ObjectiveAge-related macular degeneration （AMD） is one of the leading causes of low vision and blindness in people over 50 years old， and dry AMD （dAMD） is one type for which there is currently no clear treatment. On the basis of the diagnosis and clinical characteristics of dAMD in traditional Chinese and Western medicine， this paper evaluated the fitting degrees of existing animal models of dAMD with clinical characteristics according to the evaluation methods of animal models， and put forward suggestions and prospects. MethodsLiterature on animal models of dAMD was searched against database， and the characteristics of the models were assigned according to the diagnosis criteria of diseases and syndromes of traditional Chinese and Western medicine， and the fitting degrees of the models with clinical characteristics were analyzed and evaluated. ResultsAt present， the animal models of dAMD are mainly established targeting complement factors， chemokines， oxidative damage， lipid/glucose metabolism， and natural strains. Most of the models can simulate the major pathological changes of dAMD， showing the fitting degree of 25%-50% with clinical characteristics in Western medicine. However， the evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes， especially the evaluation of secondary syndromes， is missing， and the models present low fitting degrees with the clinical characteristics in TCM. ConclusionExisting animal models of dAMD are mostly established under the guidance of Western diagnostic standards， which reproduce the main disease characteristics of Western medicine and lack observation of TCM syndromes. Future studies can pay attention to the intervention factors and evaluation systems of spleen deficiency Qi deficiency and liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome and build the animal model of dAMD with integration of disease and syndrome based on clinical characteristics of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

ObjectiveAge-related macular degeneration （AMD） is one of the leading causes of low vision and blindness in people over 50 years old， and dry AMD （dAMD） is one type for which there is currently no clear treatment. On the basis of the diagnosis and clinical characteristics of dAMD in traditional Chinese and Western medicine， this paper evaluated the fitting degrees of existing animal models of dAMD with clinical characteristics according to the evaluation methods of animal models， and put forward suggestions and prospects. MethodsLiterature on animal models of dAMD was searched against database， and the characteristics of the models were assigned according to the diagnosis criteria of diseases and syndromes of traditional Chinese and Western medicine， and the fitting degrees of the models with clinical characteristics were analyzed and evaluated. ResultsAt present， the animal models of dAMD are mainly established targeting complement factors， chemokines， oxidative damage， lipid/glucose metabolism， and natural strains. Most of the models can simulate the major pathological changes of dAMD， showing the fitting degree of 25%-50% with clinical characteristics in Western medicine. However， the evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes， especially the evaluation of secondary syndromes， is missing， and the models present low fitting degrees with the clinical characteristics in TCM. ConclusionExisting animal models of dAMD are mostly established under the guidance of Western diagnostic standards， which reproduce the main disease characteristics of Western medicine and lack observation of TCM syndromes. Future studies can pay attention to the intervention factors and evaluation systems of spleen deficiency Qi deficiency and liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome and build the animal model of dAMD with integration of disease and syndrome based on clinical characteristics of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

Objective To explore the valve regurgitation status of left heart after the implantation of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and its effect on prognosis of patients with LVAD implantation. Methods A total of 35 patients with cardiomyopathy who underwent magnetic levitation LVAD implantation at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from February 2021 to July 2024 were retrospectively selected. Clinical data during hospitalization were collected, including preoperative basic data and postoperative valve regurgitation status. Telephone follow-ups were conducted to monitor patients’ survival status and transthoracic echocardiography was used to assess left valve function. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank test were employed to compare the survival rate of patients with different levels of valve regurgitation. Results The 35 patients had a mean age of (53.9±11.1) years, with 85.7% male, and 3 patients (8.6%) died during hospitalization. Preoperatively, 17 patients (48.6%) had moderate or greater mitral regurgitation, while all 35 patients had less than moderate aortic regurgitation. One month postoperatively, thirty patients were followed up, among which 24 patients (80%) had less than moderate mitral regurgitation, including 11 cases with alleviated regurgitation compared to pre-surgery; 6 patients (20%) had moderate or greater mitral regurgitation, including 4 cases with stable regurgitation and 2 cases with progression of regurgitation compared to pre-surgery; 2 patients (6.7%) had progression of aortic regurgitation to moderate or greater. The follow-up time was 1.2 (1.0, 2.1) years, with 1-year survival rate of 91.4% and 3-year survival rate of 71.1%. Survival analysis showed that the 3-year survival rate of patients with moderate or greater mitral regurgitation one month postoperatively was significantly lower than that of patients with less than moderate regurgitation (66.7% vs 83.3%, P＝0.046). Conclusions After the implantation of magnetic levitation LVAD, most patients showed improvement in mitral regurgitation, while aortic regurgitation remained unchanged. The degree of mitral regurgitation one month postoperatively is associated with prognosis.

