The inflammatory microenvironment is closely associated with the initiation and progression of osteoarthritis （OA）， specifically manifesting as macrophage activation， dysregulation of inflammatory cytokines， and redox imbalance. Following an overview of the pathological characteristics of the OA inflammatory microenvironment， this paper reviews the research progress on the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） intervening in OA by modulating the inflammatory microenvironment. It has been found that TCM monomers/active ingredients （such as total alkaloids from Strychnos nux-vomica ， quercetin， triptolide， etc.）， herb pairs （e.g. Angelica pubescens - Gentiana macrophylla ， Carthami Flos-Lycopodii Herba）， and TCM formulas （such as Zhuanggu jianxi formula， Duhuo jisheng decoction and Rongjin niantong formula， etc.） can inhibit macrophage activation， reduce the release of proinflammatory cytokines and the generation of reactive oxygen species by inhibiting multiple signaling pathways， including nuclear factor-κB， Wnt/ β -catenin， and mitogen-activated protein kinase， thereby alleviating the articular inflammatory microenvironment， restoring local joint homeostasis， and slowing the progression of OA.

Thirteen novel diterpenoids, comprising seven tiglianes (walliglianes G-M, 1-7), four rhamnofolanes (wallinofolanes A-D, 8-11), and two daphnanes (wallaphnanes A and B, 12 and 13), together with two known rhamnofolane diterpenoids (euphorwallside H and euphorwallside I, 14 and 15), were isolated and characterized from Euphorbia wallichii(E. wallichii). The chemical structures of these compounds were elucidated through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS), and quantum chemical calculations. Compounds 9 and 11 demonstrated protective effects against H₂O₂-induced BV-2 microglial cell damage. Molecular docking analyses indicated that compound 9 exhibited binding affinity to the anti-oxidant-related targets HMGCR, GSTP1, and SHBG.
Euphorbia/chemistry* ; Antioxidants/isolation & purification* ; Diterpenes/isolation & purification* ; Molecular Structure ; Mice ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Animals ; Hydrogen Peroxide/toxicity* ; Cell Line ; Microglia/drug effects*

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes. "Internal heat leading to zheng" is the core pathogenesis of DKD, while "glucose toxicity" is transformed from subtle substances through "internal heat" and the cementation of various pathological products, which is pivotal to the transformation of diabetes to DKD. "Glucose toxicity" is characterized by deep and widespread heat, caused by various pathological factors, and its sticky nature makes it difficult to resolve, which can cause severe damage to the kidney collaterals. In the early stage of "glucose toxicity", it is yang pathogen, which can be transformed into yin pathogen in the later stage with disease progression. In clinical practice, treatment should be based on disease staging, with attention on grasping the pathogenesis of "internal heat leading to zheng" and identifying the nature of "glucose toxicity". During the diabetic period, clearing heat is the primary method, often using modified Yueju Pill and Dachaihu Decoction. In the early stage of DKD, treatment primarily focuses on clearing and penetrating latent heat to treat DKD, aiming to prevent toxic heat from transitioning from qi to blood. The approach emphasizes clearing heat and re-penetrating, detoxification, and re-clearing, often using a self-made modified Qingre Xiaozheng Decoction. In the middle and late stages of DKD, the focus shifts to clearing heat, eliminating zheng, strengthening vital qi, and dispelling turbidity, with commonly used treatments including the self-made modified Xiezhuo Xiaozheng Formula, Jingui Shenqi Pill, and Zhenwu Decoction.

