ObjectiveThis study systematically analyzed the arginine metabolic dysregulation in the rat model of heart failure （HF）， providing a modern scientific basis for elucidating the pathogenesis of HF and offering new insights for the prevention and treatment of HF with traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. MethodsA thoracotomy was performed to ligate the left anterior descending coronary artery of rats， which induced acute myocardial ischemia and thus led to the development of post-myocardial infarction heart failure. The rats were divided into a sham surgery group and a model group， with eight rats in each group. Serum targeted metabolomics analysis was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry （UPLC-TQ-S）， and the spatial distribution of metabolites in cardiac tissue was observed using airflow-assisted desorption electrospray ionizationmass spectrometry imaging （AFADESI-MSI）. Targets associated with HF and arginine metabolism were screened from databases including GeneCards and the Gene Expression Omnibus （GEO）， a protein-protein interaction （PPI） network was constructed， and enrichment analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway and Gene Ontology （GO） was performed. Finally， molecular docking was conducted to verify the binding between core metabolic components and key targets， and potential TCMs were predicted based on the core pathways and targets. ResultsCompared with the sham surgery group， the levels of arginine and citrulline in the serum of model rats were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while those of proline， ornithine， creatine， creatinine and glutamate were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Cardiac mass spectrometry imaging showed a decreased abundance of arginine in the local myocardial tissue. Bioinformatics analysis identified 24 core functional targets， such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme （ACE）， neuronal nitric oxide synthase （NOS1）， 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A （HTR2A）， and epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR）， and enrichment analysis indicated that these targets were significantly involved in the calcium signaling pathway， neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions， and phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding activities between arginine， citrulline and HTR2A， as well as between creatine， creatinine and EGFR. Based on pathway-target prediction， potential TCM interventions， such as ginseng and magnolia， were identified. ConclusionThis study revealed characteristic arginine metabolic disorder in HF， and the core targets of HF were closely associated with the phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway. It provides a modern biological interpretation of the pathogenesis of HF in TCM from the perspectives of metabolites and signaling pathways， and offers valuable insights for targeted therapy of HF and the development of TCM.

ObjectiveThis study systematically analyzed the arginine metabolic dysregulation in the rat model of heart failure （HF）， providing a modern scientific basis for elucidating the pathogenesis of HF and offering new insights for the prevention and treatment of HF with traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. MethodsA thoracotomy was performed to ligate the left anterior descending coronary artery of rats， which induced acute myocardial ischemia and thus led to the development of post-myocardial infarction heart failure. The rats were divided into a sham surgery group and a model group， with eight rats in each group. Serum targeted metabolomics analysis was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry （UPLC-TQ-S）， and the spatial distribution of metabolites in cardiac tissue was observed using airflow-assisted desorption electrospray ionizationmass spectrometry imaging （AFADESI-MSI）. Targets associated with HF and arginine metabolism were screened from databases including GeneCards and the Gene Expression Omnibus （GEO）， a protein-protein interaction （PPI） network was constructed， and enrichment analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway and Gene Ontology （GO） was performed. Finally， molecular docking was conducted to verify the binding between core metabolic components and key targets， and potential TCMs were predicted based on the core pathways and targets. ResultsCompared with the sham surgery group， the levels of arginine and citrulline in the serum of model rats were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while those of proline， ornithine， creatine， creatinine and glutamate were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Cardiac mass spectrometry imaging showed a decreased abundance of arginine in the local myocardial tissue. Bioinformatics analysis identified 24 core functional targets， such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme （ACE）， neuronal nitric oxide synthase （NOS1）， 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A （HTR2A）， and epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR）， and enrichment analysis indicated that these targets were significantly involved in the calcium signaling pathway， neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions， and phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding activities between arginine， citrulline and HTR2A， as well as between creatine， creatinine and EGFR. Based on pathway-target prediction， potential TCM interventions， such as ginseng and magnolia， were identified. ConclusionThis study revealed characteristic arginine metabolic disorder in HF， and the core targets of HF were closely associated with the phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway. It provides a modern biological interpretation of the pathogenesis of HF in TCM from the perspectives of metabolites and signaling pathways， and offers valuable insights for targeted therapy of HF and the development of TCM.