Tumor drug resistance is an important problem in the failure of chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy, which is a complex process involving chromatin remodeling. SWI/SNF is one of the most studied ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes in tumorigenesis, which plays an important role in the coordination of chromatin structural stability, gene expression, and post-translation modification. However, its mechanism in tumor drug resistance has not been systematically combed. SWI/SNF can be divided into 3 types according to its subunit composition: BAF, PBAF, and ncBAF. These 3 subtypes all contain two mutually exclusive ATPase catalytic subunits (SMARCA2 or SMARCA4), core subunits (SMARCC1 and SMARCD1), and regulatory subunits (ARID1A, PBRM1, and ACTB, etc.), which can control gene expression by regulating chromatin structure. The change of SWI/SNF complex subunits is one of the important factors of tumor drug resistance and progress. SMARCA4 and ARID1A are the most widely studied subunits in tumor drug resistance. Low expression of SMARCA4 can lead to the deletion of the transcription inhibitor of the BCL2L1 gene in mantle cell lymphoma, which will result in transcription up-regulation and significant resistance to the combination therapy of ibrutinib and venetoclax. Low expression of SMARCA4 and high expression of SMARCA2 can activate the FGFR1-pERK1/2 signaling pathway in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma cells, which induces the overexpression of anti-apoptosis gene BCL2 and results in carboplatin resistance. SMARCA4 deletion can up-regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by activating YAP1 gene expression in triple-negative breast cancer. It can also reduce the expression of Ca²⁺ channel IP3R3 in ovarian and lung cancer, resulting in the transfer of Ca²⁺ needed to induce apoptosis from endoplasmic reticulum to mitochondria damage. Thus, these two tumors are resistant to cisplatin. It has been found that verteporfin can overcome the drug resistance induced by SMARCA4 deletion. However, this inhibitor has not been applied in clinical practice. Therefore, it is a promising research direction to develop SWI/SNF ATPase targeted drugs with high oral bioavailability to treat patients with tumor resistance induced by low expression or deletion of SMARCA4. ARID1A deletion can activate the expression of ANXA1 protein in HER2+ breast cancer cells or down-regulate the expression of progesterone receptor B protein in endometrial cancer cells. The drug resistance of these two tumor cells to trastuzumab or progesterone is induced by activating AKT pathway. ARID1A deletion in ovarian cancer can increase the expression of MRP2 protein and make it resistant to carboplatin and paclitaxel. ARID1A deletion also can up-regulate the phosphorylation levels of EGFR, ErbB2, and RAF1 oncogene proteins.The ErbB and VEGF pathway are activated and EMT is increased. As a result, lung adenocarcinoma is resistant to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). Although great progress has been made in the research on the mechanism of SWI/SNF complex inducing tumor drug resistance, most of the research is still at the protein level. It is necessary to comprehensively and deeply explore the detailed mechanism of drug resistance from gene, transcription, protein, and metabolite levels by using multi-omics techniques, which can provide sufficient theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of poor tumor prognosis caused by mutation or abnormal expression of SWI/SNF subunits in clinical practice.