Objective:To assess the value of artificial intelligence（AI）assisted system in the diagnosis of malignancy in follicular thyroid tumours，and to compare with the diagnostic results of doctors with different levels of experience.Methods:A total of 101 nodules were retrospectively collected from 86 patients with follicular thyroid tumours who underwent surgical treatment at Peking Union Medical College Hospital，Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences，Peking Union Medical College from May 2016 to January 2018.The nodules were classified into risk group（29 patients，34 nodules，including 15 follicular carcinomas and 19 follicular tumours of indeterminable malignant potential）and benign group（59 atients，67 nodules，including 15 follicular adenomas and 52 nodular goitre adenomatoid hyperplasia）. The sensitivities，specificities and accuracies of the AI system，two doctors of different seniorities（one junior A and one senior B），and guidelines of thyroid ultrasound malignancy risk stratification［including the 2015 American Thyroid Guidelines（ATA），the 2017 American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System（ACR TI-RADS），the 2020 Chinese Society of Ultrasound，Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System（C-TIRADS）］（classified by a senior doctor C）for diagnosing follicular tumours in the risk group and follicular carcinomas were calculated and compared.Results:The AI system showed a sensitivity of 46.7%，specificity of 89.6% and accuracy of 81.7% for diagnosing follicular carcinoma；and a sensitivity of 32.4%，specificity of 89.6% and accuracy of 70.3% for diagnosing follicular neoplasms（risk group）. Compared with junior doctor A，the specificity of AI system in diagnosing follicular cancer and follicular neoplasms（risk group）was higher（89.6% vs. 83.6%， P=0.020；89.6% vs. 73.1%， P=0.020），and the differences of sensitivity were not significant（46.7% vs. 32.4%， P=0.181；32.4% vs. 11.8%， P=0.073）. The difference of sensitivity and specificity were not statistically significant between the AI system and senior doctor B（all P＞0.05）.The differences in area under the curve for diagnosis of follicular carcinoma and follicular tumour（risk group）were not statistically significant between the AI system compared to junior doctor A，senior doctor B，the C-TIRADS，ATA guideline，and ACR TI-RADS（all P＞0.05）. Conclusions:Ultrasound-based AI-assisted diagnostic system is similarly efficient in diagnosing follicular thyroid tumours as experienced doctors，and the AI system diagnostic specificity is superior to that of junior doctors.

B lymphocytes (B cells) play a complex and paradoxical role in tumorigenesis. They can recognize tumor-associated antigens, present these antigens to T cells, and produce antibodies that directly target and eliminate tumor cells. This makes B cells a potentially powerful ally in combating cancer. However, B cells also exhibit immunosuppressive functions, secreting cytokines like IL-10 or generating tumor-promoting antibodies that dampen the anti-tumor immune response, and some tumor cells have even been shown to exploit B cells to promote their growth and metastasis. This dual nature of B cells presents both opportunities and challenges for tumor immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms underlying the multifaceted functions of B cells and their current applications in cancer immunotherapy. Furthermore, we also explore the key issues and future directions in this field, emphasizing the need for further research to fully harness the anti-tumor potential of B cells in the fight against cancer.
Humans ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology* ; Neoplasms/therapy* ; Carcinogenesis/immunology* ; Immunotherapy/methods* ; Animals

BACKGROUND:Cellular pyroptosis is an important pathological mechanism of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.Buyang Huanwu Tang is a classic formula for the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke in traditional Chinese medicine,and cellular pyroptosis may be an effective target of Buyang Huanwu Tang in the treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect and mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Tang on pyroptosis in brain tissues of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion rats.METHODS:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,Astragalus membranaceus group and Buyang Huanwu Tang group.Except for the sham operation group,all groups were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion for ischemia for 2 hours and reperfusion for 72 hours.The rats in the Astragalus membranaceus group and Buyang Huanwu Tang group were continuously gavaged with the corresponding volume of drugs until ischemia and reperfusion for 72 hours after awakening from the modeling,once in the morning and once in the evening.Zea Longa score was used to observe the neurological deficits of rats.TTC staining was performed to observe cerebral infarct size in rats.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the brain tissue.Immunofluorescence was used to observe the co-expression of Tunel and Cleaved-Caspase-1 in the brain tissue and the expression of the junction protein ASC.Immunohistochemistry and western blot were used to detect the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins in rat brain tissues.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the sham operation group,the neurological deficit score of rats was significantly higher in the model group(P<0.01),and compared with the model group,the neurological deficit score of rats was significantly lower in the Buyang Huanwu Tang group and the Astragalus membranaceus group(P<0.01).(2)Compared with the model group,the volume ratio of cerebral infarction was lower in the Astragalus membranaceus group and Buyang Huanwu Tang group(P<0.01).(3)In the model group,the nuclei of neuronal cells in the brain tissue were deeply stained or lysed,and arrangement of the cells was disorganized.Compared with the model group,the pathologic damage of the brain was less severe in the Buyang Huanwu Tang group and the Astragalus membranaceus group.(4)Compared with the sham operation group,the number of Tunel and Cleaved-Caspase-1 double-positive cells and immunofluorescence intensity of ASC in the brain tissue was significantly increased in the model group,and the expression of Cleaved-Caspase-1,NLRP3,interleukin 18,and interleukin 1β was significantly elevated in the model group(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the number of Cleaved-Caspase-1 and Tunel double-positive cells,immunofluorescence intensity of ASC,and the expression of Cleaved-Caspase-1,NLRP3,interleukin 18,and interleukin 1β were all significantly decreased in the Buyang Huanwu Tang group and the Astragalus membranaceus group(P<0.01).The results indicate that Buyang Huanwu Tang and its monarch drug Astragalus membranaceus can effectively alleviate brain tissue injury in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of neuronal cell pyroptosis.

