Neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), cerebral ischemia, and multiple sclerosis (MS), impose an escalating global health burden and remain largely incurable. These disorders arise from multifactorial and interconnected pathological processes, such as chronic neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, protein misfolding and aggregation, demyelination, and neurovascular dysfunction. Despite substantial advances in elucidating disease-associated molecular mechanisms, current therapeutic strategies are predominantly symptomatic and fail to effectively halt or reverse disease progression. This limitation highlights the urgent need to identify endogenous regulatory molecules capable of coordinating neuronal survival, synaptic maintenance, inflammatory control, and tissue repair within the central nervous system (CNS). Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a heparin-binding, growth-associated cytokine that has emerged as a key regulator of neural development, plasticity, and regeneration. Structurally, PTN contains multiple high-affinity heparin-binding domains that facilitate interactions with extracellular matrix components and cell surface proteoglycans, enabling spatially restricted and context-dependent signaling. Through these molecular properties, PTN functions as a multifunctional organizer of neural growth, plasticity, and tissue remodeling across developmental and adult stages. Its diverse biological effects are executed through a multi-receptor signaling system that integrates extracellular cues with intracellular programs governing cellular survival, migration, and differentiation. Notably, PTN displays a highly dynamic and cell type-specific expression pattern in the central nervous system, being enriched in neural progenitor cells during development and later restricted to discrete neuronal populations, neural stem cells, and non-neuronal niche cells—including astrocytes, pericytes, and vascular endothelial cells—which serve as critical sources of PTN under physiological and pathological conditions. PTN expression is tightly regulated during development and exhibits pronounced plasticity in response to pathological stimuli. Under physiological conditions, PTN is transiently expressed during critical windows of neural growth and synaptogenesis, supporting neuron-glia interactions and myelin formation. In contrast, in pathological contexts such as amyloid β-protein (Aβ) accumulation in AD, dopaminergic neuron degeneration in PD, demyelination in MS, and ischemic brain injury, PTN expression is frequently dysregulated, suggesting an active role in disease-associated remodeling rather than a passive bystander effect. Importantly, accumulating evidence indicates that PTN exerts a dual and context-dependent influence on neurological disorders. On the one hand, aberrant PTN signaling may contribute to maladaptive responses, including sustained glial activation, dysregulated neuroinflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and enhanced Aβ deposition. On the other hand, PTN displays robust neuroprotective and reparative functions by promoting neuronal survival, enhancing oligodendrocyte maturation and remyelination, and stimulating post-injury angiogenesis, thereby facilitating tissue repair and functional recovery. At the mechanistic level, PTN signaling is characterized by extensive cross-talk among receptor-dependent pathways. Activation of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) triggers canonical PI3K-AKT-mTOR and MAPK cascades that support neuronal survival and axonal integrity. PTN binding to protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z1 (PTPRZ1) induces conformational inhibition of its phosphatase activity, resulting in increased phosphorylation of downstream effectors such as β-catenin, Fyn, and Src, which regulate neuronal migration and synaptic stabilization. Syndecan-3 (SDC3) functions as both a co-receptor and an independent signaling mediator by capturing extracellular PTN, amplifying ALK- and PTPRZ1-dependent signaling, and directly modulating cytoskeletal dynamics through PKC and ERK pathways. In parallel, PTN interaction with αVβ3 integrin contributes to remodeling of the neurovascular niche, linking angiogenesis with neurogenesis and neural repair. From a translational perspective, therapeutic strategies targeting PTN can be broadly classified into 3 categories: direct enhancement of PTN signaling through exogenous protein supplementation or gene therapy-mediated upregulation, pharmacological modulation of PTN-associated receptor pathways and downstream signaling nodes, and exploitation of PTN as a dynamic biomarker to inform disease stratification and therapeutic responsiveness. These complementary approaches underscore the growing interest in PTN-centered interventions across a spectrum of neurological disorders. In summary, PTN functions not merely as a classical trophic factor but as a central signaling hub integrating inflammatory regulation, neural regeneration, and vascular remodeling within the CNS. This review aims to synthesize current insights into PTN’s molecular architecture, multi-receptor signaling mechanisms, and disease-specific functions, and to highlight emerging therapeutic strategies targeting PTN. By conceptualizing PTN as a dynamic modulator of neuronal resilience rather than a static biomarker, we propose that precise modulation of PTN signaling may offer promising avenues for therapeutic development in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases.