Objective To compare the dosimetric differences in the heart and its substructures between two hybrid plans for hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery in patients with early-stage left-sided breast cancer. Methods A total of 46 patients with early-stage left-sided breast cancer who underwent hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy were randomly selected. Two hybrid radiotherapy plans were used, including hybrid intensity-modulated radiotherapy (H_IMRT) and hybrid volumetric-modulated arc therapy (H_VMAT). The heart and its substructures were contoured, including left anterior descending (LAD), left ventricle (LV), right coronary artery (RCA), and right ventricle (RV). The heart and substructure doses, as well as monitor units, were compared between H_IMRT and H_VMAT. Results Both hybrid plans met the clinical requirements. H_IMRT significantly outperformed H_VMAT for the heart (V₁₀, V₃₀, and D_mean), LAD (V₃₀, V₄₀, D_max and D_mean), LV (V₁₀, V₂₀ and D_mean), RCA (D_max, D_mean), and RV (V₅, V₁₀, D_mean) (P < 0.001). Additionally, H_IMRT was significantly superior to H_VMAT for heart V₅, LAD V₂₀, and RV V₂₀ (P = 0.005, 0.035 and 0.037). For LAD (V₁₅, V₄₀) and LV (V₅, V₂₅), H_IMRT was slightly better than H_VMAT, and the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion Both H_IMRT and H_VMAT hybrid radiotherapy plans are suitable for hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery in patients with early-stage left-sided breast cancer. H_IMRT is slightly better than H_VMAT in dose sparing for the heart and its substructures.

BACKGROUND:Bone relies on the close connection between blood vessels and bone cells to maintain its integrity.Bones are in a physiologically hypoxic environment.Therefore,the study of angiogenesis and osteogenesis in hypoxic environment is closer to the microenvironment in vivo. OBJECTIVE:To explore the influence of Wenshen Tongluo Zhitong(WSTLZT)formula on H-type bone microvascular endothelial cell/bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell co-culture system in hypoxia environment and its related mechanism. METHODS:Enzyme digestion method and flow sorting technique were used to isolate and identify H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells.Mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and obtained by bone marrow adhesion method.H-type bone microvascular endothelial cell/bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell hypoxic co-culture system was established using Transwell chamber and anoxic culture workstation.WSTLZT formula powder was used to intervene in each group at a mass concentration of 50 and 100 μg/mL.The angiogenic function of H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells in the co-culture system was evaluated by scratch migration test and tube formation test.The osteogenic differentiation ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the co-cultured system was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red staining.The protein and mRNA expression changes of PDGF/PI3K/AKT signal axis related molecules in H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells in the co-cultured system were detected by Western Blotting and q-PCR,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the normal oxygen group,the scratch mobility and new blood vessel length of H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells were significantly higher(P<0.05);the osteogenic differentiation capacity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was higher(P<0.05);the expression of PDGF/PI3K/AKT axis-related molecular protein and mRNA increased(P<0.05)in the hypoxia group.(2)Compared with the hypoxia group,scratch mobility and new blood vessel length were significantly increased in the H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells(P<0.05);bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells had stronger osteogenic function(P<0.05);the expression of PDGF/PI3K/AKT axis-related molecular proteins and mRNA further increased(P<0.05)after treatment with different dose concentrations of WSTLZT formula.These findings conclude that H-type angiogenesis and osteogenesis under hypoxia may be related to the PDGF/PI3K/AKT signaling axis,and WSTLZT formula may promote H-type vasculo-dependent bone formation by activating the PDGF/PI3K/AKT signaling axis,thereby preventing and treating osteoporosis.

ObjectiveTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutes a valuable cultural heritage and an important source of antitumor compounds. Poria (Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf), the dried sclerotium of a polyporaceae fungus, was first documented in Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica and has been used therapeutically and dietarily in China for millennia. Traditionally recognized for its diuretic, spleen-tonifying, and sedative properties, modern pharmacological studies confirm that Poria exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. Pachymic acid (PA; a triterpenoid with the chemical structure 3β-acetyloxy-16α-hydroxy-lanosta-8,24(31)-dien-21-oic acid), isolated from Poria, is a principal bioactive constituent. Emerging evidence indicates PA exerts antitumor effects through multiple mechanisms, though these remain incompletely characterized. Neuroblastoma (NB), a highly malignant pediatric extracranial solid tumor accounting for 15% of childhood cancer deaths, urgently requires safer therapeutics due to the limitations of current treatments. Although PA shows multi-mechanistic antitumor potential, its efficacy against NB remains uncharacterized. This study systematically investigated the potential molecular targets and mechanisms underlying the anti-NB effects of PA by integrating network pharmacology-based target prediction with experimental validation of multi-target interactions through molecular docking, dynamic simulations, and in vitro assays, aimed to establish a novel perspective on PA’s antitumor activity and explore its potential clinical implications for NB treatment by integrating computational predictions with biological assays. MethodsThis study employed network pharmacology to identify potential targets of PA in NB, followed by validation using molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, MM/PBSA free energy analysis, RT-qPCR and Western blot experiments. Network pharmacology analysis included target screening via TCMSP, GeneCards, DisGeNET, SwissTargetPrediction, SuperPred, and PharmMapper. Subsequently, potential targets were predicted by intersecting the results from these databases via Venn analysis. Following target prediction, topological analysis was performed to identify key targets using Cytoscape software. Molecular docking was conducted using AutoDock Vina, with the binding pocket defined based on crystal structures. MD simulations were performed for 100 ns using GROMACS, and RMSD, RMSF, SASA, and hydrogen bonding dynamics were analyzed. MM/PBSA calculations were carried out to estimate the binding free energy of each protein-ligand complex. In vitro validation included RT-qPCR and Western blot, with GAPDH used as an internal control. ResultsThe CCK-8 assay demonstrated a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of PA on NB cell viability. GO analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve cellular response to chemical stress, vesicle lumen, and protein tyrosine kinase activity. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve the PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and Ras signaling pathways. Molecular docking and MD simulations revealed stable binding interactions between PA and the core target proteins AKT1, EGFR, SRC, and HSP90AA1. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses further confirmed that PA treatment significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of AKT1, EGFR, and SRC while increasing the HSP90AA1 mRNA and protein levels. ConclusionIt was suggested that PA may exert its anti-NB effects by inhibiting AKT1, EGFR, and SRC expression, potentially modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings provide crucial evidence supporting PA’s development as a therapeutic candidate for NB.

Thoracoscopic mitral valve replacement is a common minimally invasive cardiac surgery procedure. However, small annulus, severe calcification of the annulus, and severe thickening of the posterior valve leaflet or sub valvular structure are the difficulties of thoracoscopic mitral valve replacement. Improper treatment can easily lead to left ventricular rupture or prosthesis-patient mismatch. This paper reports a thoracoscopic mitral bioprosthesis replacement case using the chimney technique in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and summarizes its operating key points. The patient was a 68-year-old female, weighing 36 kg. The preoperative diagnosis was rheumatic mitral stenosis and atrial fibrillation, the preoperative transthoracic echocardiogram showed the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was 39 mm. The surgical effect was satisfactory. The patient was in good condition at the follow-up 2 months after the operation.

