Hyaluronic acid (HA) possesses excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-immunogenicity, and exhibits active targeting capability to receptors such as cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44). Therefore, HA has become an important material for the design and preparation of drug delivery carriers in recent years. HA is rich in functional groups that can be chemically modified, but different modification methods and sites can affect its biological properties. This paper summarizes and discusses the effects of chemical modification on the biological properties of HA based on the formation mechanisms of such properties, as well as the derivatization and characterization methods of HA, so as to provide some reference for rational research on chemical modification of HA.

To investigate the effect of Xuebijing injection (XBJ) on cGAS/STING pathway in alleviating sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI), the mouse sepsis-induced ALI model was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and the cell inflammation model was constructed by LPS stimulating RAW264.7 cells. The effects of XBJ on lung tissue injury and cGAS/STING pathway-related protein expression in septic mice were investigated by HE staining, ELISA, and Western blot. The results showed that XBJ intervention could alleviate lung tissue injury, reduce serum IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-β, IL-1-β levels, and the expression of cGAS, STING, p-TBK1, and p-IRF3 proteins in lung tissue in vivo, and reduce the mRNA level of related inflammatory factors in RAW264.7 cells and the expression of cGAS/STING pathway proteins in vitro. The results showed that XBJ could play a role in the prevention and treatment of sepsis-induced ALI by inhibiting the inflammatory response via inhibition of the activation of cGAS/STING pathway. This study provides a new molecular mechanism for the clinical prevention and treatment of sepsis-induced acute lung injury with XBJ.

OBJECTIVES: Stigma is common among community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia and has a profound negative impact on both psychiatric symptoms and quality of life. This study aims to explore the association between stigma and quality of life in this population and to examine the multiple mediating roles of anxiety and depression symptoms. METHODS: The multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select the community-dwelling patients with schizophrenics in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. The questionnaire included general demographic characteristics, stigma question, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). The SF-12 was used to measure quality of life, including physical health and mental health dimensions. A multiple mediation model was used to analyse the mediating effects of anxiety and depression symptoms together between stigma and quality of life. RESULTS: A total of 1 087 community patients with schizophrenia were included with a mean age of 50.68±12.73 years; 525 (48.30%) were male. Stigma was reported by 543 patients (49.95%). Anxiety symptoms were present in 292 patients (26.86%), and depression symptoms in 407 patients (37.44%). The physical health quality of life score was 72.01 ± 20.99, and the mental health quality of life score was 71.68 ± 19.38. Multiple mediation analysis showed that stigma directly affected quality of life, and also indirectly affected quality of life through anxiety and depression symptoms. Anxiety and depression jointly mediated 42.26% of the total effect of stigma on physical health quality of life and 47.51% on mental health quality of life. CONCLUSIONS Reducing stigma and preventing anxiety and depression symptoms in community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia can effectively improve their quality of life and support reintegration into society.
Humans ; Quality of Life ; Male ; Depression/psychology* ; Middle Aged ; Social Stigma ; Schizophrenia ; Female ; Anxiety/psychology* ; China ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Adult ; Schizophrenic Psychology ; Independent Living ; Aged

The dysfunction of the lysosome and autophagy-lysosome system serves as a driving force for neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, inflammatory conditions, and other related diseases, closely influencing their onset and progression. Therefore, restoring the function of the lysosome or autophagy-lysosome system has become an increasingly crucial therapeutic strategy in disease management. In this review, we will introduce the lysosomal biogenesis, structure, and function, as well as the biological process of the autophagy-lysosome system. Various diseases closely associated with lysosomal/autophagic dysfunction are also reviewed, emphasizing the significance of targeting the function of the lysosome or autophagy-lysosome system in disease treatment. Finally, we focus on engineered nanomaterials that have the capabilities to restore the function of the lysosome or autophagy-lysosome system, and summarize different strategies and methods for achieving this goal. This review aims to elucidate the latest progress in the field of nanomedicine for lysosomal/autophagic defect-related diseases and inspire the development of innovative and clinically valuable nanomedicines.
Humans ; Lysosomes/physiology* ; Autophagy/physiology* ; Nanomedicine/methods* ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/therapy* ; Animals ; Nanostructures ; Lysosomal Storage Diseases/therapy*