Objective:To investigate the effect of protein tyrosine phosphatase D(PTPRD)demethylation on the proliferation,migration,and chemoresistance of gastric cancer(GC)cells through the phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin(PI3K/Akt/mTOR)pathway.Methods:The gastric cancer MKN-74 and MKN-45 cells,as well as human gastric mucosal epithelial GES-1 cells,GES-1 were cultured in vitro and PTPRD expression was detected.MKN-45 cells and their drug-resistant variant MKN-45/5-FU cells were routinely cultured and transfected with various vectors:PTPRD empty vector(NC group,NC/5-FU group),PTPRD overexpressing adenovirus(PTPRD group,PTPRD/5-FU group),shRNA empty vector(sh-NC group,sh-NC/5-FU group),shRNA PTPRD lentivirus(sh-PTPRD group,sh-PTPRD/5-FU group),and PTPRD overexpressing adenovirus+10 μmol/L 740Y-P treatment(PTPRD+740Y-P group,PTPRD+740Y-P/5-FU group).MTT assay and wound healing assay were used to assess cell proliferation and migration.Cell autophagy levels were assessed using autophagy assay,and the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway related proteins was detected using western blot(WB).MKN-45 cells were treated with 0,2.5,5,10,20 and 40 μmol/L 5-aza solutions,and the PTPRD mRNA expression and cell proliferation in MKN-45 cells were detected using qPCR and MTT assays.Results:PTPRD mRNA and protein were significantly downregulated in gastric cancer cells(P<0.05).Compared with the MKN-45 group,the numbers of autophagosomes and autophagosomes,as well as the protein expression of PTPRD,E-cadherin,and BAX significantly increased in the PTPRD group(all P<0.05),while cell proliferation,migration rate,and protein expression of p-PI3K,vimentin,p-Akt,and p-mTOR decreased significantly(all P<0.05);However,in the sh-PTPRD group,cell proliferation activity,migration rate,and protein expression of p-PI3K,vimentin,p-Akt,and p-mTOR increased notably,while the quantity of autophagosomes,autophagosomes,and protein expression of PTPRD,E-cadherin,and BAX decreased(all P<0.05).Compared with the PTPRD group,the PTPRD+740Y-P group showed an increase in cell proliferation activity,migration rate,protein expression of p-PI3K,vimentin,p-Akt,and p-mTOR(all P<0.05),and a decrease in number of autophagosomes,autophagosomes,and protein expression of PTPRD,E-cadherin,and BAX(all P<0.05).With the increase of 5-aza concentration,the mRNA expression of PTPRD in MKN-45 cells increased(P<0.05),while the cell proliferation activity decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the MKN-45/5-FU group,the cell migration rate and proliferation activity decreased in PTPRD/5-FU group,while the sh-PTPRD/5-FU group showed an increase in cell migration rate and proliferation activity(all P<0.05).Compared with the PTPRD/5-FU group,the PTPRD+740Y-P/5-FU group showed an increase in cell migration rate and proliferation activity(all P<0.05).Conclusion:PTPRD is downregulated in GC cells,and its demethylation may inhibit proliferation and migration of GC cells and enhance chemosensitivity by suppressing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Objective To explore the microstructural alterations in the white matter of patients with Parkinson's disease(PD)with depression(PD-D)by Tract-based Spatial Statistics(TBSS),with the aim of identifying neuroimaging biomarkers for early diagnosis.Methods Participants with PD were recruited from the Parkinson Progression Marker Initiative database and categorized into PD-D group(n=50)and PD without depression(PD-ND)group(n=31)based on the Geriatric Depression Scale(GDS-15).Age-and gender-matched healthy volunteers were also included in healthy control(HC)group(n=23).All subjects underwent brain MRI-DTI scans.TBSS was utilized to compare fractional anisotropy(FA),mean diffusivity(MD),axial diffusivity(AD),and radial diffusivity(RD)values among groups and to perform Pearson correlation analysis with clinical PD data.Results Compared with HC group,FA values were significantly reduced and MD values were significantly increased in bilateral cingulate(hippocampus),crus,parahippocampal,inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus,inferior longitudinal fasciculus,uncinate fasciculus,superior longitudinal fasciculus(SLF),SLF(temporal),thalamic radiation and corticospinal tract of PD-D group(all P＜0.05).Compared with PD-ND group,MD values were significantly higher in the left cingulum(cingulate gyrus),left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus,left SLF,left SLF(temporal),left thalamic radiation and left corticospinal tract of PD-D group,while AD values were significantly higher in the left SLF of PD-D group(all P＜0.05).Correlation analysis revealed that AD values in the left SLF were positively correlated with Epworth sleepiness scale score and GDS-15 score(r=0.192,P=0.043;r=0.443,P＜0.01).MD values in the differential brain regions were negatively correlated with Montreal cognitive assessment scale scores(r=-0.187,P=0.047)and positively correlated with GDS-15 scores(r=0.485,P＜0.01).Conclusion This study demonstrate that TBSS can reveal microstructural changes in the brains of PD-D patients,which may serve as neuroimaging biomarkers and provide guidance for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Based on WANG Xugao's"thirty liver-regulating methods,"this paper summarized the clinical thinking of treating diabetic kidney disease from the liver.The liver is closely associated with the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease,including internal heat,essence depletion,latent wind,and the accumulation and dissipation of a conglomeration of kidney collateral zhengjia.WANG Xugao's"thirty liver-regulating methods"comprehensively reveals the physiological and pathological changes of the liver,as well as clinical approaches for liver treatment.Liver qi stagnation can lead to the generation of internal heat,liver stagnation and deficiency can cause essence depletion and collateral obstruction,and disharmony of the liver wood can cause internal wind disturbance,which all contribute to the progression of diabetic kidney disease at different stages.Treatment generally follows the essence of"thirty liver-regulating methods."In the early stage,treatment should focus on treating liver heat by soothing the liver qi,clearing the liver fire,and removing damp-heat to resolve stagnation and heat.In the middle stage,treatment should focus on treating liver deficiency by nourishing the liver yin to clear heat,replenishing the essence and blood to tonify deficiency,and promoting blood circulation to remove stasis,thereby strengthening the foundation and nurturing the primal essence.In the later stage,treatment should focus on treating liver wind to prevent complications and improve the patient's quality of life.Throughout the entire process,liver collaterals are treated using pungent herbs to invigorate qi and open the liver channels,relieving blood stasis and promoting circulation.In conjunction with the above methods,flexible selection of effective formulas and drug pairs should be used,each addressing specific treatment goals.