Purpose To explore the role and mechanism by which the forkhead box C1(FOXC1)promoter up-stream transcript(FOXCUT)regulates proliferation and invasion of non-small cell lung carcinoma(NSCLC)cells.Methods Bioinformatic analysis and RT-qPCR were used to quantify FOXCUT expression in NSCLC tissues.After FOXCUT knockdown in NSCLC cell lines,cell proliferation was examined using CCK-8 and EdU assays,and invasion was evaluated by Transwell assay.The expression of E-cadherin,vimentin,N-cadherin,and FOXC1 was detected by Western blot.FOXCUT-silenced H460 cells were constructed using lentiviruses and subcutaneously injected into nude mice to observe tumor growth.To rescue FOXC1 expression,an FOXC1 expression plasmid was transfected into FOX-CUT-knockdown cells.LncBook 2.0,ENCORI,and TargetScan databases were queried to predict miRNAs that inter-act with FOXCUT and FOXC1.Results FOXCUT expression was significantly higher in NSCLC tissues than in normal lung tissues(normal:0.24±0.22 vs NSCLC:0.68±0.76,t=5.94,P＜0.001),and patients with high FOXCUT expression had a poorer prognosis(P＜0.01).FOXCUT interference markedly repressed NSCLC cells' proliferation and invasion(P＜0.01).FOXCUT knockdown significantly upregulated E-cadherin and downregulated vimentin and N-cadherin(P＜0.01).In vivo,FOXCUT-silenced cells formed significantly smaller tumors in nude mice(P＜0.01).FOXCUT knockdown markedly reduced FOXC1 expression(P＜0.01).Overexpression of FOXC1 in FOX-CUT-depleted cells rescued cell proliferation(P＜0.01).Bioinformatic analysis identified 8 miRNAs potentially co-regulated by FOXCUT and FOXC1.Conclusion Knockdown of FOXCUT restrains NSCLC cell proliferation and inva-sion,possibly through suppression of FOXC1 expression.

Objective:To construct the inflammation score(IS)and nutrition-immunity score(NIS)for patients with multiple myeloma(MM),and to verify their prognostic stratification effects and significance.Methods:The clinical data of 129 newly diagnosed MM patients admitted to our hospital from August 2011 to September 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis of overall survival(OS)were comducted on clinical parameters,including inflammatory indicators such as red blood cell volume distribution width(RDW)and platelet count(PLT),nutritional-immune indicators such as albumin(ALB),absolute lymphocyte count(ALC),and suppressed immunoglobulin count(S-Ig count).To construct IS and NIS for prognosis,X-tile software and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to verify the prognostic stratification role and significance of IS and NIS.The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,C-index curve,calibration curve,and decision curve analysis(DCA)were used to evaluate the discrimination,accuracy,and clinical net benefit of IS and NIS in predicting overall survival(OS),and compared to the international staging system(ISS).Results:IS was constructed based on the scores of RDW and PLT,and NIS was constructed based on the scores of ALB,ALC,and S-Ig count.According to X-tile analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis,IS and NIS can divide the patients into three risk strata respectively:low,medium and high IS and NIS groups.The differences in OS and hazard ratio(HR)between the low,medium,and high strata were statistically significant(P＜0.05).IS and NIS are both independent prognostic predictors for MM.The area under the ROC curve(AUC)and C index of IS and NIS for predicting 1-to 7-year OS were greater than those of ISS,and both were greater than 0.7.The prediction results of IS and NIS for 1-,3-,and 5-year OS rates were well consistent with the actual observed results.The DC A curves of IS and NIS for predicting 1-,3-,and 5-year OS were higher than that of ISS in a wide range of threshold probability intervals.Conclusion:IS and NIS have independent predictive significance for OS in MM patients.Their predictive discrimination,accuracy,and clinical net benefit are higher and better than ISS,and they may have potential application value in MM prognosis.

