Objective To investigate the role of bufalin(BU)in inhibiting M2-type macrophage-mediated colorec-tal cancer metastasis.Methods Human acute leukemia mononuclear cells(THP-1)were differentiated into M0 macrophages using phorbol ester induction(PMA)for 48 hours.The M0 macrophages were then treated with IL-4 and IL-13 medium.Surface markers and morphological changes were observed through ELISA,morphology,and RT-qPCR experiments.RT-PCR and ELISA experiments were conducted to detect the surface markers TGF-β and IL-10 of M2 macrophages.The secretion level of IL-6 in the supernatant of M2 macrophages and colorectal cancer cells HCT116 was compared using ELISA.Additionally,the effect of conditioned medium on colorectal cancer cell HCT116 was assessed through Transwell,Wound healing,RT-qPCR,and Western blot experiments.Subsequent-ly,bufalin was added to the conditioned medium and the changes in AKT/PI3K protein,migration,and epithelial-mesenchymal transition ability in HCT116 were observed using Western blot,Transwell,Wound healing and RT-qPCR experiments.Results THP-1 were successfully differentiated into M2 macrophages.The activation of AKT/PI3K protein in HCT116 cells was induced by the secretion of IL-6 from M2 macrophages,which in turn promoted the migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition ability of the HCT116 cells.The migration and epithelial-mes-enchymal transition mediated by M2 macrophages in HCT116 cells were effectively inhibited by Bufalin.Conclu-sion The release of IL-6 from M2 macrophages activates the AKT/PI3K signaling pathway in colorectal cancer cells,thereby promoting their migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition capacity.Moreover,bufalin exhibits inhibitory effects on this effect.

BACKGROUND:Icariin,with antiinflammatory,antioxygenatory and immunoregulatory effects,can be a potential drug for preventing and treating acute liver injury. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the protective effect and possible mechanism of icariin in mice with acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. METHODS:Thirty-two Kunming mice were equally and randomly divided into the following groups:normal,model,low-dose icariin and high-dose icariin groups.The low-and high-dose icariin groups were continuously gavaged with icariin(100 and 200 mg/kg,respectively)once a day for 7 continuous days.The normal group and model group were injected with physiological saline(10 mL/kg)at the same time point.After the last administration,all the groups except for the normal group were injected with carbon tetrachloride to induce acute liver injury.The mice were killed 24 hours later,and the liver index was detected.Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were detected by automated biochemical analysis.Tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 levels in serum were detected using ELISA.The levels of superoxide dismutase,glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde in liver tissue were detected through a reagent kit.The histopathology changes of the liver were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining.TUNEL method was used to detect the apoptosis in hepatocytes.Western blot was performed to detect the expression levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa,endoplasmic reticulum stress-related protein(C/-EBP homologous protein),mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein and Caspase-3 in liver tissue. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the normal group,the liver index and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 were increased in the model group(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the above indexes were decreased in the low-dose and high-dose icariin groups(P＜0.05).Compared with the normal group,the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the liver tissue of mice were decreased in the model group(P＜0.05)and the level of malondialdehyde was increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were increased in the low-and high-dose icariin groups(P＜0.05)and the level of malondialdehyde was decreased(P＜0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin and TUNEL staining showed that mice in the model group had severe structural destruction of liver tissue,extensive necrosis of hepatocytes and high apoptotic rate of hepatocytes,while the structural destruction of liver tissue and the area of necrosis of hepatocytes in the low-and high-dose icariin groups were significantly milder than those in the model group,and the apoptotic rate of hepatocytes was lower than that in the model group(P＜0.05).Western blot assay showed that the protein expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa,C/-EBP homologous protein,mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein and Caspase-3 in liver tissue of mice in the model group was increased compared with that in the normal group(P＜0.05),while the expression levels of these proteins in liver tissue of mice were significantly reduced after low-and high-dose icariin intervention(P＜0.05).To conclude,icariin can produce a protective effect against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury,and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress and reduction of programmed necrosis.

