Tumor growth and metastasis is a multistep process dependent on the host microenvironment.While the immune system can suppress cancer development,it can also promote tumor growth and progression through a variety of mechanisms.In this complex network of immune regulatory systems,the establishment and maintenance of immune evasion mechanisms are critical for can-cer progression.Recent studies have found that erythroid precursor cells(EPCs)play an important role in regulating immune responses and tumor progression.EPCs are immature erythroid cells that differentiate into mature erythrocytes under physiological conditions,but tumor-induced EPCs are stagnant in differentiation,leading to expansion in extramedullary hematopoietic sites such as the liver and spleen,negatively regulating immune function,and promoting tumor growth and metastasis.This paper summarizes the mecha-nism of EPCs suppressing immunity,their role in promoting tumor cell immune escape,and the mechanism of promoting tumor pro-gression,which provides a new idea for the future study of the immune mechanism of liver metastases and is conducive to finding fu-ture effective therapeutic target for liver metastases.

Tumor growth and metastasis is a multistep process dependent on the host microenvironment.While the immune system can suppress cancer development,it can also promote tumor growth and progression through a variety of mechanisms.In this complex network of immune regulatory systems,the establishment and maintenance of immune evasion mechanisms are critical for can-cer progression.Recent studies have found that erythroid precursor cells(EPCs)play an important role in regulating immune responses and tumor progression.EPCs are immature erythroid cells that differentiate into mature erythrocytes under physiological conditions,but tumor-induced EPCs are stagnant in differentiation,leading to expansion in extramedullary hematopoietic sites such as the liver and spleen,negatively regulating immune function,and promoting tumor growth and metastasis.This paper summarizes the mecha-nism of EPCs suppressing immunity,their role in promoting tumor cell immune escape,and the mechanism of promoting tumor pro-gression,which provides a new idea for the future study of the immune mechanism of liver metastases and is conducive to finding fu-ture effective therapeutic target for liver metastases.

Artemisia argyi (A. argyi), a plant with a longstanding history as a raw material for traditional medicine and functional diets in Asia, has been used traditionally to bathe and soak feet for its disinfectant and itch-relieving properties. Despite its widespread use, scientific evidence validating the antifungal efficacy of A. argyi water extract (AAWE) against dermatophytes, particularly Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Microsporum gypseum, remains limited. This study aimed to substantiate the scientific basis of the folkloric use of A. argyi by evaluating the antifungal effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms of its active subfraction against dermatophytes. The results indicated that AAWE exhibited excellent antifungal effects against the three aforementioned dermatophyte species. The subfraction AAWE6, isolated using D101 macroporous resin, emerged as the most potent subfraction. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of AAWE6 against T. rubrum, M. gypseum, and T. mentagrophytes were 312.5, 312.5, and 625 μg·mL^-1, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results and assays of enzymes linked to cell wall integrity and cell membrane function indicated that AAWE6 could penetrate the external protective barrier of T. rubrum, creating breaches ("small holes"), and disrupt the internal mitochondrial structure ("granary"). Furthermore, transcriptome data, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), and biochemical assays corroborated the severe disruption of mitochondrial function, evidenced by inhibited tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and energy metabolism. Additionally, chemical characterization and molecular docking analyses identified flavonoids, primarily eupatilin (131.16 ± 4.52 mg·g^-1) and jaceosidin (4.17 ± 0.18 mg·g^-1), as the active components of AAWE6. In conclusion, the subfraction AAWE6 from A. argyi exerts antifungal effects against dermatophytes by disrupting mitochondrial morphology and function. This research validates the traditional use of A. argyi and provides scientific support for its anti-dermatophytic applications, as recognized in the Chinese patent (No. ZL202111161301.9).
Antifungal Agents/chemistry* ; Arthrodermataceae ; Artemisia/chemistry* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Mitochondria ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Objective:To study the risk model of medical equipment maintenance and repair based on system dynamics,and to solve the problems of frequent risk of corruption,high transaction prices and low procurement timeliness in the process of medical equipment maintenance and repair.Methods:The risk matrix was formed by analyzing the procurement risk of medical equipment maintenance and warranty,and the risk matrix was drawn.The system dynamics model was constructed around the price risk,schedule risk and corruption risk of medical equipment maintenance procurement,and the causal relationship and feedback effect between the risk influencing factors of medical equipment maintenance procurement were revealed through the construction of causality diagram and stock flow diagram.The risk change effects of the PLA General Hospital's application of the system dynamics-based medical equipment maintenance and procurement risk model in practice in 2022 was compared.Results:After the application of risk management control based on system dynamics model,the increase of procurement price risk decreased from 0.54 before control to 0.27,the increase of corruption risk decreased from 0.27 before control to 0.05,and the increase of schedule risk decreased slowly.After lowering the risk threshold,the increase of price risk and price risk decrease significantly.When the risk threshold was reduced from 60 to 40,the project success rate was increased by 6.52%and the rate of doubts and complaints decreased by 6.61%.Conclusion:The medical equipment maintenance risk model based on system dynamics strictly manages the procurement demand side,implements price limit and price review management,and can effectively eliminate the corruption risk and schedule risk derived from price risk by optimizing the procurement method,building the negotiation price limit model and improving the price review and pricing mechanism.

COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection severely threatens global health and economic development. No effective antiviral drug is currently available to treat COVID-19 and any other human coronavirus infections. We report herein that a macrolide antibiotic, carrimycin, potently inhibited the cytopathic effects (CPE) and reduced the levels of viral protein and RNA in multiple cell types infected by human coronavirus 229E, OC43, and SARS-CoV-2. Time-of-addition and pseudotype virus infection studies indicated that carrimycin inhibited one or multiple post-entry replication events of human coronavirus infection. In support of this notion, metabolic labelling studies showed that carrimycin significantly inhibited the synthesis of viral RNA. Our studies thus strongly suggest that carrimycin is an antiviral agent against a broad-spectrum of human coronaviruses and its therapeutic efficacy to COVID-19 is currently under clinical investigation.

AIM: To explore the effect of ethanol extract of costusroot (EEC) on gastric mucosa in gastric ulcer rats and related mechanism. METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal group, model group, sucralfate group, low-EEC group and high-EEC group, and anhydrous alcohol was administrated intragastrically to replicate gastric ulcer model in groups other than the normal. Changes in the area of gastric ulcer were observed and the inhibition rate of ulcer was calculated. The pathological changes of gastric tissue were measured by HE staining, and the protein expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were tested by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: EEC inhibited the formation of ulcer area in model rats and alleviated the histopathological damage to the stomach caused by ethanol. While enhancing the expression of Bcl-2 protein (P<0.01), it effectively inhibited the overexpression of Bax (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EEC has a strong function of anti-gastric ulcers, and its mechanism of action might be related to the regulation of the protein expression level of Bax and Bcl-2 to inhibit the apoptosis of gastri mucosal cells.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of hyperbilirubinemia in late preterm infants. Methods The clinical data of 815 late preterm infants (449 males and 366 females) from 25 hospitals in Beijing were collected from October 2015 to April 2016, including 340 cases(41.7％) with hyperbilirubinemia (hyperbilirubinemia group), and 475 cases without hyperbilirubinemia (control group). The clinical data of two groups were compared, and the maternal factors influencing hyperbilirubinemia in late preterm infants were analyzed with logistic regression. Results There were no significant differences in gender ratio (M:F 1.39 vs. 1.12, t=1.811,P=0.172)and birth weight[(2502.6±439.6)g vs. (2470.2±402.9)g,χ2=2.330,P=0.127)]between two groups. The incidence rates of hyperbilirubinemia in infants of 34 wks, 35 wks and 36 wks of gestational age were 22.9％(87/174), 35％(119/300) and 42.1％(143/341) respectively (χ2=1.218,P=0.544). The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the maternal age(OR=1.044,95％ CI:1.010-1.080,P=0.011)was independent risk factor and multiple births(OR=1.365,95％CI:0.989-1.883,P=0.048), premature rupture of membranes(OR=2.350,95％ CI:1.440-3.833,P=0.001), cesarean section(OR=1.540,95％CI:0.588-4.031,P=0.014)were risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia in late preterm infants. Conclusions The incidence of hyperbilirubinemia in late preterm infants is relatively high. Maternal age, multiple births, premature rupture of membranes and cesarean section are risk maternal factors related to hyperbilirubinemia in late preterm infants.

Five new sulfur-enriched alkaloids isatithioetherins A-E (-), and two pairs of scalemic enantiomers (+)- and (-)-isatithiopyrin B ( and ) and isoepigoitrin and isogoitrin and ), along with the known scalemic enantiomers epigoitrin and goitrin ( and ), were isolated and characterized from an aqueous extract of the roots. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic data analysis, including 2D NMR and theoretical calculations of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra based on the quantum-mechanical time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Compounds - represent a novel group of sulfur-enriched alkaloids, biogenetically originating from stereoselective assemblies of epigoitrin-derived units. Isolation and structure characterization of and support the postulated biosynthetic pathways for the diastereomers and a rare thio-Diels-Alder reaction. Compounds and showed antiviral activity against the influenza virus A/Hanfang/359/95 (H3N2, IC 0.60 and 1.92 μmol/L) and the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1, IC 3.70 and 2.87 μmol/L), and also inhibited Coxsackie virus B3 (IC 0.71 μmol/L).