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease with high global prevalence and long course, which affects more than 30% of the population and seriously endangers human health. Lipid metabolism plays an important role in the occurrence and development of MASLD. An increasing number of studies have shown that active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine can regulate lipid metabolism to improve MASLD. Due to the obvious advantages of multi-target regulation and fewer side effects, the active ingredients have shown great potential and value for application. However, the pathological mechanism of MASLD is intricate and the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine can improve MASLD from multiple aspects, there is currently a lack of systematic discussion on lipid metabolism. Therefore, this review focuses on lipid metabolism and reviews the latest research progress of active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine in ameliorating MASLD from the aspects of lipid uptake, lipid synthesis, lipid oxidation, lipid secretion, etc., in order to provide more theoretical references for active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine in regulating lipid metabolism to improve MASLD.

OBJECTIVE To explore the protective mechanism of amifostine on acute radiation injury mice. METHODS Thirty C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal control group， model group and amifostine group （150 mg/kg）， with 10 mice in each group. Thirty minutes before irradiation， the mice in the amifostine group were intraperitoneally injected with amifostine； normal control group and model group were given constant volume of normal saline intraperitoneally； then acute radiation injury was induced by 4 Gy X-ray radiation in both model group and amifostine group. The white blood cell count （WBC）， platelet count and red blood cell （RBC） count in mice were detected 2 hours before irradiation and on days 1， 4， 7， 10 and 14 after irradiation； the changes in the proportion of WBC （neutrophils， lymphocytes and monocytes） on the 7th day after irradiation were analyzed. The 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the structure of gut microbiota in mice feces on the 7th day after irradiation， then its correlation with WBC was analyzed. RESULTS The counts of WBC on the 1st， 4th， 7th and 10th day after irradiation， platelet count on the 10th day after irradiation and RBC count on the 1st day after irradiation in the amifostine group were significantly higher than those in model group （P＜0.05）. Compared with normal control group，β diversity of gut microbiome showed significant change， relative abundance of Firmicutes increased and that of Bacteroidetes decreased in model group. Amifostine could reverse the change in β diversity of gut microbiome， and the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. The model group consisted of four distinct species， namely Allobaculum， Erysipelotrichia， Erysipelotrichales and Erysipelotrichaceae， which were significantly negatively correlated with the proportion of peripheral blood lymphocytes （P＜0.01）； amifostine group consisted of two distinct species， namely Lactobacillus murinus and L. crispatus， which were significantly negatively correlated with the proportion of neutrophils （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Amifostine significantly improves irradiation-induced injury by regulating dysbiosis of LY201816） gut microbiota.

