Nitazoxanide is an FDA-approved antiprotozoal drug. Our previous study found that oral administration of nitazoxanide inhibited Western diet (WD)-induced hepatic steatosis in ApoE^-/- mice. However, the specific mechanism remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we performed an untargeted metabolomics approach to reveal the effect of nitazoxanide on the liver metabolic profiles in WD-fed ApoE^-/- mice, and carried out the cellular experiments to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. UPLC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics analysis was used to investigate the effect of nitazoxanide on global metabolite changes in liver tissues. The differential metabolites were screened for enrichment analysis and pathway analysis. Hepatocytes were treated with tizoxanide, the metabolite of nitazoxanide, to investigate the underlying mechanism based on the findings in metabolomics study. The improvement of liver lipid metabolism disorders by nitazoxanide treatment in WD-fed ApoE^-/- mice was mainly through regulating glycerophospholipid metabolism, D-glutamine and glutamate metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and arginine biosynthesis metabolism. Tizoxanide, the active metabolite of nitazoxanide, increased glutathione (GSH) contents and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (Gcl-c) and glutathione reductase (Gsr) mRNA expressions in HepG2 cells. Tizoxanide increased cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) protein levels, inhibited lipid accumulation in hepatocytes induced by free fatty acid (FFA). Tizoxanide increased S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (SAHH) protein levels in HepG2 cells and mouse primary liver cells stimulated with free fatty acid (FFA). Tizoxanide increased N-acetyl glutamate synthase (Nags) and carbamoylphosphate synthetase 1 (Cps1) mRNA expressions in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, nitazoxanide improves WD-induced hepatic steatosis in ApoE^-/- mice and the underlying mechanisms include increasing CBS expression, GSH content, PEMT protein expression, Nags and Cps1 mRNA expression in hepatocytes.

The biological clock(also known as the circadian rhythm)is the fundamental reliance for all organisms on Earth to adapt and survive in the Earth's rotation environment.Circadian rhythm is the most basic regulatory mechanism of life activities,and plays a key role in maintaining normal physiological and biochemical homeostasis,disease occurrence and treatment.Recent studies have shown that the biologi-cal clock plays an important role in the development of oral tissues and in the occurrence and treatment of oral diseases.Since there is cur-rently no guiding literature on the research methods of biological clock in stomatology,researchers mainly conduct research based on pub-lished references,which has led to controversy about the research methods of biological clock in stomatology,and there are many confusions about how to rationally apply the research methods of circadia rhythms.In view of this,this expert consensus summarizes the characteristics of the biological clock and analyzes the shortcomings of the current biological clock research in stomatology,and organizes relevant experts to summarize and recommend 10 principles as a reference for the rational implementation of the biological clock in stomatology research.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of circadian clock protein Bmal1(Bmal1)on renal injury with chronic periodontitis,we established an experimental rat periodontitis model.Methods Twelve male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and periodontitis groups(n=6,each group).The first maxillary molars on both sides of the upper jaw of rats with periodontitis were ligated by using orthodontic ligature wires,whereas the control group re-ceived no intervention measures.After 8 weeks,clinical periodontal parameters,including probing depth,bleeding index,and tooth mobility,were evaluated in both groups.Micro-CT scanning and three-dimensional image recon-struction were performed on the maxillary bones of the rats for the assessment of alveolar bone resorption.Histopatholo-gical observations of periodontal and renal tissues were conducted using hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and periodic acid-Schiff(PAS)staining.Renal function indicators,such as creatinine,albumin,and blood urea nitrogen levels,and oxida-tive stress markers,including superoxide dismutase,glutathione,and malondialdehyde levels,were measured using bio-chemical assay kits.MitoSOX red staining was used to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS)content in the kidneys.The gene and protein expression levels of Bmal1,nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2),and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)in rat renal tissues were assessed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and immuno-histochemical staining.Results Micro-CT and HE staining results showed significant bone resorption and attachment loss in the maxillary first molar region of the periodontitis group.Histological examination through HE and PAS staining revealed substantial histopathological damage to the renal tissues of the rats in the periodontitis group.The findings of the assessment of renal function and oxidative stress markers indicated that the periodontitis group exhibited abnormal levels of oxidative stress,whereas the renal function levels showed abnormalities without statistical significance.Mito-SOX Red staining results showed that the content of ROS in the renal tissue of the periodontitis group was significantly higher than that of the control group,and RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry results showed that the expression levels of Bmal1,Nrf2,and HO-1 in the renal tissues of the rats in the periodontitis group showed a decreasing trend.Conclu-sion Circadian clock protein Bmal1 plays an important role in the oxidative damage process involved in the renal of rats with periodontitis.