Objective:To explore genes related to costimulatory molecule related to the prognosis of bladder cancer,and to construct and evaluate prognosis model based on costimulatory molecule-based signature(CMS).Methods:Gene expression matrix and clinical information of bladder cancer patients were downloaded from TCGA database and GEO database(GSE31684),and costimulatory molecule-related genes were retrieved from the literature.The univariate and multivariate Cox analysis were used to screened prognostic-related genes and constructed prognostic model.Forecast accuracy of model was verified in TCGA training group,TCGA validation data group and GEO group by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC).Considering risk score and clinical characteristics,we constructed a nomogram and evaluated its performance by consistency analysis and ROC.CIBERSORT algorithm was used to analyze immune cell composition of tumor microenvironment infiltration,and gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA)was performed to explore the potential mechanism.Results:Four prognostic-related CMSs were found:TNFRSF14,CD276,ICOS and TMIGD2,of which three were included in the risk score construction.Multivariate Cox regression results showed that the risk score based on CMS was an independent prognostic factor for bladder cancer patients.Consistency analysis and ROC results showed that the nomogram had ideal prognosis prediction accuracy.Immune infiltration analysis showed that the high risk group was likely to be in immunosuppressive state.GSEA results suggested that genes in high risk group were enriched in extracel-lular matrix(ECM)receptors interaction,cell cycle and other pathways.Conclusion:TNFRSF14,CD276 and ICOS may be potential prognostic biomarkers for bladder cancer patients.CMS-based risk score and nomogram could contribute to early prognosis and choice of personalized treatment.

The clinical practice guidelines of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） have problems such as limited clinical application and unclear implementation effects， which may be related to the lack of clinical practice evidence. To provide reliable and precise evidence for clinical practice， this article proposes a model of combining TCM guidelines with real-world study， which includes 4 steps. Firstly， during the implementation process of the guidelines， a high-quality research database is established. Secondly， the recommendations in the guidelines are evaluated based on the established database in multiple dimensions， including applicability， effectiveness， safety， and cost-effectiveness， and thus their effectiveness in practical applications can be determined. Thirdly， based on the established database， core prescriptions are identified， and the targeted populations and medication plans are determined. That is， the best treatment regimen is established based on the analysis of abundant clinical data regarding the effects of different medication frequencies， dosages， and duration on efficacy. Fourthly， the guidelines are updated according to the real-world evidence. The research based on this model can provide real-world evidence for ancient and empirical prescriptions， improving their application in clinical practice. Moreover， this model can reduce research costs and improve research efficiency. When applying this model， researchers need to pay attention to the quality of real-world evidence， ensuring that it can truly reflect the situation in clinical practice. In addition， importance should be attached to the clinical application of guideline recommendations， ensuring that doctors can conduct standardized diagnosis and treatment according to the guidelines. Finally， full-process participation of multidisciplinary experts is encouraged to ensure the comprehensiveness and scientificity of the study. In conclusion， the application of this model will contribute to the development of TCM guidelines responsive to the needs of clinical practice and achieve the goal of promoting the homogenization of TCM clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Due to the non-targeted release and low solubility of anti-gastric cancer agent,apatinib(Apa),a first-line drug with long-term usage in a high dosage often induces multi-drug resistance and causes serious side effects.In order to avoid these drawbacks,lipid-film-coated Prussian blue nanoparticles(PB NPs)with hyaluronan(HA)modification was used for Apa loading to improve its solubility and targeting ability.Furthermore,anti-tumor compound of gamabufotalin(CS-6)was selected as a partner of Apa with reducing dosage for combinational gastric therapy.Thus,HA-Apa-Lip@PB-CS-6 NPs were constructed to synchro-nously transport the two drugs into tumor tissue.In vitro assay indicated that HA-Apa-Lip@PB-CS-6 NPs can synergistically inhibit proliferation and invasion/metastasis of BGC-823 cells via downregulating vascular endothelial growth factor receptor(VEGFR)and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9).In vivo assay demonstrated strongest anti-tumor growth and liver metastasis of HA-Apa-Lip@PB-CS-6 NPs adminis-tration in BGC-823 cells-bearing mice compared with other groups due to the excellent penetration in tumor tissues and outstanding synergistic effects.In summary,we have successfully developed a new nanocomplexes for synchronous Apa/CS-6 delivery and synergistic gastric cancer(GC)therapy.

