ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of modified Si Junzitang and Shashen Maidong Tang ［Yiqi Yangyin Jiedu prescription （YQYYJD）］ in enhancing the sensitivity of cisplatin in epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor （EGFR-TKI）-resistant lung adenocarcinoma cells based on aerobic glycolysis. MethodsThe effects of different concentrations of YQYYJD （0， 2， 3， 4， 5， 6， 7， 8 g·L^-1） and cisplatin （0， 3， 6， 9， 12， 15， 18， 21， 24， 27 mg·L^-1） on the proliferation and activity of PC9/GR cells were detected by the cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay after 24 hours of intervention. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration （IC₅₀） for PC9/GR cells was calculated to determine the concentrations used in subsequent experiments. PC9/GR cells were divided into blank group （complete medium）， YQYYJD group （5 g·L^-1）， cisplatin group （12 mg·L^-1）， and combined group （YQYYJD 5 g·L^-1 + cisplatin 12 mg·L^-1）. After 24 hours of intervention， cell viability was measured using CCK-8 assay. Cell proliferation was assessed by colony formation assay， and cell migration was evaluated by scratch and Transwell assays. Glucose consumption， lactate production， and adenosine triphosphate （ATP） levels were measured by colorimetric assays. The expression levels of glycolysis-related proteins， including hexokinase 2 （HK2）， phosphofructokinase P （PFKP）， pyruvate kinase M2 （PKM2）， lactate dehydrogenase A （LDHA）， glucose transporter 1 （GLUT1）， and monocarboxylate transporter 4 （MCT4）， were determined by Western blot. ResultsBoth YQYYJD and cisplatin inhibited the viability of PC9/GR cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The IC₅₀ of PC9/GR cells for YQYYJD and cisplatin were 5.15 g·L^-1 and 12.91 mg·L^-1， respectively. In terms of cell proliferation， compared with the blank group， the cell survival rate and the number of colonies formed in the YQYYJD group， cisplatin group， and combined group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the YQYYJD and cisplatin groups， the combined group showed a further significant reduction in cell survival rate and colony formation （P<0.01）. In terms of cell migration， compared with the blank group， the cell migration rate and the number of cells passing through the Transwell membrane in the YQYYJD group， cisplatin group， and combined group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the YQYYJD and cisplatin groups， the combined group exhibited a further significant reduction in cell migration rate and the number of cells passing through the Transwell membrane （P<0.01）. In terms of glycolysis， compared with the blank group， glucose consumption， lactate production， and ATP levels in the YQYYJD group， cisplatin group， and combined group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the YQYYJD and cisplatin groups， the combined group showed a further significant reduction in glucose consumption， lactate production， and ATP levels （P<0.05）. Compared with the blank group， the protein expression levels of HK2， PFKP， PKM2， and LDHA in the YQYYJD， cisplatin， and combined groups were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The combined group showed a further significant reduction in the expression levels of these proteins compared with the YQYYJD and cisplatin groups （P<0.01）. No significant differences were observed in the protein expression levels of GLUT1 and MCT4 among the groups. ConclusionYQYYJD can synergistically inhibit the proliferation and migration of PC9/GR cells and enhance their sensitivity to cisplatin. The mechanism may be related to the downregulation of the expression of glycolysis-related rate-limiting enzymes， including HK2， PFKP， PKM2， and LDHA， thereby inhibiting glycolysis.