Objective This study aims to explore changes in uncoupling protein 2(UCP2)in experimental periodonti-tis-associated renal injury induced by ligation and investigate the effect of UCP2 on renal injury induced by periodontitis.Methods Twelve Wistar male rats were randomly divided into two groups:control and periodontitis groups.A periodon-tal model was built by ligating the maxillary first molars area with 0.2 mm orthodontic ligature wire.After 8 weeks,the in-traoral condition of the rats was observed and periodontal clinical indices such as gingival bleeding index(BI),periodontal probing depth(PD),and tooth mobility(TM)were detected.The maxillary bone was scanned by Micro CT to observe the alveolar bone resorption.The tissue mineral density(TMD),bone mineral density(BMD),bone volume fraction(BV/TV),trabecular thickness(Tb.Th),trabecular bone separation(Tb.Sp)were recorded,and the distance from the enamel bone boundary to the alveolar crest(CEJ-ABC)of the maxillary first molar was measured.The oxidative stress indexes such as malondialdehyde,glutathione(GSH),and superoxide dismutase(SOD)were detected using frozen rat kidney tissue.The gene expression of UCP2,nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2),and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α(PGC-1α)was observed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)test.The gingival tissue of the rats was used for immunohistochemical staining to observe the expression of the UCP2 protein.The fixed rat kidney tissue was used for hematoxylin-eosin(HE),periodic acid-schiff(PAS),MitoSOX Red,JC-1,and immu-nohistochemical staining to observe the renal histopathology,the level of reactive oxygen species(ROS),the level of mito-chondrial membrane potential,and the expression of UCP2,Nrf2,and PGC-1α protein.Rat serum was collected to detect renal function indices,namely,blood urea nitrogen(BUN),creatinine(Cre),and albumin(Alb).Results Compared with the control group,the periodontitis group showed red,swollen,and soft gingival tissue,with gingival probing bleeding,periodontal PD increased,tooth loosening,alveolar bone resorption,decreased TMD,BMD,BV/TV,and Tb.Th indices,and increased Tb.Sp index,CEJ-ABC,and gingival UCP2 protein expression.Compared with the control group,the levels of MDA and ROS in the kidney tissue of periodontitis rats and the gene and protein expression of UCP2 increased,and the levels of MMP,GSH,and SOD and the gene and protein expression of Nrf2 and PGC-1α decreased.Renal functional indi-ces,namely,BUN,Cre,and Alb,were not significantly different between the two groups.Conclusion UCP2 may play a role in renal injury induced by periodontitis through oxidative stress.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of Yiqi Yangyin decoction in the treatment of thyroid cancer by means of network pharmacology and molecular docking technique.Meth-ods:the chemical constituents of 10 kinds of Yiqi Yangyin decoction were searched by HERB database,the active components were screened by PubChem and SwissADNE,and the action targets of active components were predicted by Swisstargetprediction.The disease targets after operation of thyroid cancer were obtained by searching the databases of GeneCards,OMIM,Dis-GeNET and DrugBank.The intersection target of drug and disease was obtained by Venny2.1.0 platform,the intersection target protein interaction network was constructed by String database,and the core target protein was screened by Cytoscape3.9.1,the drug-active ingredient-target network map was constructed by Cytoscape3.9.1,and the key active components were obtained;the enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG was carried out using Metascape database;and the molecular docking verification of key targets and key components was carried out.Results:157active components of Yiqi Yangyin decoction were obtained,and 507targets of active compo-nents were predicted,1817 targets of thyroid cancer-related diseases and 154targets of drug-disease intersection were obtained.The key target genes of SRC,HSP90AA1,PIK3R1,PIK3CA and AKT1 were obtained by PPI analysis.Quercetin,kaempferol and luteolin were the key active components.Molecular docking showed that the key targets and key active components had good affinity.KEGG enrichment analysis showed that cancer pathway,PI3K-Akt pathway and HIF-1 pathway were the key pathways of drug action.Conclusion:Yiqi Yangyin decoction can play a therapeutic role in anti-inflammation,anti-tumor and improving tissue microenvironment with multi-components,multi-targets and multi-pathways.