Background::Scleroderma is characterized by inflammation and fibrosis, predominantly occurring in the skin and extending to various parts of the body. The pathophysiology of scleroderma is multifaceted, with the current understanding including endothelial damage, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibroblast activation in its progression. Nonetheless, the mechanism of cellular interactions and the precise spatial distribution of these cellular events within the fibrotic tissues remain elusive, highlighting a critical gap in our comprehensive understanding of scleroderma’s pathogenesis.Methods::In this study, we administered bleomycin intradermally to the dorsal skin of four individual murine models. Subsequently, skin tissues were harvested at predetermined intervals for comprehensive spatial transcriptomic analysis to determine the spatial dynamics influencing scleroderma pathogenesis. To validate the possible results from bioinformatic analysis, further in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted. Results::Analysis of the spatial transcriptome revealed significant alterations in cell clusters during the progression of scleroderma. Gene Ontology analysis identified disruptions in lipid metabolism as the disease advanced. Pseudotime analysis provided evidence for a phenotypic transition from adipocytes to fibroblasts. In vitro studies demonstrated increased expression of Col1a1 and α-SMA as the disease progressed. These fibroblasts have been identified as key contributors to the increasing inflammation. Co-culturing TGF-β induced adipocytes with RAW264.7 cells resulted in overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the RAW264.7 cells. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed adipocyte loss and fibroblast formation, with transformed fibroblasts showing pronounced pro-inflammatory characteristics, highlighting their crucial role in the disease mechanism. Conclusions::Our study showed the spatial distribution and dynamic alterations of various cell types during scleroderma progression. Crucially, we identified the transformation of adipocytes into fibroblasts as a key factor promoting disease advancement. These emergent fibroblasts intensify inflammation, indicating that research on these cell clusters could reveal key scleroderma mechanisms and guide future therapies.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the spatial distribution of the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction and its risk factors in Chinese population aged 45 years and above to provide evidence for formulating regional prevention and control strategies. METHODS: The study subjects with complete cognitive function data were selected from the follow-up data of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) Phase IV. ArcGis 10.4 software was used for spatial analysis of the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction in the population aged 45 years and above for each province based on the geographic information system (GIS) technology. RESULTS: In 2018, the overall prevalence of cognitive dysfunction was 33.59% (5951/17716) in individuals aged 45 and above in China. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated a spatial clustering and a positive autocorrelation (P < 0.001) of the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction in the study subjects, with a Moran's I value of 0.333085. The results of local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the southwestern region of China was the main aggregation area of patients with cognitive dysfunction. Geographically weighted regression analysis suggested that a male gender, an advanced age, and illiteracy were the major risk factors for cognitive dysfunction (P < 0.05). These 3 risk factors showed a spatial distribution heterogeneity with greater impact in the northern, western, and northwestern regions of China, respectively. CONCLUSION The prevalence of cognitive dysfunction is relatively high in individuals aged 45 years and above in China. A male gender, an advanced age, and illiteracy are the major risk factors for cognitive dysfunction and show different spatial distribution patterns, with the northern, western and northwestern regions of China as the key areas for prevention and control, where the prevention and control measures should be designed based on local conditions.
