OBJECTIVES: Pyroptosis plays a critical role in tubulointerstitial lesions of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion and may be closely related to DKD, but its specific mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of ANXA2 in high glucose-induced pyroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells, providing new targets for DKD prevention and treatment. METHODS: Human renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells were divided into a normal glucose group (5.5 mmol/L), a high glucose group (30.0 mmol/L), and a osmotic control group (24.5 mmol/L mannitol+5.5 mmol/L glucose). ANXA2 expression was modulated by overexpression of plasmids and small interfering RNA (siRNA). Cell proliferation was measured by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, apoptosis by flow cytometry, and ANXA2, p50, and p65 subcellular localization by immunofluorescence. Western blotting was employed to detect α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin (FN), and collagen type IV (Col-IV). Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were used to analyze nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) subunits p50/p65 and the pyroptosis pathway factors NLR family Pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, inferleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18. Protein interactions between ANXA2 and p50/p65 were examined by co-immunoprecipitation, while chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to examine NF-κB binding to the ANXA2 promoter. RESULTS: High glucose upregulated ANXA2 expression and promoted its nuclear translocation (P<0.01). High glucose reduced cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, and elevated α-SMA, FN, and Col-IV expression (all P<0.05); ANXA2 overexpression aggravated these effects (all P<0.05), while ANXA2 knockdown reversed them (all P<0.05). High glucose activated NF-κB and increased NLRP3, caspase-1, L-1β, and IL-18 mRNA and protein expression (all P<0.05); ANXA2 overexpression further enhanced this, whereas knockdown suppressed NF-κB activation and downstream factors (all P<0.05). Co-immunoprecipitation confirmed ANXA2 directly binds the NF-κB subunit p65. ChIP assays revealed p65 binds specifically to ANXA2 promoter regions (ChIP-2, ChIP-4, and ChIP-6), and luciferase activity in corresponding mutant constructs (M2, M4, and M6) was significantly increased versus controls (all P<0.05), confirming positive transcriptional regulation of ANXA2 by p65. CONCLUSIONS ANXA2 and NF-κB form a positive feedback loop that sustains NLRP3 inflammasome activation, promotes pyroptosis pathway activation, and aggravates high glucose-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury. Targeting ANXA2 or blocking its interaction with p65 may be a novel strategy to slow DKD progression.
Humans ; Pyroptosis/drug effects* ; Annexin A2/physiology* ; Epithelial Cells/cytology* ; Kidney Tubules/cytology* ; Glucose/pharmacology* ; Diabetic Nephropathies/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Transcription Factor RelA/metabolism* ; Feedback, Physiological

Guided by molecular networking, nine novel curvularin derivatives (1-9) and 16 known analogs (10-25) were isolated from the hydrothermal vent sediment fungus Penicillium sp. HL-50. Notably, compounds 5-7 represented a hybrid of curvularin and purine. The structures and absolute configurations of compounds 1-9 were elucidated via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, ¹³C NMR calculation, modified Mosher's method, and chemical derivatization. Investigation of anti-inflammatory activities revealed that compounds 7-9, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 18 exhibited significant suppressive effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.44 to 4.40 μmol·L^-1. Furthermore, these bioactive compounds were found to suppress the expression of inflammation-related proteins, including inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), NLR family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). Additional studies demonstrated that the novel compound 7 possessed potent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the transcription of inflammation-related genes, downregulating the expression of inflammation-related proteins, and inhibiting the release of inflammatory cytokines, indicating its potential application in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Penicillium/chemistry* ; Mice ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism* ; Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology* ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Molecular Structure ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/immunology* ; Cyclooxygenase 2/immunology* ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology* ; NF-kappa B/immunology* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/immunology*

Objective:To investigate the related factors of kidney injury in patients with masked hypertension (MHT).Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 311 MHT patients who visited Dongguan Liaobu Community Health Service from June 1,2022 to June 1, 2023 were enrolled in the study. The complete blood biochemistry, urinary microalbumin and 24-hour urinary protein tests were conducted, and the risk factors of renal injury in MHT patients were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression.Results:The age of the 311 enrolled patients was(48.8±9.2)years, with 192 males(61.7%) There were 73 cases with microalbuminuria (MAU), accounting for 23.47% (73/311); and 28 cases of positive 24-hour urine total protein (24-hour UTP), accounted for 9.00% (28/311). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that fasting blood glucose level and mean nocturnal systolic blood pressure were independent risk factors of positive MAU in MHT patients ( OR=1.577, 95% CI: 1.049-2.370, P=0.030; OR=1.024, 95% CI: 1.001-1.047, P=0.038), while older age was a protective factor of MAU ( OR=0.965, 95% CI: 0.935-0.997, P=0.030); mean nocturnal systolic pressure, 24-hour mean systolic pressure and mean diurnal systolic pressure were independent risk factors of positive 24-hour UTP in MHT patients ( OR=1.031,95% CI: 1.000-1.064, P=0.049; OR=1.048,95% CI: 1.008-1.091, P=0.020; OR=1.042,95% CI: 1.003-1.083, P=0.035). Conclusion:Older age, fasting blood glucose, mean nocturnal systolic pressure, 24-hour mean systolic pressure and mean diurnal systolic pressure are associated with the renal injury in MHT patients.

To explore the application of sequential analysis in post-market safety dynamic surveillance of vaccines. Under the dynamic monitoring data of vaccines post-market approval, this research introduces the fundamental principles of maximizing sequential probability ratio test (MaxSPRT) and Bayesian sequential analysis, employing R software. Through an example of dynamic safety monitoring data of vaccines post-market approval, we analyze using the MaxSPRT and Bayesian sequential analysis. The MaxSPRT identified a safety signal in week 4 ( P<0.05), while Bayesian sequential analysis indicated that the 95% highest density interval for the RR value at week 4 is 1.13-3.27, suggesting the first appearance of a safety signal at week 4. The MaxSPRT and Bayesian sequential analysis effectively leverage continuously accumulating dynamic monitoring data, thereby serving as a valuable method for post-market safety surveillance of vaccines.

Objective:Using graph theory analysis, this study compares the topological and node attributes of the brain network to explore the differences in gray matter structural and functional network topological properties between bipolar depression (BD) patients with and without obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS).Methods:A total of 90 BD patients (27 males, 63 females; median age 19.0(22.0, 25.0) years) were recruited from the psychiatric outpatient and inpatient departments of the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University between March 2018 and December 2022. Fifty healthy controls (19 males, 31 females; median age: 23.0 (20.0, 27.0) years) were also enrolled. The BD patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of OCS: 53 with OCS (OCS group) and 37 without OCS (NOCS group). Resting-state structural and functional MRI data were collected for all participants to construct gray matter structural and functional networks. Graph therory analysis was applied to calculate network topological metrics such as small-world properties. The structural and functional network topological properties were compared among the BD-OCS, BD-nOCS, and control groups. Partial correlation analysis was conducted to examine the association between network topological metrics with significant group differences and Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) scores. Support vector machines (SVM) were used with these metrics as classification feature values to improve diagnostic accuracy through pairwise group classification.Results:Structural network analysis of gray matter: compared to HC group, both OCS group and NOCS group showed increased shortest path length and standardized characteristic path length (shortest path length: 0.78 and 0.80 vs. 0.69; normalized characteristic path length: 0.48 and 0.49 vs. 0.43), and decreased global efficiency (0.21 and 0.21 vs. 0.24) compared to the HC group (permutation test, all P<0.05). Compared to NOCS and HC groups, the OCS group showed increased nodal centrality and betweenness centrality in the right rolandic operculum and left superior occipital gyrus (permutation test, all P<0.05). Functional network analysis of gray matter: compared to the NOCS group, the OCS group showed increased node efficiency and decreased betweenness centrality in the cerebellum ( t=2.15, -3.04; all P<0.05); compared to HC groups, the OCS group showed decreased betweenness centrality in the cerebellum and left inferior frontal gyrus, along with increased node centrality and nodal efficiency in the right transverse temporal gyrus ( t=-2.99, -3.61, 3.06, 3.10; all P<0.05). In the OCS group, betweenness centrality in the left inferior frontal gyrus positively correlated with Y-BOCS scale obsessive thinking score ( r=0.303, P=0.034). Nodal centrality and node efficiency of the right transverse temporal gyrus negatively correlated with Y-BOCS total score ( r=-0.301, -0.311) and Y-BOCS obsessional thinking scores ( r=-0.385, -0.380) separately(all P<0.05). SVM classification: the combined network features achieved an area under the curve of 0.80 in distinguising OCS from NOCS patients. Conclusion:BD-OCS and BD-nOCS patients both exhibit consistent changes in gray matter structural network topology, with the OCS group displaying more pronounced nodal topological abnormalities. Multi-network feature integration demostrates potential for diagnostic classfication.

BACKGROUND:Carnosic acid,a bioactive compound found in rosemary,has been shown to reduce inflammation and reactive oxygen species(ROS).However,its mechanism of action in osteoclast differentiation remains unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of carnosic acid on osteoclast activation,ROS production,and mitochondrial function. METHODS:Primary bone marrow-derived macrophages from mice were extracted and cultured in vitro.Different concentrations of carnosic acid(0,10,15,20,25 and 30 μmol/L)were tested for their effects on bone marrow-derived macrophage proliferation and toxicity using the cell counting kit-8 cell viability assay to determine a safe concentration.Bone marrow-derived macrophages were cultured in graded concentrations and induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand for osteoclast differentiation for 5-7 days.The effects of carnosic acid on osteoclast differentiation and function were then observed through tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining,F-actin staining,H2DCFDA probe and mitochondrial ROS,and Mito-Tracker fluorescence detection.Western blot and RT-PCR assays were subsequently conducted to examine the effects of carnosic acid on the upstream and downstream proteins of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand-induced MAPK signaling pathway. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining and F-actin staining showed that carnosic acid dose-dependently inhibited in vitro osteoclast differentiation and actin ring formation in the cell cytoskeleton,with the highest inhibitory effect observed in the high concentration group(30 μmol/L).Carnosic acid exhibited the most significant inhibitory effect during the early stages(days 1-3)of osteoclast differentiation compared to other intervention periods.Fluorescence imaging using the H2DCFDA probe,mitochondrial ROS,and Mito-Tracker demonstrated that carnosic acid inhibited cellular and mitochondrial ROS production while reducing mitochondrial membrane potential,thereby influencing mitochondrial function.The results of western blot and RT-PCR revealed that carnosic acid could suppress the expression of NFATc1,CTSK,MMP9,and C-fos proteins associated with osteoclast differentiation,and downregulate the expression of NFATc1,Atp6vod2,ACP5,CTSK,and C-fos genes related to osteoclast differentiation.Furthermore,carnosic acid enhanced the expression of antioxidant enzyme proteins and reduced the generation of ROS during the process of osteoclast differentiation.Overall,carnosic acid exerts its inhibitory effects on osteoclast differentiation by inhibiting the phosphorylation modification of the P38/ERK/JNK protein and activating the MAPK signaling pathway in bone marrow-derived macrophages.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a pathological state in which the cardiac ejection fraction is insufficient to meet an individual's metabolic needs owing to changes in the cardiac structure or function. Various etiologies such as myocardial infarction and inflammation are implicated, and the main symptoms are dyspnea, lower limb edema, fatigue, and discomfort during rest or exercise. CHF is the primary outcome of cardiovascular disease, and the increasing morbidity and mortality rates highlight the significant risks of this condition. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the pathogenesis of CHF is deficiency of heart qi and heart yang, which predominantly affects the heart, but may also impede the function of other zang-organs such as the spleen and kidney, and aggravate the symptoms of heart failure. With technological advancements and enhanced awareness of health conditions and disease prevention, China has promoted traditional medicine practices such as medicine and food homology (MFH), which has received increasing attention in recent years. This concept stipulates that certain medicines and foods have the same origin; ergo, these foods have medicinal properties, with many being used in the prevention and treatment of CHF. However, the efficacy and safety of MHF substances have yet to be determined, and there is no consensus regarding the development of disease prevention and treatment strategies. This article therefore reviews the current evidence for MFH in the prevention and treatment of CHF by summarizing the therapeutic potential of this practice and discussing treatment strategies and aims to improve the understanding of Chinese medicine and food homologous substances in the treatment of this condition, as well as highlight the current literature and avenues for future research.

As a chronic progressive lung disease with poor prognosis,the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)has not yet been clarified,and its treatment is still being explored.Animal models are important tools for studying the pathogenesis and therapeutic effects of diseases.Based on the similarity between animal models and human of IPF in terms of disease phenotype,this paper will review the research progress of IPF animal models in terms of the fibrosis mechanism induced by drugs and environmental factors,histopathological alterations,fibrosis stage,modelling time,etc.,and describe the advantages and disadvantages of different animal models,their characteristics and application profiles.

AIM:To evaluate the application effec-tiveness of a Bayesian mixture model based on the principal stratum strategy for estimating the com-plier average causal effect(CACE)in clinical trials with non-compliance.METHODS:Using a non-infe-riority randomized controlled trial investigating a novel drug for primary type 2 diabetes mellitus(non-inferiority margin:-0.4)as a case study,the primary analysis applied a Bayesian mixture model under the monotonicity assumption to estimate CACE of between-group differences in glycated he-moglobin(HbA1c)changes within the compliant stratum,followed by non-inferiority testing.Sensi-tivity analyses included a Bayesian mixture model relaxing the monotonicity assumption and compar-ing results with per-protocol set(PPS)analysis.RE-SULTS:In the primary analysis,the posterior mean of CACE for HbA1c change in the compliant stratum was 0.081％,with a one-sided 97.5％credible inter-val lower bound of-0.124,exceeding the non-infe-riority margin(-0.4％),supporting the non-inferiori-ty efficacy of the novel drug in the compliant stra-tum(P(H1|Data)=1).Consistent findings were ob-served in PPS analyses(estimated effect:0.136％;one-sided 97.5％credible interval lower bound:-0.069％),further validating methodological robust-ness.CONCLUSION:In clinical trials with noncom-pliance as an intercurrent event,the Bayesian mix-ture model under the principal stratum strategy ef-fectively adjusts for compliance-related bias and yields conservative,robust estimates of causal ef-fects,supporting its value in efficacy evaluation un-der complex compliance scenarios.

To explore the application of sequential analysis in post-market safety dynamic surveillance of vaccines. Under the dynamic monitoring data of vaccines post-market approval, this research introduces the fundamental principles of maximizing sequential probability ratio test (MaxSPRT) and Bayesian sequential analysis, employing R software. Through an example of dynamic safety monitoring data of vaccines post-market approval, we analyze using the MaxSPRT and Bayesian sequential analysis. The MaxSPRT identified a safety signal in week 4 ( P<0.05), while Bayesian sequential analysis indicated that the 95% highest density interval for the RR value at week 4 is 1.13-3.27, suggesting the first appearance of a safety signal at week 4. The MaxSPRT and Bayesian sequential analysis effectively leverage continuously accumulating dynamic monitoring data, thereby serving as a valuable method for post-market safety surveillance of vaccines.