Objective:To investigate short-term safety, efficacy and the learning curve of this self-developed novel transcatheter valve repair system (Neonova?) in patients with mitral regurgitation, and explore the role of perioperative echocardiography.Methods:Ten patients who visited the Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from June 2021 to March 2022 and met the inclusive criteria were prospectively enrolled. All the patients were at high risk of surgery with moderate to severe or severe mitral regurgitation (MR). Clamps of Neonova? were implanted under guidance of transesophageal echocardiography and digital subtraction angiography. Clinical outcomes, echocardiography indexes and learning curves of this technique were evaluated immediately after intervention, 7 d, 1 month and 3 months post-intervention.Results:The technical success rate was 100% with MR relieved in all patients immediately after intervention. The device and procedural success rates were both 90.0% with 1 patient received surgical replacement at 37 days post-intervention while the others′ reduced to mild (8/9) and moderate (1/9) MR. New York Heart Association class and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire improved significantly (all P<0.001). Mean mitral valve pressure gradient didn′t increase significantly after intervention when compared with that before intervention( P=0.324), and no mitral stenosis was observed. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased significantly ( P=0.008) during follow up.Procedure duration ranged from 60 to 300 (175.8±75.2)minutes. The simple linear regression model between procedure volume and duration showed that procedure duration decreased significantly with the increase of procedure volume ( F=15.857, P=0.004). Conclusions:Neonova? implantation can improve MR severity and clinical symptoms safely and effectively. Transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography are essential for perioperative management of transcatheter mitral valve repair.

【Objective】 To analyze the commonality and characteristics between voluntary blood donors and hematopoietic stem cell donors in this region, and explore the potential for integration and development between China Marrow Donors Program (CMDP) and voluntary blood donors, especially platelet donor databases, so as to improve recruitment success rate and inventory rate. 【Methods】 The database modeling and comparison methods were used to screen and stratify the matching and integration degree between the voluntary blood donors in recent 10 years and the marrow donors in the Shaanxi Branch of CMDP. The frequencies of HLA-A,-B alleles, HPA alleles and haplotypes were calculated with Arlequin 3. 5. 2. 2 software, and the matching probability of different platelet donor reserve pools was conducted according to the phenotypic frequencies. 【Results】 Among the voluntary donors with known HLA genotypes in this region, according to their blood donation behavior,the active blood donors excavated were divided into the first, second, third and fourth echelons of platelet donor reserve pools, with 696, 2 752, 9 092 and 12 028 donors, respectively. The first echelon had the highest proportion of 10-50 times of platelet donations and 10-20 times of whole blood donations, with 13.65% and 26.01%, respectively. The second echelon had 10-20 times of whole blood donations and 10-50 times of platelet donations, accounted for 15.04% and 1.38%, respectively, which were significantly different from other echelons' blood donation characteristics (P<0.05). With a database size of the existing platelet donor bank adding the first and second echelons (n=4 955), there was a 69.02% probability of matching at least one donor with matching HLA-A-B phenotype. When considering the matching ABO and HPA phenotypes, the probability of finding at least one donor with fully matching HLA, HPA and ABO isotype (type B as an example) was 48. 73%. 【Conclusion】 The three groups of whole blood donation, apheresis platelet donation and marrow donation in Xi'an area have a large cross-distribution. Compared with expanding the storage capacity from scratch, the active blood donors in CMDP database are the largest back-up force of platelet donors. While expanding the effective storage capacity, it can minimize the cost of building platelet donor bank and the demand for resources.