Objective:To evaluate the imaging stability of a portable boom-type ophthalmic ultra-high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) device in multiple application scenarios.Methods:The boom-type mode and handheld mode of the portable boom-type OCT and the desktop OCT were used to perform three-dimensional imaging tests on three healthy adults undergoing physical examinations at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University as well as on OEMI-7 model eyes in a sitting position.The same two modes of the portable boom-type OCT were used to perform three-dimensional imaging on four awake non-sedated infants, two sedated infants and four healthy adults in the supine position.The obtained 3D imaging data were processed using a correlation analysis method between adjacent B-scans, and the offset of B-scan in the axial (z-axis) and the fast axis transverse (x-axis) were calculated.The procedures for in vivo human eye experiments followed the Declaration of Helsinki and were approved by the Ethics Committee of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University (No.2020 KYPJ154).All subjects and infant guardians signed the informed consent form. Results:Compared with the handheld imaging mode, the axial and fast axis lateral motion offsets of the model eye were significantly reduced in the boom-type imaging mode from (124.00±12.49)μm to (48.00±15.87)μm and from (24.00±1.00)μm to (2.67±0.57)μm, respectively ( t=2.932, 4.337; both P<0.001).In both human and model eyes, the axial and fast axis lateral motion offsets of the boom-type mode were significantly lower than in the traditional handheld operation mode (both P<0.001).The axial and lateral motion offsets between the boom-type mode and desk-top OCT imaging were comparable, without significant differences (both P>0.05).In both sedated and awake, non-sedated infants in the supine position, the axial offset of the portable boom-type OCT system was similar to that of the healthy adults, without significant difference in the overall comparison ( P=0.385), and the lateral offsets were higher than those of healthy adults, with statistically significant differences (both P=0.013).There was no significant difference in axial deviation between sedated and non-sedated infants ( P>0.05).The lateral deviation of non-sedated infants was higher than that of sedated infants, though the difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.247). Conclusions:The portable boom-type OCT system can maintain high-speed, high-resolution imaging performance while achieving imaging stability comparable to traditional desktop OCT systems.It is more suitable for bedside imaging of supine subjects, especially uncooperative infants, and has good clinical application prospects.

Objective:To evaluate the imaging stability of a portable boom-type ophthalmic ultra-high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) device in multiple application scenarios.Methods:The boom-type mode and handheld mode of the portable boom-type OCT and the desktop OCT were used to perform three-dimensional imaging tests on three healthy adults undergoing physical examinations at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University as well as on OEMI-7 model eyes in a sitting position.The same two modes of the portable boom-type OCT were used to perform three-dimensional imaging on four awake non-sedated infants, two sedated infants and four healthy adults in the supine position.The obtained 3D imaging data were processed using a correlation analysis method between adjacent B-scans, and the offset of B-scan in the axial (z-axis) and the fast axis transverse (x-axis) were calculated.The procedures for in vivo human eye experiments followed the Declaration of Helsinki and were approved by the Ethics Committee of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University (No.2020 KYPJ154).All subjects and infant guardians signed the informed consent form. Results:Compared with the handheld imaging mode, the axial and fast axis lateral motion offsets of the model eye were significantly reduced in the boom-type imaging mode from (124.00±12.49)μm to (48.00±15.87)μm and from (24.00±1.00)μm to (2.67±0.57)μm, respectively ( t=2.932, 4.337; both P<0.001).In both human and model eyes, the axial and fast axis lateral motion offsets of the boom-type mode were significantly lower than in the traditional handheld operation mode (both P<0.001).The axial and lateral motion offsets between the boom-type mode and desk-top OCT imaging were comparable, without significant differences (both P>0.05).In both sedated and awake, non-sedated infants in the supine position, the axial offset of the portable boom-type OCT system was similar to that of the healthy adults, without significant difference in the overall comparison ( P=0.385), and the lateral offsets were higher than those of healthy adults, with statistically significant differences (both P=0.013).There was no significant difference in axial deviation between sedated and non-sedated infants ( P>0.05).The lateral deviation of non-sedated infants was higher than that of sedated infants, though the difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.247). Conclusions:The portable boom-type OCT system can maintain high-speed, high-resolution imaging performance while achieving imaging stability comparable to traditional desktop OCT systems.It is more suitable for bedside imaging of supine subjects, especially uncooperative infants, and has good clinical application prospects.