Objective:To construct a Boston matrix-based management model for operational quality of hospital's equipment for diagnosis and treatment,so as to achieve management with comprehensive process for operational quality of them.Methods:Combining evaluation indicators of operational quality of equipment for diagnosis and treatment,the stability and safety were quantified to construct the management model for operational quality of the safety of hospital's equipment for diagnosis and treatment by using the Boston matrix.From January 2023 to January 2024,a total of 300 equipment for diagnosis and treatment in clinical use of JuYe County People's Hospital were enrolled.Using a random number table method,150 equipment adopted conventional management mode,while the other 150 equipment adopted the Boston matrix-based management model for operational quality of hospital's equipment for diagnosis and treatment(Boston matrix management mode)to conduct management.The standardization of test for equipment performance,management quality of operation,and multi-dimensional efficacy scores were compared between the two management modes.A self-designed questionnaire was adopted to investigate satisfactions of engineers,doctors,nurses,and patients for two kinds of management modes,who involved in using equipment.Results:In 150 tests for performance,which adopted Boston matrix-based management mode,the standardization degrees of environmental management,parameter settings,equipment operation and record feedback were respectively 94%,93.33%,92.67%and 92.67%,all of them were significantly higher than those of conventional management mode(x2=12.997,14.361,13.830,12.891,P<0.05).The scores of resource allocation,technical support,information infrastructure,and management performance for equipment were(92.36±3.57),(91.69±4.36),(92.54±3.69)and(93.54±4.36)points in Boston matrix management mode,respectively,and all of them were significantly higher than those in conventional management mode,and the differences were significant(t=18.673,12.439,12.377,12.509,P<0.05).The scores of utilization efficacy,maintenance efficacy,and repair efficacy in using equipment under Boston matrix management mode were all significantly higher than those in conventional management mode,and the differences were significant(t=13.149,12.344,12.864,P<0.05).Satisfaction scores from engineers for equipment,doctors,nurses,and patients for operation of equipment for diagnosis and treatment,which adopted Boston matrix management mode,were all higher than those of adopting conventional management mode,and the differences were significant(t=13.1504,16.064,11.139,13.605,P<0.05).Conclusion:The Boston matrix-based management model for operational quality of hospital's equipment for diagnosis and treatment can be used in the quantitative analysis of safety and stability of equipment,and realize safe management with comprehensive process for equipment,and enhance medical service quality,and improve utilization efficacy of equipment.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel intravascular lithotripsy(IVL)balloon—Vesscrack shockwave balloon—for vascular preparation before stent implantation in patients with severe coronary artery calcification(CAC).Methods This was a prospective,single-arm,multicenter study conducted in China from June 2022 to October 2022.Patients with severe CAC were treated with the Vesscrack shockwave balloon for lesion preparation,followed by drug-eluting stent(DES)implantation.Of these,33 patients underwent optical coherence tomography(OCT).The primary endpoint was procedural success,defined as successful stent implantation with residual stenosis≤30％and the absence of in-hospital major adverse events,including cardiac death,target vessel-related myocardial infarction,or target lesion revascularization.Results A total of 170 patients[mean age:(65.9±7.9)years,116 males]were enrolled.After treatment with IVL and DES,the minimum lumen diameter increased significantly compared to baseline[(2.34±0.40)mm vs.(0.95±0.33)mm,P＜0.001],the degree of stenosis was significantly reduced[(13.24±6.60)％vs.(65.18±10.59)％,P＜0.001].Procedural success was achieved in 100％of cases,and device success was 98.8％.The 30-day patient-related cardiovascular clinical composite endpoint(POCE)rate was 0.0,with no target lesion failure,no confirmed or potential thrombotic events were observed.The shockwave energy generator demonstrated excellent stability and ease of use.Among the 33 patients assessed with OCT,after IVL intervention,the maximum calcified area of the lumen[(3.51±1.51)mm2 vs.(2.85±1.80)mm2,P＜0.001],and the minimum lumen area within the target lesion[(3.08±1.04)mm2 vs.(2.02±0.75)mm2,P＜0.001],and after DES intervention,the luminal area of the largest calcified site[(6.59±1.64)mm2 vs.(2.85±1.80)mm2,P＜0.001]and the minimum luminal area within the target lesion[(6.19±1.45)mm2 vs.(2.02±0.75)mm2,P＜0.001]were significantly increased,and the differences were statistically significant.Conclusions The Vesscrack shockwave balloon is effective and safe for vascular preparation in patients with severe CAC prior to stent implantation.It achieves significant calcified plaque modification,high procedural success rates,and minimal complications.