Chronic heart failure(CHF) is a comprehensive clinical syndrome caused by multiple factors that result in structural and/or functional abnormalities of the heart, leading to impaired ventricular contraction and/or relaxation functions. This medical condition represents the final stage of various cardiovascular diseases. In the treatment of CHF, multiple clinical studies have demonstrated the benefits of using traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) to control oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, thereby delaying ventricular remodeling and reducing myocardial fibrosis. In this study, common TCM syndromes in the diagnosis and treatment of CHF in recent years were reviewed and summarized. Five common treatment methods including benefiting Qi and activating blood circulation, enhancing Qi and nourishing Yin, warming Yang for diuresis, eliminating phlegm and dampness, rescuing from collapse by restoring Yang, and corresponding classic prescriptions in prevention and treatment of CHF were concluded under the guidance of TCM syndrome differentiation thinking. Meanwhile, research progress on the modern pharmacological effects of these classic prescriptions was systematically discussed, so as to establish a unique treatment system for CHF by classic prescriptions under the guidance of TCM syndrome differentiation theory and provide innovative diagnosis and treatment strategies for clinical CHF.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Heart Failure/drug therapy* ; Chronic Disease ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Salvianolic acid A (SAA) can restore cartilage endplate cell degeneration of intervertebral discs and to identify the mechanism via regulation of micro-RNA. METHODS: Cartilage endplate cells were isolated from lumbar intervertebral disc surgical samples and were treated with serum containing a series of concentrations of SAA (2, 5, and 10 ?M) for 24, 48, and 72 h to identify a proper dose and treatment time of SAA. The effect SAA on interlenkin-1β (IL-1β)-induced extracellular matrix degradation of cartilage endplate cells were analyzed by Alcian blue staining and assessment of the expression levels of ADAMTS-5, MMP3 and Col2a1. Further, the potential target miRNAs were preliminarily screened by micro-RNA sequencing combining qRT-PCR and Western blot, and then, the miRNAs mimics and inhibitors were used to verify the regulatory effect of SAA on potential target miRNAs. RESULTS: The 10 μM SAA treatment for 48 h significantly enhanced the viability of cartilage endplate cells, and increased Col2a1 expression and glycosaminoglycan accumulation that were repressed by IL-1β, and reduced the effect of IL-1β on ADAMTS-5, and MMP3. Screening analysis based on micro-RNA sequencing and Venny analysis identified the downstream micro-RNAs, including miR-940 and miR-576-5p. Then, the miR-940-mimic or miR-576-5p-mimic were transfected into CEPCs. Compared with the SAA group, the expression of ADAMTS-5 and MMP3 increased significantly and the expression of COL2A1 obviously decreased after overexpression of miR-940 or miR-576-5p in CEPCs. CONCLUSION Salvianolic acid A attenuated the IL-1β-induced extracellular matrix degradation of cartilage endplate cells by targeting regulate the miR-940 and the miR-576-5p.
Humans ; Apoptosis ; Cartilage/metabolism* ; Chondrocytes/metabolism* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3/metabolism* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism*

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer patients who are positive for hormone receptor typically exhibit a favorable prognosis. It is controversial whether chemotherapy is necessary for them after surgery. Our study aimed to establish a multigene model to predict the relapse of hormone receptor-positive early-stage Chinese breast cancer after surgery and direct individualized application of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients after surgery. METHODS: In this study, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between relapse and nonrelapse breast cancer groups based on RNA sequencing. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to identify potential relapse-relevant pathways. CIBERSORT and Microenvironment Cell Populations-counter algorithms were used to analyze immune infiltration. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, log-rank tests, and multiple Cox regression were performed to identify prognostic signatures. A predictive model was developed and validated based on Kaplan-Meier analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). RESULTS: A total of 234 out of 487 patients were enrolled in this study, and 1588 DEGs were identified between the relapse and nonrelapse groups. GSEA results showed that immune-related pathways were enriched in the nonrelapse group, whereas cell cycle- and metabolism-relevant pathways were enriched in the relapse group. A predictive model was developed using three genes ( CKMT1B , SMR3B , and OR11M1P ) generated from the LASSO regression. The model stratified breast cancer patients into high- and low-risk subgroups with significantly different prognostic statuses, and our model was independent of other clinical factors. Time-dependent ROC showed high predictive performance of the model. CONCLUSIONS A multigene model was established from RNA-sequencing data to direct risk classification and predict relapse of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in Chinese patients. Utilization of the model could provide individualized evaluation of chemotherapy after surgery for breast cancer patients.
Humans ; Female ; Breast Neoplasms/genetics* ; East Asian People ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/genetics* ; Breast ; Algorithms ; Chronic Disease ; Prognosis ; Tumor Microenvironment