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of Ganoderma lucidum preparation on the behaviors,biochemistry,and autoimmunity parameters of mouse models of APP/PS-1 double transgenic Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods A total of 44 4-month-old APP/PS-1 double transgenic AD mice were randomly divided into AD model group,Aricept group,Ganoderma lucidum middle-dose(LZ-M)group,and Ganoderma lucidum high-dose(LZ-H)group,with 11 mice in each group.In addition,10 4-month-old C57BL/6 mice were used as the control group.Water maze test was conducted to observe the behavior changes,and the protein expressions in brain tissues were detected by Western blot analysis.The autoimmune indicators were detected by indirect immunofluorescence method.Results In the navigation experiment,the time of finding the platform was gradually shortened since the 2day in the control,LZ-H,and LZ-M groups,and the time of searching the platform in the AD model group gradually increased.On the 5day,the time of finding platform was significantly shorter in control group (t=5.607,P=0.000) and LZ-H group(t=2.750,P=0.010)than AD model group.In the space exploration experiment,the number of crossing the target platform(t=2.452,P=0.025)and the residence time in the target quadrant(t=2.530,P=0.020)in AD model group mice was significantly smaller/shorter than those in control group;in addition,the number of crossing the target platform in the AD model group was significantly smaller than that in LZ-H group(t=2.317,P=0.030)and LZ-M group(t=2.443,P=0.030),while the residence time in target quadrant decreased significantly(t=2.770,P=0.020)compared with LZ-H group;the number of crossing through the target platform quadrant(t=2.493,P=0.022)and residence time in the target quadrant(t=2.683,P=0.015)in LZ-H group were significantly higher than in Aricept group.Western blot analysis showed that the expression of ApoA1 in the brain tissues of mice in LZ-H and LZ-M groups were significantly higher than those in AD model group(P<0.01,P<0.05);Aβ-40 expression in LZ-H group was significantly lower than that in AD model group(P<0.05);the expressions of Syt1,ApoE,and ABCA1 in brain tissues of mice in LZ-H group were significantly higher than those in model group(P<0.01,P<0.05).The plasma IgG level in Aricept group(t=30.945,P=0.000),LZ-M group(t=25.639,P=0.000)and LZ-H group(t=4.689,P=0.001)were significantly higher than that in the control group.Conclusion Ganoderma lucidum preparation can improve behavior disorders of AD model mice,promote the expressions of ApoA1,ApoE and Syt1,inhibit the expression of Aβ-40 protein,and improve the autoimmune function.

Objective To observe the effects of 630 nm red light and 460 nm blue light emitting diode irradiation on the healing of skin wounds in Japanese big-ear white rabbits. Methods The skin wound model was established with 8 Japanese big-ear white rabbits. Three parts of vulnus in each rabbit were used:two parts of vulnus were irradiated vertically by red and blue LED light,respectively(15 min/time),and the distance between lights and wounds was 15 cm;the 3part of the wound was used as a control. On the 21day of the wounds exposure to light,the number of healing wounds and the percentage of healing area were recorded and the treatment effect of these two light sources was compared. HE staining was used to analyze the newborn tissue structure. Masson staining was used to observe the proliferation of skin collagen fibers. Immuohistochemical staining was used to analyze fibroblast growth factor(FGF),epidermal growth factor(EGF),endothelial growth factor(CD31),proliferating cell nuclear antigen(Ki-67),and inflammatory cytokines(CD68)infiltration in the skin. Results The healing rate in the red light,blue light,and control groups was 50.0%(4/8),25.0%(2/8),and 12.5%(1/8),respectively. Since the 12day after modeling,the healing area percentage in the red light group was significantly higher than those in the blue light and control groups(P<0.05,P<0.01). On the 21day after modeling,the skin thickness of the red light group was(2.95±0.34)mm,which was significantly higher than that in control group [(2.52±0.42)mm;F=3.182,P=0.016)]. The average optical density of collagen fibers was 0.15±0.03 in red light group,which was significantly higher than that of the blue light group(0.09±0.01;F=7.316,P=0.012)and control(0.07±0.01;F=7.316,P=0.003). The results of immunohistochemistry showed the expression levels of EGF,FGF,CD31 antigen,and Ki-67 in the red light group were significantly higher than those in the blue light and control groups,whereas the CD68 expression was significantly lower(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion LED red light irradiation can promote the healing of skin wounds in Japanese big-ear white rabbits,which may be achieved by the effect of red light irradiation in stimulating the proliferation of skin epidermal cells,vascular endothelial cells,and fiberous tissue.