The deficiency in immunogenicity and the presence of immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment significantly hindered the efficacy of immunotherapy. Consequently, a nanoformulation containing metal sulfide of FeS and GSDMD plasmid (NP_FeS/GD) had been developed to effectively augment antitumor immune responses through dual activation of immunogenic PANoptosis and ferroptosis, as well as reprogramming immunosuppressive effects via H₂S amplification. The bioactive NP_FeS/GD exhibited controlled release of GSDMD plasmid, H₂S, and Fe²⁺ in response to the tumor microenvironment. Fe²⁺, H₂S, and the expression of GSDMD protein could effectively elicit highly immunogenic PANoptosis and ferroptosis. Furthermore, releasing H₂S could mitigate the overexpression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase1 (IDO1) induced by immunogenic PANoptotic and ferroptotic cell death and disrupt the activity of IDO1. Consequently, NP_FeS/GD effectively triggered the antitumor innate and adaptive immune responses through induction of PANoptotic and ferroptotic cell death and reshaped the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment to enhance antitumor immunotherapy for metastasis inhibition. This study unveiled the significant potential of immunogenic PANoptosis and ferroptosis in H₂S gas therapy for enhancing tumor immunotherapy, offering novel insights and ideas for the rational design of nanomedicine to enhance tumor immunogenicity while reprogramming the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the protective effect of Yiqi Yangyin Huazhuo Tongluo Formula (YYHT) against high glucose-induced injury in mouse renal podocytes (MPC5 cells) and the possible mechanism. METHODS: Adult Wistar rats were treated with 19, 38, and 76 g/kg YYHT or saline via gavage for 7 days to prepare YYHT-medicated or blank sera for treatment of MPC5 cells cultured in high glucose (30 mmol/L) prior to transfection with a miR-21a-5p inhibitor or a miR-21a-5p mimic. The changes in miR-21a-5p expressions and the mRNA levels of FoxO1, PINK1, and Parkin in the treated cells were detected with qRT-PCR, and the protein levels of nephrin, podocin, FoxO1, PINK1, and Parkin were detected with Western blotting. Autophagic activity in the cells were evaluated with MDC staining. The effect of miR-21a-5p mimic on FoxO1 transcription and the binding of miR-21a-5p to FoxO1 were examined with luciferase reporter gene assay and radioimmunoprecipitation assay. RESULTS: MPC5 cells exposed to high glucose showed significantly increased miR-21a-5p expression, lowered expressions of FoxO1, PINK1, and Parkin1 mRNAs, and reduced levels of FoxO1, PINK1, parkin, nephrin, and podocin proteins and autophagic activity. Treatment of the exposed cells with YYHT-medicated sera and miR-21a-5p inhibitor both significantly enhanced the protein expressions of nephrin and podocin, inhibited the expression of miR-21a-5p, increased the mRNA and protein expressions of FoxO1, PINK1 and Parkin, and upregulated autophagic activity of the cells. Transfection with miR-21a-5p mimic effectively inhibited the transcription of FoxO1 and promoted the binding of miR-21a-5p to FoxO1 in MPC5 cells, and these effects were obviously attenuated by treatment with YYHT-medicated sera. CONCLUSIONS YYHT-medicated sera alleviate high glucose-induced injury in MPC5 cells by regulating miR-21a-5p/FoxO1/PINK1-mediated mitochondrial autophagy.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Podocytes/pathology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Rats, Wistar ; Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Rats ; Forkhead Box Protein O1 ; Mice ; Mitochondria/drug effects* ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism* ; Glucose ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Male ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins

This study investigates the clinical differentiation and treatment strategies for bipolar disorder （BD） by analyzing the relationship of its core pathomechanisms including qi stagnation， blood stasis， phlegm turbidity， and heat constraint with bile acid metabolism. The imbalance of "yin in form and yang in function" leads to qi stagnation， blood stasis， phlegm turbidity， and heat constraint， which are critical in the pathogenesis and progression of BD. Bile acids regulate neuroinflammation， neural plasticity， and intestinal flora homeostasis through receptor-mediated pathways. It is believed that the physiological functions of bile acids concretely embody the concept of the "liver is yin in form and yang in function" theory. Clinically， prescriptions such as Sini Powder （四逆散） with the function of venting pathogen and resolving constraint， Wendan Decoction （温胆汤） of drying dampness and resolving phlegm， Longdan Xiegan Decoction （龙胆泻肝汤） of clearing liver and draining fire， and Huanglian Ejiao Decoction （黄连阿胶汤） of nourishing yin and blood can be used to nourish liver yin and restore liver yang function. These strategies may improve BD prognosis by modulating bile acid synthesis and metabolism.