Humans ; Male ; China/epidemiology* ; Cluster Analysis ; Cognitive Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; East Asian People ; Longitudinal Studies ; Risk Factors ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence trend and spatial clustering characteristics of scarlet fever in China from 2016 to 2020 to provide evidence for development of regional disease prevention and control strategies. METHODS: The incidence data of scarlet fever in 31 provinces and municipalities in mainland China from 2016 to 2020 were obtained from the Chinese Health Statistics Yearbook and the Public Health Science Data Center led by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.The three-dimensional spatial trend map of scarlet fever incidence in China was drawn using ArcGIS to determine the regional trend of scarlet fever incidence.GeoDa spatial autocorrelation analysis was used to explore the spatial aggregation of scarlet fever in China in recent years. RESULTS: From 2016 to 2020, a total of 310 816 cases of scarlet fever were reported in 31 provinces, municipalities directly under the central government and autonomous regions, with an average annual incidence of 4.48/100 000.The reported incidence decreased from 4.32/100 000 in 2016 to 1.18/100 000 in 2020(Z=103.47, P < 0.001).The incidence of scarlet fever in China showed an obvious regional clustering from 2016 to 2019(Moran's I>0, P < 0.05), but was randomly distributed in 2020(Moran's I>0, P=0.16).The incidence of scarlet fever showed a U-shaped distribution in eastern and western regions of China, and increased gradually from the southern to northern regions.Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Hebei and Gansu provinces had the High-high (H-H) clusters of scarlet fever in China. CONCLUSION Scarlet fever still has a high incidence in China with an obvious spatial clustering.For the northern regions of China with H-H clusters of scarlet fever, the allocation of health resources and public health education dynamics should be strengthened, and local scarlet fever prevention and control policies should be made to contain the hotspots of scarlet fever.
Humans ; Incidence ; Scarlet Fever/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Spatial Analysis ; Cluster Analysis ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis

Scleroderma is a rare disease which requires multidisciplinary treatment. Drug-based therapy can partially alleviate or end the progression of the disease, but cannot reverse the lesions that have occurred. Scleroderma patients who seek care in plastic surgery has gradually increased in recent years. With the understanding of the regenerative role of fat and adipose stem cells, physicians have found that surgical treatment of scleroderma can improve morphology while reversing the state of the diseased tissue, acting as a local treatment or slowing progression. This paper briefly described the etiology and classification of scleroderma, analyzed the current status of scleroderma treatment and focused on the surgical treatment strategy of scleroderma, providing guidelines for the surgical management of scleroderma.

Excessive N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine(NAPQI)formation is a starting event that triggers oxidative stress and subsequent hepatocyte necrosis in acetaminophen(APAP)overdose caused acute liver failure(ALF).S-glutathionylation is a reversible redox post-translational modification and a prospective mechanism of APAP hepatotoxicity.Glutaredoxin-1(Glrx1),a glutathione-specific thioltransferase,is a primary enzyme to catalyze deglutathionylation.The objective of this study was to explored whether and how Glrx1 is associated with the development of ALF induced by APAP.The Glrx1 knockout mice(Glrx1-/-)and liver-specific overexpression of Glrx1(AAV8-Glrx1)mice were produced and underwent APAP-induced ALF.Pirfenidone(PFD),a potential inducer of Glrx1,was administrated preceding APAP to assess its protective effects.Our results revealed that the hepatic total protein S-glutathionylation(PSSG)increased and the Glrx1 level reduced in mice after APAP toxicity.Glrx1-/- mice were more sensitive to APAP overdose,with higher oxidative stress and more toxic metabolites of APAP.This was attributed to Glrx1 deficiency increasing the total hepatic PSSG and the S-glutathionylation of cytochrome p450 3a 11(Cyp3a11),which likely increased the activity of Cyp3a11.Conversely,AAV8-Glrx1 mice were defended against liver damage caused by APAP overdose by inhibiting the S-glutathionylation and activity of Cyp3a11,which reduced the toxic metabolites of APAP and oxidative stress.PFD precede administration upregulated Glrx1 expression and alleviated APAP-induced ALF by decreasing oxidative stress.We have identified the function of Glrx1 mediated PSSG in liver injury caused by APAP overdose.Increasing Glrx1 expression may be investigated for the medical treatment of APAP-caused hepatic injury.