Objective To explore the effect and preliminary mechanism of the plant-derived immunostimulatory molecule,ophiopogonin,on enhancing the immune response of a subunit vaccine with the receptor-binding domain(RBD)of coronavirus spike protein as the antigen.Methods CCK-8 assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of ophiopogonin D'(OPD')on bone marrow-derived dendritic cells(BMDCs).Female Balb/c mice were randomly divided into RBD,RBD/OPD',RBD/Alum,and control groups.The immunization dose was 5 μg of antigen per mouse and 100 μg of adjuvant per mouse,and immunization was carried out according to the intramuscular injection immunization procedure on days 0,21,and 42.The titers of specific IgG and its subtype antibodies were detected by ELISA.The cytokine levels in the supernatant of splenocytes were detected using ELISA.The number of splenocytes secreting IFN-γ was detected by ELISpot.Laser confocal microscopy was employed to observe the uptake of antigen by BMDCs.The phagocytic ability of BMDCs for antigen was quantitatively analyzed by flow cytometry.The mechanism of its enhanced immune effect was preliminarily explored using transcriptomics technology combined with bioinformatics research.Results When the concentration of OPD'was less than 5 μg/mL,the survival rate of BMDCs was 100%.After a single intramuscular injection in mice,except for a slight decrease in body weight,the other biochemical indicators were within corresponding normal ranges.After intramuscular injection immunization of the vaccine,the titers of serum-specific IgG,IgG1,and IgG2a in the RBD/OPD'group were significantly higher than those in the RBD group(P<0.05).Compared with the RBD group,the RBD/OPD'group induced a high-level Th1 cell immune response of IL-1β,TNF-α,and IFN-γ(P<0.01)and had more lymphocytes secreting IFN-γ(P<0.001).Laser confocal microscopy displayed that BMDCs took up more antigens after OPD'treatment,which was further confirmed with flow cytometry in quantitative analysis on antigen uptake rate(P<0.01).Transcriptomics results indicated that there was more significant enrichment of the PPAR signaling pathway in the RBD/OPD'group than the RBD group,suggesting that OPD'may activate the PPAR signaling pathway to exert its adjuvant effect.Conclusion OPD'effectively enhances the immune response of the RBD subunit vaccine,and its action mechanism may be related to the activation of the PPAR signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate genetic findings and pregnancy outcomes in fetuses with omphalocele.Methods:This retrospective study analyzed data from 502 fetuses with prenatally diagnosed omphalocele who underwent genetic testing at Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center and Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region between January 2014 and March 2024. Testing methods included karyotyping, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, and whole-exome sequencing (WES). Cases were categorized as non-isolated ( n=340) or isolated ( n=162) based on ultrasound findings. Differences in genetic abnormality detection rates and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test, independent samples t-test, and Chi-square test (or Fisher's exact test). Results:Among 502 fetuses, karyotyping plus CMA detected chromosomal abnormalities in 223 cases (44.4%, 223/502), including trisomy 18 (57.0%, 127/223) and trisomy 13 (23.3%, 52/223). CMA additionally identified nine pathogenic copy number variations (1.8%, 9/502) and five uniparental disomies (1.0%, 5/502), increasing the total diagnostic yield from 44.4% to 47.2%. The genetic abnormality rate was significantly lower in isolated (14.8%, 24/162) versus non-isolated omphalocele (64.7%, 220/340) ( χ2=109.34, P<0.001). WES detected variants in nine of 16 karyotype/CMA-negative cases, including five pathogenic variants involving PIK3CA and CDKN1C. Eight imprinting disorders (1.6%, 8/502) were identified, including five Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome cases. Among 499 cases with follow-up, 401 (80.4%, 401/499) underwent pregnancy termination. Live birth rate was higher in isolated versus non-isolated groups [42.5% (69/162) vs. 8.5% (29/340), χ2=77.67, P<0.001]. Three cases were lost to follow-up. The one-year survival rate was 93.9% (92/98) in live-born infants. Conclusion:Aneuploidy (particularly trisomy 18) is the primary genetic etiology of omphalocele. CMA and WES significantly improve diagnostic yield. Isolated omphalocele has a more favorable prognosis, while non-isolated cases show significantly higher genetic abnormality rates. A stratified testing strategy is recommended: karyotyping plus CMA for isolated cases and prioritization of WES for multiple anomalies.