Male ; Humans ; Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Varicocele/diagnosis* ; Biomarkers

Background::Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and diameter, stiffness, and wave reflections, are independent and important clinical biomarkers and risk predictors for cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the present study was to establish nationwide reference values of carotid properties for healthy Chinese adults and to explore potential clinical determinants.Methods::A total of 3053 healthy Han Chinese adults (1922 women) aged 18-79 years were enrolled at 28 collaborating tertiary centers throughout China between April 2021 and July 2022. The real-time tracking of common carotid artery walls was achieved by the radio frequency (RF) ultrasound system. The IMT, diameter, compliance coefficient, β stiffness, local pulse wave velocity (PWV), local systolic blood pressure, augmented pressure (AP), and augmentation index (AIx) were then automatically measured and reported. Data were stratified by age groups and sex. The relationships between age and carotid property parameters were analyzed by Jonckheere-Terpstra test and simple linear regressions. The major clinical determinants of carotid properties were identified by Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear regression, and analyses of covariance.Results::All the parameters of carotid properties demonstrated significantly age-related trajectories. Women showed thinner IMT, smaller carotid diameter, larger AP, and AIx than men. The β stiffness and PWV were significantly higher in men than women before forties, but the differences reversed after that. The increase rate of carotid IMT (5.5 μm/year in women and 5.8 μm/year in men) and diameter (0.03 mm/year in both men and women) were similar between men and women. For the stiffness and wave reflections, women showed significantly larger age-related variations than men as demonstrated by steeper regression slopes (all P for age by sex interaction <0.05). The blood pressures, body mass index (BMI), and triglyceride levels were identified as major clinical determinants of carotid properties with adjustment of age and sex. Conclusions::The age- and sex-specific reference values of carotid properties measured by RF ultrasound for healthy Chinese adults were established. The blood pressures, BMI, and triglyceride levels should be considered for clinical application of corresponding reference values.

OBJECTIVE To study the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of cannabidiol（CBD）-cholesterol succinate monoester-g-carboxymethyl chitosan （CCMC） nano-micelles in rats， and to evaluate its anti-inflammatory effect. METHODS CBD- CCMC nano-micelles were prepared by dialysis method and the properties were characterized. SD rats were divided into CBD group and CBD-CCMC nano-micelles group with 6 rats in each group. The rats were given 100 mg/kg CBD and CBD-CCMC nano- micelle by intragastric administration， respectively （based on the CBD load）. Blood was collected from the posterior ophthalmic venous plexus at 0.5， 1， 1.33， 1.5， 1.75， 2， 4， 8， 24， 48 h after administration. The heart， liver， spleen， lung， kidney and muscle tissues of rats were separated at 0.25， 1.5， 10 and 24 h after administration of CBD and CBD-CCMC nano-micelle with the same dose. The drug content in plasma and tissues was determined， the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated， and the tissue distribution was analyzed. The inflammatory model of Caco-2 cells was induced by lipopolysaccharide， after 24 h of treatment with 5， 10， and 15 µg/mL CBD and CBD-CCMC nanomicelles （based on loaded CBD）， its anti-inflammatory activity was investigated by measuring cell viability， transepithelial electrical resistance （TEER） and inflammatory cytokines IL-1β， IL-8 and TNF-α. RESULTS The prepared CBD- CCMC nano-micelles had a particle size of （230.6±1.8） nm， a polydispersity index of 0.170±0.053， a Zeta potential of （－13.5± 1.2） mV， an encapsulation rate of （86.35±0.56）% and a drug loading of （9.18±0.32）%， respectively； the solubility was 68.240 μg/mL. The pharmacokinetic results showed that the AUC0-48 h， AUC0-∞， half-life time and peak concentration of CBD-CCMC nano- micelle group were significantly increased/extended compared with CBD group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The results of the tissue distribution study showed that at the same time point， the drug distribution concentration of CBD-CCMC