ObjectiveBased on the adenosine 5'-monophosphate （AMP）-activated protein kinase/protein kinase B/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （AMPK/Akt/Nrf2） pathway， this study aims to explore the mechanism by which modified Guishenwan improves glucose and lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS） rats. MethodsA PCOS rat model was established by continuous oral administration of letrozole （1 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） for 21 days. Successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group， a metformin group （0.25 g·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose modified Guishenwan groups （4.01， 8.02， and 16.04 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， with 8 rats in each group. Ten normal rats were assigned to the normal group. The drug groups were given their respective doses， while the normal and model groups were given an equal volume of normal saline. Intervention lasted for 4 weeks. Testosterone （T）， estradiol （E₂）， follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， and luteinizing hormone （LH） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the LH/FSH ratio was calculated. Fasting blood glucose （FPG）， fasting insulin （FINS）， triglyceride （TG）， and total cholesterol （TC） levels were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer， and the insulin resistance index （HOMA-IR） and insulin sensitivity index （HOMA-ISI） were calculated. Oral glucose tolerance test （OGTT） and insulin tolerance test （ITT） were conducted. Malondialdehyde （MDA）， advanced glycation end products （AGEs）， and superoxide dismutase （SOD） levels in serum and ovarian tissue were measured using a chemical fluorescence method. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to assess ovarian tissue pathology. Real-time quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot were used to measure the expression of AMPK/Akt/Nrf2 pathway-related genes and proteins in ovarian tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group exhibited significantly increased levels of T， LH， LH/FSH， FPG， FINS， TG， TC， and HOMA-IR， while FSH， E₂， and HOMA-ISI were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. MDA and AGEs levels were significantly higher in both serum and ovarian tissue， and SOD levels were significantly reduced （P<0.05）. AMPK， Akt， and Nrf2 mRNA and protein expression in ovarian tissue was also significantly reduced （P<0.05）. The OGTT and ITT results showed significantly higher blood glucose levels at each time point （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with impaired glucose and insulin tolerance. Ovarian follicles showed polycystic changes， reduced corpus luteum， and sparse granulosa cell layers. Compared with the model group， the metformin group and the high-dose modified Guishenwan group showed significant decreases in T， LH， LH/FSH， FPG， FINS， TG， TC， and HOMA-IR， while FSH， E₂， and HOMA-ISI were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In the high-dose modified Guishenwan group， MDA and AGEs levels in serum and ovarian tissue were significantly reduced， and SOD levels were significantly increased （P<0.05）. The mRNA and protein expression of AMPK， Akt， and Nrf2 in ovarian tissue was significantly increased （P<0.05）. OGTT and ITT results showed that blood glucose levels in rats decreased significantly at each time point （P<0.05， P<0.01）. No obvious abnormalities were observed in ovarian tissue. Compared with the low-dose modified Guishenwan group， the high-dose group showed significant decreases in T， LH， LH/FSH， FPG， FINS， TG， TC， and HOMA-IR， while FSH， E₂， and HOMA-ISI were significantly increased （P<0.05）. OGTT and ITT results indicated that the high-dose modified Guishenwan group significantly improved glucose and insulin tolerance in rats. No significant abnormalities were observed in ovarian tissue. ConclusionModified Guishenwan effectively improves glucose and lipid metabolism abnormalities and inhibits oxidative stress in PCOS rats， potentially through regulation of the AMPK/Akt/Nrf2 pathway.

In recent years, with the clinical application of minimally invasive surgical techniques and comprehensive preoperative treatment, the survival rate of locally advanced esophageal cancer has significantly improved. However, the treatment of metastatic esophagogastric cancer still relies mainly on systemic therapy, and immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has become a first-line treatment option, prolonging the survival of patients with metastatic esophageal cancer. Oligometastatic esophageal cancer is expected to bring survival benefits through systemic therapy combined with local treatment. The 2024 European clinical practice guidelines for oligometastatic esophagogastric cancer have been officially released, which standardize the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of oligometastatic esophageal cancer for further prospective studies. The authors interpret this guideline, especially by reviewing the clinical evidence of oligometastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, to provide reference for the diagnosis and treatment of oligometastatic esophageal cancer in China.

Objective To isolate pathogenic bacteria from the skin of a nude mouse exhibiting squamous skin scurfs, and perform bacterial identification, traceability analysis, and pathogenicity studies to provide a new approach for the diagnosis of pathogens in nude mice with squamous skin scurfs. MethodsSkin swab samples were collected from a nude mouse exhibiting squamous skin scurfs for nucleic acid testing, bacterial isolation and culture, biochemical identification, 16S rDNA gene amplification and sequencing, and whole genome sequencing to construct a phylogenetic tree. Fifteen BALB/c nude mice were randomized into a saline-treated control group, a high-concentration group treated with 1.8×10⁸ CFU/mL of the isolated bacterial suspension, and a low-concentration group treated with 1.8×10⁷ CFU/mL of the isolated bacterial suspension. Pathogenicity was assessed by animal infection experiments and observation of histopathological changes in skin tissue using HE staining. Results The nucleic acid test for Corynebacterium bovis was negative, excluding infection by this organism. The pathogen isolated on mannitol salt agar and blood agar, combined with Gram staining, suggested a Gram-positive Staphylococcus species. The isolated strain was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing and a fully automated microbial identification system as Staphylococcus xylosus. Phylogenetic tree analysis based on whole genome sequencing showed that the strain was most closely related to an isolate from leafy vegetables in South Korea (GenBank GCA_00207825.1). In the high-concentration group, squamous skin scurfs appeared on the head, neck, and back of nude mice on the 17th day post-infection, while in the low concentration group, similar symptoms appeared on the 20th day post-infection and gradually spread to other areas. The scaling symptoms were transient, lasting for 7 days in the high-concentration group and 3 days in the low-concentration group, after which the skin returned to normal. The infection rate was 33.33% in both the high- and low-concentration groups. No significant pathological changes were observed in the skin tissues of infected mice compared to the control group, indicating marked individual differences in the pathogenicity of the strain in nude mice. Conclusion A strain of Staphylococcus xylosus was isolated from the skin of a nude mouse exhibiting squamous skin scurfs. The strain is an opportunistic pathogen that causes transient squamous skin scurfs without significant histopathological changes, and there are individual differences in the sensitivity of nude mice to this strain. These findings can provide valuable data for pathogen identification in immunodeficient or gene knockout mice.