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD),a prevalent complication of diabetes mellitus,remains a leading cause of end-stage renal disease.Recent research has identified lipophagy,a novel mechanism in DKD pathogenesis,drawing increasing attention in the field.This paper explores the biological connotation of the"internal heat leading to Zheng"pathogenesis based on lipophagy.The study proposes that lipophagy represents the microscopic biological correlation of liver-spleen coordination in regulating spleen transport and the ascending-descending dynamics of the middle jiao.Under persistent hyperglycemia,the suppression of lipophagic activity mirrors the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)pathophysiological process described as"excessive fire consuming healthy qi,"whereas aberrant lipid accumulation in the kidney corresponds to the dynamic aggregation and dispersion of micro-zhengjia.Lipotoxicity,a key driver of DKD progression,is interpreted as the biological manifestation of accumulated turbidity transforming into toxicity,resulting in progressive impairment of renal essence and function.The dynamic process of lipophagy dysfunction under hyperglycemia,marked by renal microangiopathy,glomerular and tubular dysfunction,and renal fibrosis,closely mirrors the pathological evolution of"micro-zhengjia"and"internal heat leading to Zheng."Consequently,TCM strategies for DKD prevention and treatment should emphasize heat regulation,stage-specific interventions,liver-spleen harmonization,metabolic modulation,early collateral protection,and blood-activating approaches.