Objective To explore the effect of exercise-induced fatigue on intra-and interhemispher-ic functional connectivity of the primary motor cortex during unilateral ankle plantar-dorsiflexion.Meth-ods Twenty-four healthy adult males(age:21.6±2.2 years;all right-side dominant)were selected as participants for the study.They ran on a treadmill at an individualized constant speed until fatigue.Fatigue was determined when all the following criteria were met:(1)participants failing to maintain the individualized constant speed despite the strong verbal encouragement from the experimenters;(2)reaching a rating of perceived exertion(RPE)score of at least 19;and(3)their heart rate reaching 90%of their age-predicted maximal heart rate(220-age).Moreover,EEG signals from four channels(C1,C2,C3,and C4)of the primary motor cortex were collected during unilateral ankle dorsi-plan-tarflexion movements before and after fatigue,followed by EEG coherence analyses on the collected da-ta.Results Compared to the pre-fatigue state,the coherence values of the intra-hemispheric primary motor cortex electrode pairs C1-C3 and C2-C4 during unilateral ankle plantar-dorsiflexion decreased significantly in the alpha and gamma bands after fatigue(both P<0.05).Conversely,the value of the interhemispheric primary motor cortex electrode pair C1-C2 increased significantly in the beta band(P<0.05).Conclusion Exercise-induced fatigue significantly weakens the intra-hemispheric functional con-nectivity of the primary motor cortex during unilateral ankle plantar-dorsiflexion.However,it may en-hance the interhemispheric functional connectivity and potentially collaborate to strengthen the regula-tion of fatigued muscles.

Aim To study the difference in hepatotox-icity of psoralen on normal rats and Yin-deficiency rats from the perspective of lipid metabolism,so as to help explain the mechanism of psoralen cautiously used in patients with Yin deficiency recorded in ancient books.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into the nor-mal control group(carboxymethyl cellulose-Na,CMC-Na),normal administration group(CMC-Na+psor-alen),Yin-deficiency control group(CMC-Na+thy-roxine)and Yin-deficiency administration group(CMC-Na+thyroxine+psoralen).The model of Yin-deficiency was established by thyroxine(1 mg·kg-1)for ten days,and then psoralen(200 mg·kg-1)was given for three days.The serum indexes related to liver injury were detected by automatic biochemical analy-zer,the morphological changes of liver tissue were ob-served using HE and oil red O staining,and the relative transcription levels of lipid metabolism related enzymes and mRNA of transporter and endoplasmic reticulum stress related factors were detected using Real-time PCR.Results After intragastric administration of psoralen for three days,compared with the normal group,the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate transaminase(AST),total bile acid(TBA)and triglyeride(TG)in Yin deficiency group increased more significantly,while TC,ALB and TP de-creased more significantly,and liver HE and oil red O staining showed more obvious lipid degeneration.TG synthesis factors adrenocortical carcinoma(ACC),fatty acid synthase(FASN)and sterolregulatory element binding protein-1(SREBP-1)were down-regulated more significantly,TG transport factors mili-total pro-tein(MTP)and lipoprotein pipase(LPL)were down-regulated more evidently,fatty acid β-oxidation related factors carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A(CPT1A),carnitine/organic cation transporter 2(OCTN2)and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors-alpha(PPARα)were down-regulated more apparently,TC transporter adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporter G8(ABCG8)and bile acid receptor farne-soid X receptor(FXR)were down-regulated more ob-viously,and endoplasmic reticulum stress factor activa-ting transcription factor 4(ATF4)was up-regulated more significantly.Conclusions Psoralen can cause more severe hepatotoxicity in Yin deficiency rats than that in normal administration group,and its mechanism may be related to the disorder of hepatic lipid metabo-lism,aggravation of hepatic cholestasis and steatosis,and activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress re-sponse.