Numerous research conducted in recent years has revealed that gut microbial dysbiosis, such as modifications in composition and activity, might influence lung tissue homeostasis through specific pathways, thereby promoting susceptibility to lung diseases. The development and progression of lung cancer, as well as the effectiveness of immunotherapy are closely associated with gut flora and metabolites, which influence immunological and inflammatory responses. During abnormal proliferation, non-small cell lung cancer cells acquire more substances and energy by altering their own metabolic pathways. Glucose and amino acid metabolism reprogramming provide tumor cells with abundant ATP, carbon, and nitrogen sources, respectively, providing optimal conditions for tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and immune escape. This article reviews the relationship of immune response with gut flora and metabolic reprogramming in non-small cell lung cancer, and discusses the potential mechanisms by which gut flora and metabolic reprogramming affect the occurrence, development, and immunotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer, in order to provide new ideas for precision treatment of lung cancer patients.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/therapy* ; Lung Neoplasms/therapy* ; Immunotherapy ; Metabolic Reprogramming

This study systematically analyzed the global research landscape, technological composition, and core patents in the field of networks target and network pharmacology, and proposes further suggestions based on the IncoPat patent citation database and VOSviewer bibliometric network visualization tool. Using patent literature metrics and scientific knowledge mapping method, technological innovation pathways, research hotspots, and future directions in this field were further revealed. In particular, this field is moving towards data-driven, intelligent, and systematic approaches. Patent analysis indicated that most patent applications in this domain focused on traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), which have provided key engineering technical approaches to explore and solve complex problems of TCM. By integrating big data and artificial intelligence technologies, network targets and network pharmacology have conferred high-precision screening and quality control of key components and targets in herbal formulations and prescriptions, accelerating the clinical translation and industrialization of TCM-based new drugs and health products with medicine-food homology. Therefore, it is essential to optimize the patent protection system and establish integrated technology platforms in this field for ensuring the competitiveness of technological achievements in research and clinical application. These efforts will advance the widespread application and high-quality development of TCM modernization, precision medicine, and innovative drug discovery.
Bibliometrics ; Patents as Topic ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Network Pharmacology/trends* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*

Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of automatic pressure-controlled pressure cupping in patients with lumbar disc herniation, and compare it with traditional cupping. METHODS: A total of 100 patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation from January 2022 to August 2024 were selected and divided into two groups:the automatic pressure-controlled pressure cupping group (controlled pressure cupping group) and the traditional cupping group (control group), 50 cases in each group. In the controlled pressure cupping group, there were 18 males and 32 females, with an age of (51.98±12.69) years;in the control group, there were 16 males and 34 females, with an age of (51.32±12.05) years. The visual analogue scale(VAS), comfort score, and lumbar range of motion were observed before treatment and after the 1st, 3rd, and 7th treatments to evaluate the efficacy and safety. RESULTS: All patients completed the treatment intervention, with complete follow-up data collected. No adverse reactions or complications occurred during treatment and follow-up. After the 3rd treatment, the VAS score of the controlled pressure cupping group was (2.38±0.49), which was lower than that of the control group (2.94±0.68), with a statistically significant difference (P<0.001). In the controlled pressure cupping group, the VAS scores after the 1st, 3rd, and 7th treatments were significantly better than those before treatment (P=0.026);in the control group, the VAS scores after the 3rd and 7th treatments were better than those before treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant(P=0.182). Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) on VAS scores at different time points in both groups showed that there were statistically significant differences in inter-group, time, and interaction effects (P<0.05). After the 1st treatment, in the controlled pressure cupping group, 0 patients felt comfortable, 42 patients (84%) felt mild discomfort, and 8 patients (16%) felt moderate discomfort;in the control group, 0 patients felt comfortable, 28 patients (56%) felt mild discomfort, and 22 patients(44%) felt moderate discomfort;the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.005). After the 3rd treatment, in the controlled pressure cupping group, 30 patients(60%) felt comfortable, 20 patients (40%) felt mild discomfort, and 0 patients felt moderate discomfort; in the control group, 9 patients (18%) felt comfortable, 41 patients (82%) felt mild discomfort, and 0 patients felt moderate discomfort;the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in comfort between the two groups after the 7th treatment(P>0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in lumbar range of motion between the two groups before and after treatment(P>0.05);compared with before treatment, the lumbar range of motion of both groups after treatment was significantly improved, with statistically significant differences (P<0.001). CONCLUSION Automatic pressure-controlled pressure cupping can effectively relieve symptoms in patients with lumbar disc herniation, with excellent safety.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Lumbar Vertebrae/physiopathology* ; Cupping Therapy/methods* ; Pressure ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Aim To explore the key components and mechanisms of Lizhong decoction in treating rats with cold-damp diarrhea based on network pharmacology,molecular docking technology and animal experiments.Methods By literature review and database collec-tion,the components of Lizhong decoction,therapeutic targets,and the mapping with diarrhea disease targets were conducted to construct an intersection target pro-tein-protein interaction network for screening core tar-gets,and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was performed to build an"active component-target-pathway"network,followed by molecular docking vali-dation.Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into the normal control group(K),model group(DG),Lizhong decoction group(LZDG),and Pulsatilla decoction group(BTDG).Subsequently,a rat cold-damp diar-rhea model was established using Senna combined with low-temperature high-humidity environment,and the rats were intervened with Lizhong decoction and Pul-satilla decoction.HE staining was used to detect path-ological changes in intestinal tissue,ELISA was em-ployed to measure the levels of peripheral blood IL-6,IL-10,IL-1 β,and TNF-α,and western blot was used to determine the expression of colon tight junction pro-teins.Results Network pharmacology initially identi-fied 125 compounds in Lizhong decoction,5 186 drug target components,438 disease targets,and 60"drug-disease"shared targets.GO and KEGG enrichment a-nalysis showed that signaling pathways such as IL-17 and TNF were highly enriched.Molecular docking in-dicated that the core components of the drug had good binding activity with corresponding key targets.Liz-hong decoction could effectively improve the clinical symptoms of rats with cold-damp diarrhea,and com-pared with the DG group,the diarrhea rate,diarrhea in-dex,and other related indicators also gradually de-creased to normal levels.Compared with the DG group,the LZDG group showed reduced inflammation levels and a recovery in energy metabolism levels.Conclusion It can regulate targets such as MMP9 and IL-17 signaling pathways through multi-components like Calycosin and formononetin to exert its therapeutic effect on cold-damp diarrhea.

Objective:This study investigated the expression level of phosphatidylserine-specific phospholipase A1(PLA1A)in colorectal can-cer(CRC)and analyzed its correlations with clinicopathological features,prognosis,and immune infiltration.Methods:The expression level of PLA1A in CRC was screened,and the influence of this expression level on patient prognosis was analyzed using bioinformatics methods.A cohort of 192 patients diagnosed with CRC at Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital from January to December 2020 were selected.The PLA1A ex-pression level in those with CRC was determined using immunohistochemistry(IHC)and real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR(RT-qPCR).The relationship between PLA1A level and the clinicopathological features of the patients with CRC was analyzed using the chi-square test.The expression levels of immune cell markers CD4 and CD8 as well as immunosuppressive checkpoints PD-1,TIM-3,and CTLA-4 in CRC were detected via IHC,and their correlations with PLA1A level were analyzed using the chi-square test.Results:The results of bioinformatics analysis showed that the expression level of PLA1A in CRC tissue was higher than paracancerous tissue,which correlated with overall surviv-al(OS)(P<0.05).The IHC and RT-qPCR results showed that PLA1A expression level was significantly upregulated in CRC tissiue(P<0.05).High PLA1A level was closely associated with the TNM stage,degree of differentiation,and lymph node metastasis(P<0.05).The IHC results demonstrated that PLA1A positively correlated with the infiltrating CD8+T cell level(P<0.05).In addition,the elevated PLA1A levels upregu-lated the expressions of immunosuppressive checkpoints PD-1,TIM-3,and CTLA-4(P<0.05).Conclusions:PLA1A is highly expressed in CRC,which is closely related to immune infiltrating cells and immunosuppressive checkpoints,suggesting that PLA1A plays an important role in immune infiltration in CRC,a finding that provides guidance in the treatment of CRC.