ObjectiveTo elucidate the potential mechanism of modified Sinisan （MSNS） in alleviating anxiety-like behaviors induced by chronic restraint stress （CRS） in mice at the metabolic level based on serum untargeted metabolomics and identify key metabolites and metabolic pathways regulated by MSNS. MethodsSeventy-two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into six groups： control， model， high-dose （2.4 g·kg^-1） MSNS， medium-dose （1.2 g·kg^-1） MSNS， low-dose （0.6 g·kg^-1） MSNS， and positive control （fluoxetine， 2.6 mg·kg^-1）. Except the control group， the other groups were subjected to CRS for the modeling of anxiety. Mice were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage 2 h before daily restraint for 14 days. Anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated by the open field test （OFT）， elevated plus maze （EPM） test， and light/dark box （LDB） test. Serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone （CRH）， adrenocorticotrophic hormone （ACTH）， and corticosterone （CORT） were measured via ELISA to assess stress levels. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-MS/MS） was employed to detect 9 metabolites in the brain tissue and serum metabolites. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis （OPLS-DA） was adopted to identify differential metabolites （VIP>1.0， P<0.05）. MetaboAnalyst 5.0 was used for metabolic pathway enrichment analysis of the differential metabolites. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group showed reductions in the central activity time and central distance in the OFT （P<0.05）， the proportions of open-arm residence time and open-arm residence times in the EPM test （P<0.01）， and the proportions of open box activity time and open box activity distance in the LDB test （P<0.05）， which were increased in the medium- and high-dose MSNS groups compared with the model group （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group， the model group showed elevated levels of CRH， ACTH， and CORT in the serum （P<0.01）， and the elevations were diminished in the medium- and high-dose MSNS groups （P<0.05）. UPLC-MS results indicated that compared with the control group， the model group presented declined DA， GABA， 5-HIAA， 5-HT， and 5-HT/Trp levels （P<0.05， P<0.01） and raised Glu， NE， Kyn， and Kyn/Trp levels （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， high-dose MSNS increased the GABA， 5-HIAA， and 5-HT/Trp levels （P<0.05） and lowered the Glu and Kyn/Trp levels （P<0.05）. Untargeted metabolomics identified that 16 CRS-induced metabolic disturbances were reversed by MSNS. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that MSNS primarily modulated eight core pathways including alanine/aspartate/glutamate metabolism， butyrate metabolism， arginine-proline metabolism， TCA cycle， unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis， and tryptophan metabolism. The mechanisms involved multidimensional biological processes， including neurotransmitter homeostasis regulation， TCA cycle energy metabolism optimization， and inflammatory response suppression. ConclusionMSNS alleviates CRS-induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice by mitigating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity， improving hippocampal neurotransmitter and tryptophan metabolic pathways， and regulating alanine/aspartate/glutamate metabolism， butyrate metabolism， arginine-proline metabolism， and TCA cycle.

ObjectiveTo elucidate the potential mechanism of modified Sinisan （MSNS） in alleviating anxiety-like behaviors induced by chronic restraint stress （CRS） in mice at the metabolic level based on serum untargeted metabolomics and identify key metabolites and metabolic pathways regulated by MSNS. MethodsSeventy-two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into six groups： control， model， high-dose （2.4 g·kg^-1） MSNS， medium-dose （1.2 g·kg^-1） MSNS， low-dose （0.6 g·kg^-1） MSNS， and positive control （fluoxetine， 2.6 mg·kg^-1）. Except the control group， the other groups were subjected to CRS for the modeling of anxiety. Mice were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage 2 h before daily restraint for 14 days. Anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated by the open field test （OFT）， elevated plus maze （EPM） test， and light/dark box （LDB） test. Serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone （CRH）， adrenocorticotrophic hormone （ACTH）， and corticosterone （CORT） were measured via ELISA to assess stress levels. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-MS/MS） was employed to detect 9 metabolites in the brain tissue and serum metabolites. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis （OPLS-DA） was adopted to identify differential metabolites （VIP>1.0， P<0.05）. MetaboAnalyst 5.0 was used for metabolic pathway enrichment analysis of the differential metabolites. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group showed reductions in the central activity time and central distance in the OFT （P<0.05）， the proportions of open-arm residence time and open-arm residence times in the EPM test （P<0.01）， and the proportions of open box activity time and open box activity distance in the LDB test （P<0.05）， which were increased in the medium- and high-dose MSNS groups compared with the model group （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group， the model group showed elevated levels of CRH， ACTH， and CORT in the serum （P<0.01）， and the elevations were diminished in the medium- and high-dose MSNS groups （P<0.05）. UPLC-MS results indicated that compared with the control group， the model group presented declined DA， GABA， 5-HIAA， 5-HT， and 5-HT/Trp levels （P<0.05， P<0.01） and raised Glu， NE， Kyn， and Kyn/Trp levels （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， high-dose MSNS increased the GABA， 5-HIAA， and 5-HT/Trp levels （P<0.05） and lowered the Glu and Kyn/Trp levels （P<0.05）. Untargeted metabolomics identified that 16 CRS-induced metabolic disturbances were reversed by MSNS. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that MSNS primarily modulated eight core pathways including alanine/aspartate/glutamate metabolism， butyrate metabolism， arginine-proline metabolism， TCA cycle， unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis， and tryptophan metabolism. The mechanisms involved multidimensional biological processes， including neurotransmitter homeostasis regulation， TCA cycle energy metabolism optimization， and inflammatory response suppression. ConclusionMSNS alleviates CRS-induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice by mitigating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity， improving hippocampal neurotransmitter and tryptophan metabolic pathways， and regulating alanine/aspartate/glutamate metabolism， butyrate metabolism， arginine-proline metabolism， and TCA cycle.

