoagulation group[PRBC(U):5.8±3.8 vs.8.1±3.1,platelets(U):1(0,1)vs.2(1,3),time on VV-ECMO(hours):71.55±24.37 vs.114.21±34.08,all P<0.05].There were no statistically significant differences in the amount of plasma and cryoprecipitate transfusion during VV-ECMO,mechanical ventilation time,ICU hospitalization time,and 28-day mortality between the two groups.Conclusion For patients with severe chest trauma receiving VV-ECMO withholding routine systemic anticoagulation did not result in thrombotic complications or higher mortality and required less PRBC and platelet transfusions.Non-anticoagulant VV-ECMO is safe and feasible for patients with severe chest trauma with high risk of bleeding.

Emotions are an integral part of animal welfare.Facial expressions are increasingly used as a non-invasive method for assessing the emotional state of animals.Dogs(Canis familiaris)are closely related to humans,and facial expressions are crucial for interspecies communication and emotional expression.This paper reviews the neurobiological mechanisms of facial expressions and the anatomical structure of the facial muscles and their evolution in dogs,the analogy between dog and human facial expressions,and the expression of various parts of the dog's face under different emotions.These studies demonstrate that dog's facial expressions can be used as a potential indicator of animal welfare,and that dogs can be used as a model animal for studying interspecies facial emotional communication.The use of dog's facial expressions to assess emotions will aid multidisciplinary research,including in the fields of neuroscience,psychopharmacology,animal behavior,and animal welfare.

Objective:To preliminarily explore whether sirtuin1 (SIRT1) activation can inhibit neuronal ferroptosis in rats after traumatic brain injury (TBI) by regulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-mediated glycolysis.Methods:(1) Six SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group and TBI group, with 3 rats in each group; TBI model in the TBI group was established by hydraulic impact method, and rats in the sham-operated group underwent same surgery without impact. Cortical tissues of the two groups were sent for tandem mass tag (TMT) labeled quantitative proteomics detection to analyze the differential expression proteome; Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were used to detect pathway enrichment of the screened differential proteins. (2) Twelve SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group and 1-day, 3-day and 7-day post-TBI groups, with 3 rats in each group. Treatment methods were the same as above; Western blotting was used to detect SIRT1 protein expression. (3) Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, TBI group, TBI+vehicle group and TBI+SIRT1 agonist group, with 12 rats in each group; rats in the sham-operated group and TBI group accepted treatment as above; rats in the TBI+SIRT1 agonist group were intraperitoneally injected with SRT1720 (dissolved in ≤ 5% dimethyl sulfoxide, at a dose of 20 mg/kg) within 30 minutes after modeling, twice a day (with an interval of 12 hours); and rats in the TBI+vehicle group were injected with same dose of dimethyl sulfoxide at the same time. One d after modeling, neurological deficit was assessed using modified Neurological severity score (mNSS), brain water content was measured by dry-wet weight method, histopathological changes in the cortical lesions were observed by HE staining, mitochondrial ultrastructure was examined by transmission electron microscopy, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the brain tissues were detected by colorimetry, and protein expressions of SIRT1, HIF-1α (key protein in the glycolytic pathway), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4, key protein in the ferroptosis pathway), and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4, key protein in the ferroptosis pathway) were evaluated by Western blotting.Results:(1) KEGG analysis revealed that the glycolysis pathway and HIF-1 signaling pathway were obviously enriched in the cortical tissues of rats in the TBI group compared with the sham-operated group; GSEA showed that the HIF-1 signaling pathway (mmu04066) and ferroptosis pathway (mmu04216) gene sets in the cortical tissues of rats in the TBI group exhibited enrichment trends compared with those in the sham-operated group. (2) Compared with the sham-operated group, the 1-day, 3-day, and 7-day post-TBI groups had significantly decreased SIRT1 protein expression ( P<0.05), with the most prominent decline in 1-day post-TBI group. (3) Compared with the TBI+vehicle group, rats in the TBI+SIRT1 agonist group showed significantly reduced mNSS score and brain tissue water content (9.83±1.17 vs. 7.66±1.21; [83.62±0.91]% vs. [80.09±0.68]%, P<0.05). HE staining indicated clearer structure of the cortical area at the injury sites, and improved neuron morphology in the TBI+SIRT1 agonist group compared with those in the TBI+vehicle group; and transmission electron microscopy showed reduced mitochondrial shrinkage and partial restoration of cristae structures in the TBI+SIRT1 agonist group compared with those in the TBI+vehicle group. Compared with the TBI+vehicle group, the TBI+SIRT1 agonist group exhibited significantly decreased MDA content ([62.72±9.20] nmol/g vs. [39.34±3.48] nmol/g), increased SOD activity ([1.95±0.23] U/mg vs. [2.48±0.14] U/mg), elevated GPX4 protein expression (0.37±0.04 vs. 0.46±0.03), and decreased HIF-1α and ACSL4 protein expressions (1.16±0.15 vs. 0.81±0.12; 1.14±0.06 vs. 1.29±0.04), with significant differences ( P<0.05). Conclusion:SIRT1 activation can exert neuroprotective effect by inhibiting HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis and reducing neuronal ferroptosis after TBI.