In recent years,the post-translational modification in epigenetics has drawn the attention of the researchers,and is expected to become the important direction for tumor pharmacology research in future.Chinese herbal medicine has the advantages of less side effects and better efficacy,and has shown good prospects in the research of prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.This paper outlined the types of post-translational modifications in epigenetics and their roles in the progression of colorectal cancer,and explored the possible mechanisms of single Chinese herbal medicine and Chinese herbal compounds in the treatment of colorectal cancer by influencing post-translational modifications.In the progression of colorectal cancer,the post-translational modifications such as ubiquitination,ubiquitination-like,acetylation,crotonylation and glycylation were involved.The Chinese medicinal active ingredients from Coptidis Rhizoma,Euodiae Fructus,Scutellariae Radix,Curcumae Longae Rhizoma,etc.,and Chinese herbal compounds of Yiliu Decoction and Teng Long Buzhong Decoction have all shown certain effects for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer by participating in post-translational modifications.The in-depth exploration of the therapeutic mechanism of Chinese herbal medicine in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer and the development of new Chinese medicinal preparations from the perspective of post-translational modification are expected to become a new direction for the future research on the mechanism of anti-colorectal cancer and on the application of anti-cancer agents.

Objective To explore the relationship between C-reactive protein/albumin ratio(CAR)and the disease severity in patients with severe pneumonia,and its predictive value for 28-day mortality risk.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 152 patients with severe pneumonia admitted to Fuyang People's Hospital from January 2020 to January 2022.They were divided into non-critical illness group(n=51),critical illness group(n=63),and extremely critical illness group(n=38)based on the disease severity.The clinical data such as age and gender of patients was collected,and Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between CAR and the severity of illness[determined by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)score].Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify independent influencing factors of the severity of illness.According to the survival status of patients after 28 days of treatment,they were divided into survival group(n=107)and death group(n=45).CAR was categorized into quintiles(Q1-Q5),and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the correlation between CAR and 28-day mortality risk in severe pneumonia patients.A restricted cubic spline(RCS)model was used to analyze the dose-response relationship between CAR and mortality risk.The predictive value of CAR and related indicators for patient mortality risk was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC).Results CAR was significantly positively correlated with the severity of the disease(APACHE Ⅱ score)(r=0.716,P<0.05).Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR),blood lactate(Lac),and high CAR were independent risk factors for the disease severity in patients with severe pneumonia(P<0.05).After adjusting for confounding factors,the mortality risk increased with the increase of CAR(P<0.05).Subgroup analysis of the screened confounding factors revealed that the correlation between CAR and 28-day mortality risk in severe pneumonia patients remained stable across different APACHE Ⅱ scores,GCS scores,SOFA scores,white blood cell counts(WBC),neutrophils(NEU),red cell volume distribution width(RDW),procalcitonin(PCT),and Lac,with interactions observed between NLR and Lac subgroups(P<0.05).The RCS model indicated that there was no non-linear dose-response relationship between CAR and 28-day mortality risk in patients with severe pneumonia of different genders.ROC curve analysis showed that CAR,Lac,and NLR had good predictive value for 28-day mortality in severe pneumonia patients,with the combined predictive efficacy being significantly higher than that of individual indicators.Conclusion There is a close relationship between CAR and the progression and prognosis of severe pneumonia,making it a new approach to assessing the severity of illness and predicting mortality risk in patients.

Obesity is a common chronic metabolic disease mainly characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue.Recently,the global prevalence of obesity-related metabolic diseases has increased significantly,seriously affecting the physical and mental health of patients.Adipokines are pleiotropic bioactive substances secreted by adipose tissue,which have physiological functions such as regulating energy metabolism,inflammatory response and insulin sensitivity.Abnormal hyperplasia of adipose tissue can induce chronic inflammatory responses in the body,stimulate the production or secretion disorders of adipokines,and alter glucose and lipid homeostasis,thereby leading to the occurrence and development of obesity-related metabolic diseases.However,the specific mechanism remains unclear.Exercise prescription is a planned exercise guidance program based on the results of the patient's physical fitness test to achieve the expected goal by adopting the prescribed exercise methods.In recent years,previous studies have found that exercise prescriptions can regulate adipokines,thereby preventing and treating obesity-related metabolic disorders,which may become a potential treatment for obesity-related metabolic diseases in clinical practice.This article reviews the mechanism and clinical effect of targeted regulation of adipokines by exercise prescriptions in the treatment of obesity-related metabolic disorders,in order to provide some new ideas and directions for finding new therapies for obesity-related metabolic diseases.