Curcumae Rhizoma, derived from the rhizome of Curcuma phaeocaulis, Curcuma kwangsiensis and Curcuma wenyujin, was called Ezhu in China. In the past, Curcumae Rhizoma extracts were obtained through water decoction or alternative methods, which showed significant anti-cancer effects. However, the mixed extracts contain various compound components of Curcumae Rhizoma, leading to an ambiguous mechanism of action for Curcumae Rhizoma extracts anti-cancer. Contemporary researchers have extracted the chemical components of Curcumae Rhizoma separately for experimental verification of its active ingredients in the anti-cancer field. Numerous studies demonstrated that curcumol, germacrone, β-elemene, and curcumin in Curcumae Rhizoma extracts have significant governing effects in anti-cancer activities. Pharmacological studies have shown that Curcumae Rhizoma suppresses cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, triggering apoptosis and regulating cellular autophagy to achieve anticancer effects. Here, we summarized the research progress of Curcumae Rhizoma on anti-cancer effects from 2013 to 2022, aiming to explore the deeper molecular mechanisms of Curcumae Rhizoma's active components in cancer treatment.

Since the 1970s, the laboratory animal industry in Suzhou has gone through five stages: its inception, emergence, growth, transformation, and scaling up. It began with the manufacturing of caging equipment for laboratory animals, initially by imitation and later through independent innovation. The industry evolved from sporadic factories to clustered enterprises, gradually growing and opening up the export market for caging equipment. In the 21st century, with industrial upgrading and transformation, purification systems and related products began to develop, and industry organizations emerged. As China has modernized, the rise of automation and intelligent production has led to technological innovation in enterprises and the emergence of various outsourcing services in the laboratory animal industry, driving the large-scale development of the industrial chain. After nearly half a century of growth, the laboratory animal industry in Suzhou has formed a complete industrial chain, including the production of laboratory animals, caging equipment, feed and bedding materials, design and construction of laboratory animal facilities, quality testing of laboratory animals and environments, and animal experimentation services. Laboratory animal breeding equipment, the core of the industry, has reached the level of developed countries, and the industry's scale and influence are unmatched in China. Since the 21st century, biopharmaceuticals have become the "No.1 industry" in the development of Suzhou. With government support, the guidance of the local economy, and the assistance from universities and research institutes, the animal experiment outsourcing industry has begun to cluster in Suzhou. The continuous influx of CROs has driven the construction of large-scale laboratory animal facilities, and key research projects have been initiated, significantly enhancing the industry's R&D capabilities. The Suzhou laboratory animal industry has quickly expanded alongside the "No. 1 industry," creating a unique "Suzhou Path" for laboratory animals. Over nearly fifty years, the laboratory animal industry in Suzhou has been essential to the rapid development of the biopharmaceutical industry in Suzhou and China.

Objective:To explore the recovery of abdominal function and and satisfaction rate in patients who received lower abdominal skin flap repair of extensive soft tissue defects in the limbs based on three-dimensional computed tomography angiography(3D-CTA) technology.Methods:A retrospective study was performed to analyze clinical data from patients with extensive skin and soft tissue defects in the limbs, who were admitted to Shandong Provincial Third Hospital between March 2017 and February 2022. Patients were categorized into two groups: the superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) group and the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) group, with SIEA flaps and DIEP flaps utilized respectively for tissue defect repair. Based on 3D-CTA imaging, the distribution range and vessel diameters of bilateral SIEA, superficial inferior epigastric veins (SIEV), and DIEP were delineated, facilitating the design and harvest of SIEA and DIEP flaps. Comparisons were drawn between preoperative 3D-CTA findings on the course and distribution of SIEA and SIEV, and intraoperative anatomical observations. In addition, the concordance between vessel diameters and pedicle lengths determined via preoperative 3D-CTA and intraoperative measurements was assessed. The flap survival, wound healing and surveyed patients’ satisfaction with wound repair were analyzed. A customized evaluation scale was utilized to assess abdominal contour one year post-surgery, scoring from 5 to 25, with higher scores indicating better outcomes. The abdominal health module of the BREAST-Q scale evaluated patients’ satisfaction with abdominal function preoperatively, three months postoperatively, and one year postoperatively, scoring from 20 to 100, with increasing scores indicating greater satisfaction. The measurement data that conform to the normal distribution were expressed as Mean±SD, and the comparison between the two groups was performed using independent samples t-test. The comparison were conducted at multiple time points, repeated measures analysis of variance was performed, and for the comparison of scores within the group, paired t-test was applied. Results:A total of 21 patients were included, 3 males and 18 females, with an age range of 21 to 60 years and a mean age of 41 years. The range of skin and soft tissue defects was from 10.0 cm × 5.0 cm to 22.0 cm × 14.0 cm, and the range of skin flap harvesting was from 11.0 cm × 6.0 cm to 23.0 cm × 15.0 cm. There were 11 cases in the SIEA group and 10 cases in the DIEP group. Preoperative 3D-CTA examination showed that the course and distribution of SIEA and SIEV were consistent with intraoperative anatomical observations. There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison of vessel diameters, pedicle lengths, and actual measurements between preoperative 3D-CTA examination and intraoperative measurements (all P > 0.05). No flap necrosis occurred postoperatively, wound healing was uneventful in all cases. At 1 year postoperatively, there was no statistically significant difference in abdominal contour scores between the SIEA and DIEP groups [(21.96±3.51) points vs. (21.62±3.17) points, P > 0.05]. Comparison of preoperative abdominal function satisfaction scores between the SIEA and DIEP groups showed no statistically significant difference [(87.56 ± 5.70) points vs. (85.79 ± 6.33) points, P > 0.05]. However, at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively, the SIEA group had higher scores than the DIEP group [at 3 months postoperatively, (77.62 ± 7.68) points vs. (65.21 ± 8.27) points; at 1 year postoperatively, (86.93 ± 5.65) points vs. (77.59 ± 5.92) points; both P < 0.01], indicating higher abdominal function satisfaction of the SIEA group postoperatively. The scores of both the SIEA and DIEP groups decreased at 3 months postoperatively compared to preoperative scores (both P < 0.01). At 1 year postoperatively, the score of the SIEA group was similar to preoperative levels, with no statistically significant difference ( P > 0.05), while the score of the DIEP group remained lower than preoperative levels ( P < 0.01). Conclusion:Reconstruction of extensive skin and soft tissue defects in the limbs using SIEA flaps, without injury to the deep tissues of the abdominal wall, allows for near-complete restoration of abdominal function and appearance to preoperative levels, with minimal impact on the donor site. Preoperative 3D-CTA reveals the anatomical variations in the vascular supply of SIEA flaps among individuals, achieving comparable wound repair outcomes to other lower abdominal flaps.

Background::Clinical opportunistic screening is a cost-effective cancer screening modality. This study aimed to establish an easy-to-use diagnostic model serving as a risk stratification tool for identification of individuals with malignant gastric lesions for opportunistic screening.Methods::We developed a questionnaire-based diagnostic model using a joint dataset including two clinical cohorts from northern and southern China. The cohorts consisted of 17,360 outpatients who had undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination in endoscopic clinics. The final model was derived based on unconditional logistic regression, and predictors were selected according to the Akaike information criterion. External validation was carried out with 32,614 participants from a community-based randomized controlled trial.Results::This questionnaire-based diagnostic model for malignant gastric lesions had eight predictors, including advanced age, male gender, family history of gastric cancer, low body mass index, unexplained weight loss, consumption of leftover food, consumption of preserved food, and epigastric pain. This model showed high discriminative power in the development set with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.791 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.750–0.831). External validation of the model in the general population generated an AUC of 0.696 (95% CI: 0.570–0.822). This model showed an ideal ability for enriching prevalent malignant gastric lesions when applied to various scenarios.Conclusion::This easy-to-use questionnaire-based model for diagnosis of prevalent malignant gastric lesions may serve as an effective prescreening tool in clinical opportunistic screening for gastric cancer.