Recent studies have shown that an imbalance in iron metabolism can affect the composition and microstructural changes of bone, disrupting bone homeostasis and leading to osteoporosis(OP). The imbalance in iron metabolism, along with its induced local abnormal microenvironment and cellular iron death, has become a new focal point in OP research, drawing increasing attention from the academic community regarding the regulation of iron metabolism to prevent and manage OP. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), iron metabolism imbalance has potential connections to TCM theories regarding internal organs, as well as treatments aimed at tonifying the kidney, strengthening the spleen, and activating blood circulation. Evidence is continually emerging that TCMs and effective components that tonify the kidney, strengthen the spleen, and activate blood circulation can prevent and manage OP by regulating iron metabolism. This article analyzes the relationship between iron and bone, as well as the effects of TCM formulations on improving iron metabolism and influencing bone metabolism, from the perspectives of iron metabolism mechanisms and TCM interventions, aiming to broaden existing clinical strategies for prevention and treatment and inject new momentum into the field of OP as it moves into a new era.
Osteoporosis/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Iron/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Bone and Bones/drug effects*

This study aims to explore the mechanism through which Yishen Jiangtang Decoction(YSJTD) regulates endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS)-mediated NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome to improve diabetic nephropathy(DN) in db/db mice. Thirty db/db mice were randomly divided into the model group, YSJTD group, ERS inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid(4-PBA) group, with 10 mice in each group. Additionally, 10 db/m mice were selected as the control group. The YSJTD group was orally administered YSJTD at a dose of 0.01 mL·g~(-1), the 4-PBA group was orally administered 4-PBA at a dose of 0.5 mg·g~(-1), and the control and model groups were given an equal volume of carboxylmethyl cellulose sodium. The treatments were administered once daily for 8 weeks. Food intake, water consumption, and body weight were recorded every 2 weeks. After the intervention, fasting blood glucose(FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c), urine microalbumin(U-mALB), 24-hour urine volume, serum creatinine(Scr), and blood urea nitrogen(BUN) were measured. Inflammatory markers interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and interleukin-18(IL-18) were detected using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Renal pathology was assessed through hematoxylin-eosin(HE), periodic acid-Schiff(PAS), and Masson staining, and transmission electron microscopy(TEM). Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP), NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD(ASC), cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase(caspase-1), and gasdermin D(GSDMD) in kidney tissues. The results showed that compared to the control group, the model group exhibited poor general condition, increased weight and food and water intake, and significantly higher levels of FBG, HbA1c, U-mALB, kidney index, 24-hour urine volume, IL-1β, and IL-18. Compared to the model group, the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups showed improved general condition, increased body weight, decreased food intake, and lower levels of FBG, U-mALB, kidney index, 24-hour urine volume, and IL-1β. Specifically, the YSJTD group showed a significant reduction in IL-18 levels compared to the model group, while the 4-PBA group exhibited decreased water intake and HbA1c levels compared to the model group. Although there was a decreasing trend in water intake and HbA1c in the YSJTD group, the differences were not statistically significant. No significant differences were observed in BUN, Scr, and kidney weight among the groups. Renal pathology revealed that the model group exhibited more severe renal damage compared to the control group. Kidney sections from the model group showed diffuse mesangial proliferation in the glomeruli, tubular edema, tubular dilation, significant inflammatory cell infiltration in the interstitium, and increased glycogen staining and blue collagen deposition in the basement membrane. In contrast, the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups showed varying degrees of improvement in renal damage, glycogen staining, and collagen deposition, with the YSJTD group showing more significant improvements. TEM analysis indicated that the model group had extensive cytoplasmic edema, homogeneous thickening of the basement membrane, fewer foot processes, and widening of fused foot processes. In the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups, cytoplasmic swelling of renal tissues was reduced, the basement membrane remained intact and uniform, and foot process fusion improved.Western blot results indicated that compared to the control group, the model group showed upregulation of GRP78, CHOP, GSDMD, NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 expression. In contrast, both the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups showed downregulation of these markers compared to the model group. These findings suggest that YSJTD exerts a protective effect against DN by alleviating NLRP3 inflammasome activation through the inhibition of ERS, thereby improving the inflammatory response in db/db DN mice.
Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/drug effects* ; Diabetic Nephropathies/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Inflammasomes/drug effects* ; Male ; Kidney/pathology* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP ; Humans ; Interleukin-18/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL