BACKGROUND:Neurotrophins represent a novel therapeutic approach for spinal cord injury,showing promising clinical applicability.Autophagy modulation is one of the mechanisms by which neurotrophins exert their effects,yet the specific signaling pathways involved remain unclear. OBJECTIVE:To explore how neurotrophin-3(NT-3)modulates autophagy in oligodendrocytes via switching between P75NTR and TrkC receptors and promotes neurological function recovery after spinal cord injury,aiming to further clarify the specific molecular mechanisms involved. METHODS:Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham operation,spinal cord injury,and NT-3 groups.The therapeutic effect of NT-3 on spinal cord injury in rats was evaluated using the Basso,Beattie,and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale.The expression levels of NT-3,Olig1,myelin basic protein,and the autophagy marker LC3B in rat spinal cord tissue were detected by western blot.In a cellular experiment,oligodendrocytes were cultured in vitro and divided into six groups:oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD),OGD+NT-3,OGD+NT-3+P75NTR plasmid,OGD+NT-3+TrkC plasmid,OGD+3-methyladenine(an autophagy inhibitor),and OGD+rapamycin(an autophagy activator).Oligodendrocyte morphology was observed under a light microscope,cell apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL staining,and the expression of TrkC receptor,P75NTR,LC3B,and the phosphorylation status of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and AMPK/mTOR signaling pathways were evaluated by western blot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Animal experiments demonstrated that compared with the sham operation group,NT-3 expression significantly increased after spinal cord injury(P<0.05);exogenous NT-3 treatment accelerated neurological function recovery in rats post spinal cord injury(P<0.05)and increased the expression of Olig1 and myelin basic proteins(P<0.05).Cellular experiments revealed that 3 hours marked the early to middle/late phase transition.Compared with the OGD group,oligodendrocytes in the OGD+NT-3 group could maintain their morphology for a longer period of time,TrkC receptor expression was lower in the early phase and significantly upregulated in the middle/late phase(P<0.05),whereas P75NTR protein expression was upregulated in the early phase and downregulated in the middle/late phase(P<0.05),and autophagy levels showed an initial increase followed by a decrease(P<0.05).By comparing the morphology and TUNEL staining results of cells in the OGD+NT-3,OGD+rapamycin,and OGD+3-methyladenine groups,we found that either promoting or inhibiting autophagy alone had adverse effects on oligodendrocyte survival,whereas modulating autophagy in a manner similar to NT-3 could maximally maintain cell survival.NT-3 could promote autophagy in the early phase via the P75NTR/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway and inhibit autophagy in the later phase through the TrkC/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.Based on these findings,it is concluded that NT-3 can bidirectionally regulate autophagy in oligodendrocytes through the switching of P75NTR/TrkC receptors,thereby maintaining cell survival and facilitating the recovery of neurological functions in rats after spinal cord injury.

Evaluate the interventional effect of Lycium barbarum leaves extract on cataract rats and its effects on plasma and liver tissue metabolites. The ultimate goal is to explore the scientific connotation of Lycium barbarum leaves extract on vision improvement. All experiments were approved by the experimental animal ethics committee from Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (202306A067). D-Galactose (D-gal) induced cataract model in rats was established. The lens opacity, lens and liver tissue pathology, level of oxidative stress and polyol metabolism regulation in the lens, level of oxidative stress in serum and liver tissue, and the content of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum and liver tissue were analysed to evaluate the effect of Lycium barbarum leaves extract on cataract. The metabolite profiles of plasma and liver tissue of rats were analyzed by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to compare and analyze the metabolic data in control group and cataract group, and screen potential biomarkers. The related metabolic pathways were further constructed by KEGG database analysis. The results showed that lens and liver pathology of cataract rats were improved after being intervened by the leaves extract of Lycium barbarum. The contents of AR and Ca²⁺ were significantly decreased in lens, and the contents of SDH and GSH and the ability of CAT were significantly increased; the content of GSH and the ability of SOD were significantly improved in serum and liver tissue, the content of MDA, the abilities of ALT and AST and the level of inflammatory factors were significantly reduced. The metabolomics results showed that there were 15 different metabolites in plasma and liver tissue of cataract rats, and 9 different biomarkers including retinyl ester, stearic acid, and palmitic acid, were returned by Lycium barbarum leaves extract. As revealed by pathway enrichment in plasma and liver tissue, it was found that the retinol metabolic pathway was mainly regulated by Lycium barbarum leaves extract. In summary, Lycium barbarum leaves can effectively alleviate the pathological changes of cataract, inhibit inflammation and improve antioxidant capacity, which may relate to the retinol metabolic pathway. It provides scientific basis and support for revealing the scientific connotation of the effect of Lycium barbarum leaves on vision improvement.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the intervention effect and mechanism of Lycium barbarum leaves on letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) mice. The PCOS model was prepared by letrozole combined with high-fat diet. After successful modeling, 40 mice were randomly divided into PCOS group, positive drug metformin group, low-dose Lycium barbarum leaves group, and high-dose Lycium barbarum leaves group. The corresponding drugs were given by gavage for 29 days. At the end of the experiment, the eyeballs were removed for blood collection and ovarian tissue was collected. The ovarian mass, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), testosterone (T), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol (E₂) levels were measured in each group. The morphology of ovarian tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the oocytes, cystic follicles and corpus luteum were counted. Cecal contents of mice were collected for analysis of intestinal flora composition and differential flora. The animal experiment process was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The results showed that the estrous cycle of PCOS mice was disordered. Compared with the PCOS group, the Lycium barbarum leaves group can significantly reduce the ovarian damage of mice, reduce the number of cystic dilated follicles, and normalize the estrous cycle. After the intervention of Lycium barbarum leaves, the levels of FBG, FINS, T, AMH, LH, FSH and LH/FSH were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while the level of E₂ was significantly increased (P < 0.001). In addition, Lycium barbarum leaves can regulate the disorder of intestinal flora diversity in PCOS mice, increase the abundance of Bacteroidetes, and reduce the abundance of Firmicutes, Ileibacterium, Romboutsia and Faecalibaculum. In summary, Lycium barbarum leaves can play a therapeutic role in PCOS mice by improving insulin resistance, regulating reproductive hormone disorders and gut microbiota imbalance. It provides scientific basis and useful reference for the rational utilization and development of Lycium barbarum leaves.

Objective:To summarize the imaging characteristics of primary intestinal lymphoma (PIL).Methods:As a cross-sectional study, a total of 103 consecutive patients diagnosed as PIL by pathology were retrospectively enrolled at Affiliated Shandong Provincial Hospital of Shandong First Medical University between January 2013 to December 2023. Ninety-four patients underwent CT plain and enhanced scans, and the remaining 9 patients only underwent MRI examination. Imaging features were evaluated, including the location and shape of the tumor, the shape of the intestinal wall and lumen, abdominal lymph nodes, the density or signal intensity of the tumor, and the degree and mode of enhancement after the enhancement scan.Results:The most frequent location of PIL was the ileum (43.7%, 45/103), followed by the ascending colon (20.4%, 21/103). Ninety-one patients had a single lesion (88.3%), while the other 12 patients had multiple lesions (11.7%). Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was the most common histopathological type of the PIL (65.0%, 67/103), followed by mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (9.7%, 10/103). Generally, PIL classically presented intestinal wall thickening (81.6%, 84/103) and exophytic mass (28.2%, 29/103). Aneurysmal dilatation of the lumen appeared in 19 patients. Nineteen tumors (18.4%) grew out of the lumen, and perforation was shown in 3 patients. Bulky mesenteric or retroperitoneal adenopathy occurred in 28 patients (27.2%). Seventy-two tumors (69.9%) showed homogeneous enhancement, and 75 (72.8%) showed mild-to-moderate enhancement. In DWI images, all 9 tumors showed significant diffusion limitation.Conclusions:The most frequent location of PIL was the ileum. The main imaging characteristics were segmental intestinal wall thickening, which showed mild-to-moderate homogeneous enhancement and restricted diffusion.

This study was aimed at understanding the trends in,and scope of,severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS)in Nanjing,analyzing the spatial distribution pattern,detecting high incidence cluster areas and key popula-tions,and scientifically guiding prevention and control strategies and measures.We obtained data on SFTS cases from 2010 to 2023 in Nanjing from the China Disease Control and Prevention Information System,and described the time,popu-lation,and spatial distribution characteristics.We used joinpoint regression to calculate the annual percentage change(APC)in incidence,then used FleXScan spatial clustering scan analysis to explore spatial clustering areas at the street level.A total of 507 SFTS cases were reported from 2010 to 2023 in Nanjing.The APC was 31.8％(95％CI:22.5％-41.9％,P＜0.001),and the reported incidence in 2023 was 1.42/100 000(134 cases).The seasonal indices from May to August were 2.7,2.1,3.0,and 1.3,respectively,accounting for 76.1％of the total cases.The median age was 66(IQR:55,73)years,which gradually increased from 59 years in 2010-2011 to 68 in 2022-2023(P＜0.001);94.1％of cases were in individuals 45 years or older.Farmers,homemakers/unemployed individuals,and retirees accounted for 90.1％.The epidemic area increased from 11 streets in four districts in 2010-2011 to 58 streets in 11 dis-tricts in 2022-2023.Except for 2012-2013,global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed positive Moran's I values(0.224-0.526,P＜0.001),and FlexScan scan indicated that several streets in Lishui District and Jiangning District were the most likely clusters.Four streets in Pukou District were the secondary clusters from 2018 to 2023,and three streets in Luhe District in 2022-2023 were the secondary clusters(all P＜0.05).The reported incidence of SFTS in Nanjing showed a rapid upward trend,with spread of epidemic areas.The spatial distribution pattern was clustered.Strengthened training in diagnosis and treatment technology and detection ability of medical institutions,surveillance in high-incidence areas,tracing of case flow,and health education of tick and disease prevention knowledge are recommended.

OBJECTIVE To study the mechanism of interfering with long non-coding RNA nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase-antisense RNA1 （LncRNA NNT-AS1） expressing to reduce paclitaxel （TAX） resistance in non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） cells. METHODS NSCLC TAX-resistant cell line （A549/TAX） was constructed， and the expressions of LncRNA NNT-AS1 in normal， parental， and drug-resistant cells were observed. The targeting relationship of microRNA-582-5p （miR-582- 5p） with LncRNA NNT-AS1 and high mobility group box2 （HMGB2） was verified. A549/TAX cells were cultured in vitro to observe the effects of interfering with LncRNA NNT-AS1 alone or interfering with LncRNA NNT-AS1 and miR-582-5p on the expressions of LncRNA NNT-AS1 and miR-582-5p， the mRNA and protein expressions of HMGB2， cell viability， clone formation and apoptosis. The effects of interfering with LncRNA NNT-AS1 on tumor growth and the expression of miR-582-5p and the mRNA and protein expressions of HMGB2 in tumor tissue were observed in nude mice. RESULTS Compared with normal cells， LncRNA NNT-AS1 was highly expressed in parental and drug-resistant cells （P＜0.05）， showing an increasing trend. It was validated that miR-582-5p had a targeting relationship with LncRNA NNT-AS1 and HMGB2. After interfering with the expression of LncRNA NNT-AS1， the expression of LncRNA NNT-AS1 and the mRNA and protein expressions of HMGB2， cell viability and the number of cloned cells in A549/TAX cell， decreased significantly， while the expression of miR-582-5p and the apoptotic rate increased significantly （P＜0.05）； simultaneously interfering with the expression of miR-582-5p could reverse above changes （P＜ 0.05）. Interfering with the expression of LncRNA NNT-AS1 in tumor cell could significantly reduce tumor volume and tumor weight of nude mice bearing tumors； at the same time， the expression of miR-582-5p was up-regulated significantly and the mRNA and protein expressions of HMGB2 were down-regulated significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Interfering with the expression of LncRNA NNT-AS1 may alleviate TAX chemotherapy resistance in NSCLC through targeted up-regulation of miR-582-5p and down-regulation of HMGB2.

Xiaoruwan is one of the classic prescriptions included in the Catalogue of Ancient Classic Prescriptions （the Second Batch of Pediatrics） published by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM） in 2022 with definite clinical efficacy， but it has not been converted into Chinese patent medicine preparations. The authors collected 173 pieces of data based on ancient literature on Xiaoruwan by the method of bibliometrics and selected 99 pieces of effective data， involving 46 ancient books of TCM. The study analyzed the historical development origin， prescription names， formulation rules， dosage， drug origin， preparation method and usage， indications and functions， and other aspects of Xiaoruwan. The results showed that Xiaoruwan was presumably derived from Ying Hai Miao Jue Lun（《婴孩妙诀论》） written by TANG Minwang， a doctor in the Song Dynasty. In the records of ancient medical books， there are names such as Xiaoshiwan，Yangshi Xiaoruwan， and Kuaige Xiaoshiwan， but they are mainly recorded in the name of Xiaoruwan. The prescription was composed of Cyperi Rhizoma， Amomi Fructus， Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium， Massa Medicata Fermentata， Hordei Fructus Germinatus， and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. In terms of processing method， Cyperi Rhizoma， Massa Medicata Fermentata， and Hordei Fructus Germinatus are fried， Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is processed， and raw materials of Amomi Fructus and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium are used directly. In terms of function， it is effective in warming the middle， improving digestion， stopping vomiting， and digesting milk and food. The main indications include vomiting， diarrhea， night crying， and other diseases caused by milk and food stagnation. The dosage of the most used prescription in the records of ancient books is Cyperi Rhizoma 41.30 g， Amomi Fructus 20.65 g， Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium 20.65 g， Massa Medicata Fermentata 20.65 g， Hordei Fructus Germinatus 20.65 g， and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma 20.65 g， which are prepared into pills. In the taking method， it is recommended to take it with warm boiled water or ginger soup after meals. The study summarized the historical evolution of Xiaoruwan and identified the key information， with a view to providing a reference for the modern development and research of Xiaoruwan.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. Fat accumulation "sensitizes" the liver to insult and leads to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). G protein-coupled receptor 35 (GPR35) is involved in metabolic stresses, but its role in NAFLD is unknown. We report that hepatocyte GPR35 mitigates NASH by regulating hepatic cholesterol homeostasis. Specifically, we found that GPR35 overexpression in hepatocytes protected against high-fat/cholesterol/fructose (HFCF) diet-induced steatohepatitis, whereas loss of GPR35 had the opposite effect. Administration of the GPR35 agonist kynurenic acid (Kyna) suppressed HFCF diet-induced steatohepatitis in mice. Kyna/GPR35 induced expression of StAR-related lipid transfer protein 4 (STARD4) through the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, ultimately resulting in hepatic cholesterol esterification and bile acid synthesis (BAS). The overexpression of STARD4 increased the expression of the BAS rate-limiting enzymes cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily A member 1 (CYP7A1) and CYP8B1, promoting the conversion of cholesterol to bile acid. The protective effect induced by GPR35 overexpression in hepatocytes disappeared in hepatocyte STARD4-knockdown mice. STARD4 overexpression in hepatocytes reversed the aggravation of HFCF diet-induced steatohepatitis caused by the loss of GPR35 expression in hepatocytes in mice. Our findings indicate that the GPR35-STARD4 axis is a promising therapeutic target for NAFLD.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia-like primary pulmonary lymphoma (PPL) was commonly misdiagnosed as infectious pneumonia, leading to delayed treatment. The purpose of this study was to establish a computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics model to differentiate pneumonia-like PPL from infectious pneumonia. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 79 patients with pneumonia-like PPL and 176 patients with infectious pneumonia from 12 medical centers were enrolled. Patients from center 1 to center 7 were assigned to the training or validation cohort, and the remaining patients from other centers were used as the external test cohort. Radiomics features were extracted from CT images. A three-step procedure was applied for radiomics feature selection and radiomics signature building, including the inter- and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the significant clinicoradiological variables and construct a clinical factor model. Two radiologists reviewed the CT images for the external test set. Performance of the radiomics model, clinical factor model, and each radiologist were assessed by receiver operating characteristic, and area under the curve (AUC) was compared. RESULTS: A total of 144 patients (44 with pneumonia-like PPL and 100 infectious pneumonia) were in the training cohort, 38 patients (12 with pneumonia-like PPL and 26 infectious pneumonia) were in the validation cohort, and 73 patients (23 with pneumonia-like PPL and 50 infectious pneumonia) were in the external test cohort. Twenty-three radiomics features were selected to build the radiomics model, which yielded AUCs of 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.94-0.99), 0.93 (95% CI: 0.85-0.98), and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.87-0.99) in the training, validation, and external test cohort, respectively. The AUCs for the two readers and clinical factor model were 0.74 (95% CI: 0.63-0.83), 0.72 (95% CI: 0.62-0.82), and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.62-0.84) in the external test cohort, respectively. The radiomics model outperformed both the readers' interpretation and clinical factor model ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS The CT-based radiomics model may provide an effective and non-invasive tool to differentiate pneumonia-like PPL from infectious pneumonia, which might provide assistance for clinicians in tailoring precise therapy.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Pneumonia/diagnostic imaging* ; Analysis of Variance ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Lymphoma/diagnostic imaging*

Codonopsis Radix is a traditional tonic medicine commonly used in China, which has the effects of strengthening the spleen and tonifying the lung, as well as nourishing blood and engendering liquid. The chemical constituents of Codonopsis species are mainly polyacetylenes, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, lignans, terpenoids and saponins, flavonoids, steroids, organic acids, saccharides, and so on. Modern pharmacological studies showed that Codonopsis Radix also has a variety of pharmacological effects such as enhancing body immunity, protecting gastrointestinal mucosa and resisting ulcers, promoting hematopoietic function, regulating blood sugar, and delaying aging. In this paper, the chemical constituents of Codonopsis species and the pharmacological effects of Codonopsis Radix were summarized, and on this basis, the quality markers of Codonopsis Radix were analyzed. It was predicted that lobetyolin, tangshenoside I, codonopyrrolidium A, and the oligosaccharides were the possible Q-markers of Codonopsis Radix. This paper will provide scientific references for the quality evaluation and profound research and the development of Codonopsis Radix.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Codonopsis ; Alkaloids ; Medicine, Traditional ; Plant Roots