ObjectiveTo explore whether the mechanism of Shuangshen Ningxin capsules （SSNX） in alleviating myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury （MIRI） in rats is related to the regulation of mitochondrial fission and fusion. MethodThis study focused on Sprague Dawley （SD） rats and ligated the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery to construct a rat model of MIRI. The rats were divided into the sham operation group， model group， SSNX group （90 mg·kg^-1） and trimetazidine group （5.4 mg·kg^-1）. The activity of superoxide dismutase （SOD） and the content of malondialdehyde （MDA） were detected by micro method. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential （△Ψm） and the degree of mitochondrial permeability transition pore （mPTP） opening were detected by the chemical fluorescence method. The intracellular adenosine triphosphate （ATP） level was detected by the luciferase assay. The messenger ribonucleic acid （mRNA） and protein expression levels of mitochondrial fission and fusion related factors dynamin-related protein 1 （DRP1）， mitochondrial fission 1 protein （FIS1）， optic atrophy protein 1 （OPA1）， mitochondrial outer membrane fusion protein 1 （MFN1）， and MFN2 were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction （real-time PCR） and Western blot. ResultCompared with the sham operation group， the model group showed a decrease in serum SOD activity and an increase in MDA content. The opening level of mPTP， the level of △Ψm and ATP content decreased， the protein expressions of mitochondrial fission factors DRP1 and FIS1 increased， and the protein expressions and mRNA transcription levels of fusion related factors OPA1 and MFN1 decreased. Compared with the model group，SSNX significantly increased serum SOD activity， reduced MDA content， increased intracellular ATP level and △Ψm， reduced the opening level of mPTP， downregulated the protein expressions of mitochondrial fission factors DRP1 and FIS1， and increased the mRNA transcription levels and protein expressions of fusion related factors OPA1 and MFN1. ConclusionSSNX inhibits the expressions of mitochondrial fission factors DRP1 and FIS1， and increases the expressions of fusion related factors OPA1 and MFN1， inhibiting mitochondrial fission and increasing mitochondrial fusion， thereby alleviating MIRI.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of propofol on parvalbumin (PV) neurons in the medical prefrontal cortex(mPFC)of rats with social behavior disorders induced by chronic sleep deprivation.Methods:Forty-two SPF male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8 weeks, weighing 200-250 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=14 each) using a random number table method: control group (group Con), chronic sleep deprivation plus natural sleep group (group CSD+ NS), and chronic sleep deprivation plus propofol group (group CSD+ Pro). Sleep deprivation model was established by the modified multiple platform method, the rats were placed in the sleep-deprivation tank for 20 h a day (14: 00-10: 00), and allowed to sleep naturally for 4 h (10: 00-14: 00) a day for 28 consecutive days. Propofol 40 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected for 28 consecutive days after sleep deprivation in CSD+ Pro group. While the equal volume of 10% fat emulsion was given in Con and CSD+ NS groups. After the end of sleep deprivation, a three-box social experiment was used to detect the social behavior of rats, and the number of the PV positive cells and density of the perineuronal network (PNN) in the mPFC area were measured by immunofluorescence. Results:Compared with group Con, the pertentage of rapid eye movement sleep and sniffing time preference coefficients for the strange rat 1 in the first stage and for the strange rat 2 in the second stage were significantly decreased, and the number of the PV positive cells and density of PNN in the mPFC area were decreased in group CSD+ NS ( P<0.05). Compared with group CSD+ NS, the sniffing time preference coefficients for the strange rat 1 in the first stage and for the strange rat 2 in the second stage were significantly increased, the number of the PV positive cells and density of PNN in the mPFC area were increased( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the percentage of the rapid eye movement sleep in group CSD+ Pro. Conclusions:Propofol probably increases the number and function of PV neurons in the mPFC and ameliorates sleep deprivation-induced social behavior disorders in sleep-deprived rats.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of Banxia Xiexin decoction(BXD) on colitis associated cancer(CAC) mice and its related mechanism. METHODS Seventy-five C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, Banxia Xiexin decoction low-dose group, high-dose group and mesalazine group. Except for the normal group, the mice in the other groups were intraperitoneally injected with azoxymethane combined with oral dextran sodium sulfate to establish the CAC model. BXD and mesalazine were given respectively for intervention. The general conditions of all mice were observed and recorded, and the changes of body weight, disease activity index, colon length and tumor number were monitored. HE staining was utilized to observe the pathological changes of colon tissue. The expression levels of PCNA, NF-κB P65 and IκB-α were detected by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA levels of IL-17A, N-cadherin, E-cadherin and Bcl-2 were detected by qRT-PCR. Macrophage infiltration was measured using immunostaining analysis. Western blotting was applied to analyze the expression of NF-κB, E-cadherin and N-cadherin proteins in colon tissues of each group. RESULTS There was no significant tumor occurrence in the normal group, while the body weight of the model group mice was significantly reduced and the number of colon tumors increased. The colon length, number of tumors, and degree of inflammatory cell infiltration in the BXD group were significantly improved compared to the model group. Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of PCNA, NF-κB P65 and IκB-α protein in colon tissue of model group was remarkably increased (P<0.01). Immunofluorescence results showed that the number of F4/80, CD80 and CD206 positive macrophages in the colon tissue of the model group increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The results of RT-PCR demonstrated that the levels of IL-17A, N-cadherin and Bcl-2 mRNA in the colon tissue of the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01), while the level of E-cadherin mRNA was fundamentally decreased (P<0.01). Western blotting results displayed that the expression levels of NF-κB and N-cadherin protein in colon tissue of model group were up-regulated (P<0.01), while E-cadherin was significantly down-regulated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the changes of the above indexes in the BXD and mesalazine groups were ameliorated, with statistical differences (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the changes in the BXD high-dose group were more significant. CONCLUSION BXD exhibits strong anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor benefits in CAC mice, inhibiting macrophage activation in colon tissue and promoting M2 polarization, while reducing the expression of tumor associated proteins PCNA and Bcl-2, and block the progression of EMT related proteins (E-cadherin and N-cadherin). The mechanism may connect to suppressing NF-κB P65 and IκB-α activation to regulate the NF-κB signaling pathway.