nanomicelles in the rat tissue was higher than that in the CBD group. Research on anti-inflammatory effects shows that compared with CBD of the same mass concentration, CBD-CCMC nano-micelles can significantly increase cell viability （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）， enhance TEER， and reduce the levels of IL-8， IL-1β and TNF-α in cells （P＜0.01）， and the secretion levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-8， IL-1β and TNF- α were significantly decreased （P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS CBD-CCMC nano-micelles can increase the plasma concentration and tissue distribution concentration of CBD， and improve anti-inflammatory activity of CBD.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of Lutongning granules in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia in animal models and study its mechanism of action， so as to provide laboratory data support for the clinical application of Lutongning granules and precise treatment. MethodMale SD rats were randomly divided into normal group， model group， carbamazepine group （0.06 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， high-dose Lutongning group （2.70 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and low-dose Lutongning group （1.35 g·kg^-1·d^-1） according to the stratified basic mechanical pain thresholds， with 10 rats in each group. A trigeminal neuralgia model of rats was prepared by injecting 30% talc suspension into the infraorbital foramen area of the rat. The drug groups were administered 10 mL·kg^-1 of drugs by gavage after 2 h of modeling. The normal group and the model group were administered distilled water by gavage under the same conditions once a day for 10 consecutive days. Von Frey brushes were used to determine the mechanical pain threshold of rats. A fully automated blood and body fluid analyzer was employed to detect the blood routine of rats. Hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining was utilized to detect the pathological changes in the trigeminal ganglion and medulla oblongata tissue. Transmission electron microscopy was used to scan the ultrastructure of the medulla oblongata tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors interleukin （IL）-1， IL-6， IL-8， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， neuropeptide substance P， and β-endorphins （β-EP） in the serum of rats， and Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of IL-1β， purinergic receptor P2X7 （P2X7R）， and phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p-p38 MAPK）. ResultCompared with that in the normal group， the pain threshold of rats in the model group was significantly lower （P<0.01）. The absolute value of neutrophils （NEUT#） and the percentage of neutrophils （NEUT） were significantly improved， and the percentage of lymphocytes （LYMPH） was significantly reduced （P<0.01）. The serum levels of IL-1， IL-6， IL-8， and TNF-α were significantly increased （P<0.01）. SP content in brain tissue was significantly increased， and β-EP content was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The relative protein expression of IL-1β， P2X7R， and p-p38 MAPK was significantly increased （P<0.05）. HE staining and transmission electron microscopy results of medulla oblongata tissue revealed neuronal degeneration， mild proliferation of microglial cells， reduction in the number of myelinated nerves， and obvious demyelination. The trigeminal nerve fibers of rats were disarranged， and some nerve fibers showed vacuolization. Axons were swollen， and Schwann cells proliferated. Demyelination was observed. Compared with the model group， each administration group significantly increased the pain threshold of rats （P<0.05， P<0.01）， reduced NEUT# and NEUT， and elevated LYMPH （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The administration group significantly decreased the levels of IL-1， IL-6， IL-8， and TNF-α in serum and SP in brain tissue （P<0.01） and increased the level of β-EP （P<0.01）. They significantly down-regulated the protein expression of IL-1β， P2X7R， and p-p38 MAPK（P<0.05， P<0.01） and significantly ameliorated the pathological changes in medulla oblongata tissue and trigeminal nerves of rats. ConclusionLutongning Granules had significant therapeutic effects on trigeminal neuralgia induced by injection of talc into the infraorbital foramen of model rats， and the mechanism may be related to amelioration of P2X7R-mediated neuroinflammation and inhibition of demyelination of myelinated nerves.

OBJECTIVE To optimize the steaming and processing technology of wine-steamed Taxillus chinensis， and to characterize its quality. METHODS Using the content of avicularin， quercitrin， quercetin and appearance traits as evaluation indicators， the analytic hierarchy process （AHP）-entropy weight method was used to determine the weights of each indicator， and the comprehensive scores of those indicators were used as response values. Box-Behnken response surface method was used to investigate the effects of solid-liquid ratio （g/mL）， soaking time， and steaming time on the processing technology of wine-steamed T. chinensis， optimize the best processing technology， and verify it. Fifteen batches of T. chinensis decoction pieces from different origins were used to prepare wine-steamed T. chinensis using the best processing technology， and their qualities were characterized. RESULTS The optimal processing technology for wine-steamed T. chinensis was to take 100 g of T. chinensis decoction pieces， add 20 mL of yellow wine， seal and moisten for 2 h， steam at normal pressure for 1 h， take out and dry at 50 ℃. The surface of wine-steamed T. chinensis prepared by the optimal processing technology was reddish brown or brownish， and its powder was dark brown， with a hard or brittle texture that was easy to break， and had a slight aroma of alcohol， and an astringent taste. Results of microscopic and thin-layer identification for the stem cross-section of wine-steamed T. chinensis were the same as those of raw T. chinensis. The contents of moisture， total ash and acid-insoluble ash were 3.92%-8.75%， 2.27%-5.08%， and 0.19%-0.82%， respectively； the contents of water-soluble extract were 11.28%-18.56%， and the contents of alcohol-soluble extract were 3.36%-8.58%； the contents of avicularin， quercitrin， and quercetin were 0.22-1.64， 0.26-2.45， and 0.01-0.38 mg/g， respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study successfully optimized the processing technology of wine-steamed T. chinensis and preliminarily characterized its quality， which can provide reference for the standardized processing and establishment of quality standards for wine-steamed T. chinensis decoction mail：wyl@sxtcm.edu.cn pieces.

OBJECTIVE To optimize the steaming and processing technology of wine-steamed Taxillus chinensis， and to characterize its quality. METHODS Using the content of avicularin， quercitrin， quercetin and appearance traits as evaluation indicators， the analytic hierarchy process （AHP）-entropy weight method was used to determine the weights of each indicator， and the comprehensive scores of those indicators were used as response values. Box-Behnken response surface method was used to investigate the effects of solid-liquid ratio （g/mL）， soaking time， and steaming time on the processing technology of wine-steamed T. chinensis， optimize the best processing technology， and verify it. Fifteen batches of T. chinensis decoction pieces from different origins were used to prepare wine-steamed T. chinensis using the best processing technology， and their qualities were characterized. RESULTS The optimal processing technology for wine-steamed T. chinensis was to take 100 g of T. chinensis decoction pieces， add 20 mL of yellow wine， seal and moisten for 2 h， steam at normal pressure for 1 h， take out and dry at 50 ℃. The surface of wine-steamed T. chinensis prepared by the optimal processing technology was reddish brown or brownish， and its powder was dark brown， with a hard or brittle texture that was easy to break， and had a slight aroma of alcohol， and an astringent taste. Results of microscopic and thin-layer identification for the stem cross-section of wine-steamed T. chinensis were the same as those of raw T. chinensis. The contents of moisture， total ash and acid-insoluble ash were 3.92%-8.75%， 2.27%-5.08%， and 0.19%-0.82%， respectively； the contents of water-soluble extract were 11.28%-18.56%， and the contents of alcohol-soluble extract were 3.36%-8.58%； the contents of avicularin， quercitrin， and quercetin were 0.22-1.64， 0.26-2.45， and 0.01-0.38 mg/g， respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study successfully optimized the processing technology of wine-steamed T. chinensis and preliminarily characterized its quality， which can provide reference for the standardized processing and establishment of quality standards for wine-steamed T. chinensis decoction mail：wyl@sxtcm.edu.cn pieces.