Objective To isolate pathogenic bacteria from the skin of a nude mouse exhibiting squamous skin scurfs, and perform bacterial identification, traceability analysis, and pathogenicity studies to provide a new approach for the diagnosis of pathogens in nude mice with squamous skin scurfs. MethodsSkin swab samples were collected from a nude mouse exhibiting squamous skin scurfs for nucleic acid testing, bacterial isolation and culture, biochemical identification, 16S rDNA gene amplification and sequencing, and whole genome sequencing to construct a phylogenetic tree. Fifteen BALB/c nude mice were randomized into a saline-treated control group, a high-concentration group treated with 1.8×10⁸ CFU/mL of the isolated bacterial suspension, and a low-concentration group treated with 1.8×10⁷ CFU/mL of the isolated bacterial suspension. Pathogenicity was assessed by animal infection experiments and observation of histopathological changes in skin tissue using HE staining. Results The nucleic acid test for Corynebacterium bovis was negative, excluding infection by this organism. The pathogen isolated on mannitol salt agar and blood agar, combined with Gram staining, suggested a Gram-positive Staphylococcus species. The isolated strain was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing and a fully automated microbial identification system as Staphylococcus xylosus. Phylogenetic tree analysis based on whole genome sequencing showed that the strain was most closely related to an isolate from leafy vegetables in South Korea (GenBank GCA_00207825.1). In the high-concentration group, squamous skin scurfs appeared on the head, neck, and back of nude mice on the 17th day post-infection, while in the low concentration group, similar symptoms appeared on the 20th day post-infection and gradually spread to other areas. The scaling symptoms were transient, lasting for 7 days in the high-concentration group and 3 days in the low-concentration group, after which the skin returned to normal. The infection rate was 33.33% in both the high- and low-concentration groups. No significant pathological changes were observed in the skin tissues of infected mice compared to the control group, indicating marked individual differences in the pathogenicity of the strain in nude mice. Conclusion A strain of Staphylococcus xylosus was isolated from the skin of a nude mouse exhibiting squamous skin scurfs. The strain is an opportunistic pathogen that causes transient squamous skin scurfs without significant histopathological changes, and there are individual differences in the sensitivity of nude mice to this strain. These findings can provide valuable data for pathogen identification in immunodeficient or gene knockout mice.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the ameliorating effect and mechanism of the effective substance groups from Artemisia ordosica（Abbreviated as HSH） on rheumatoid arthritis （RA） based on cluster of differentiation 4/lymphocyte cell-specific protein- tyrosine kinase/zeta-chain-associated protein kinase of 70 kDa/interleukin-17（CD4/LCK/ZAP70/IL-17） signaling pathway. METHODS The rats were divided into normal group， model group， HSH low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups （2.7， 10.8， 21.6 mg/kg） and positive control group （Tripterygium glycosides tablet， 6.3 mg/kg）， with 10 rats in each group. Except for normal group， RA rat model was induced by complete Freund’s adjuvant in other groups. After modeling， each group was given relevant medicine or normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for 28 consecutive days. The changes in ankle joint swelling and arthritis index in rats were determined； the pathological changes of ankle joint tissue were observed； the levels of inflammatory factors [IL-1β， IL-21， IL-17A， IL-2， interferon-γ （IFN-γ） and IL-6] in serum and joint fluid of rats were determined； the levels of Th1， Th17 and Treg cells in the whole blood and spleen of rats were detected； protein and mRNA expressions of LCK， proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Fyn （Fyn）， ZAP70， CD45， RAR-related orphan receptor γt （RORγt）， and forkhead box protein 3 （Foxp3） in ankle synovial tissue were determined. RESULTS Compared with normal group， the changes in ankle joint swelling， arthritis index， the levels of IL-1β， IL-21， IL-17A， IL-2， IFN-γ and IL-6 in serum and joint fluid， the levels of Th1， Th17 cells and Th17/Treg value in whole blood and spleen， and the protein and mRNA expression levels of LCK， Fyn， ZAP70， CD45， and RORγt in ankle joint synovium were all significantly increased/elevated （P＜0.05）. The level of Treg cells in the spleen， as well as the protein and mRNA expression levels of Foxp3 in the ankle joint synovium were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group， most of the above-mentioned indicators were significantly reversed in the positive control group and all dose groups of HSH （P＜0.05）. The degree of pathological changes in ankle joint tissues was markedly improved， and inflammation was alleviated. CONCLUSIONS HSH can regulate the cascade reactions in the CD4/LCK/ZAP70/IL-17 pathway within the T-cell receptor signaling pathway， thereby modulating the Th17/Treg balance. This leads to the suppression of inflammatory responses and the alleviation of synovial tissue damage in rats with RA.

Objective: To explore the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of primary prostatic signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC), so as to provide reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 6 patients with primary prostatic SRCC treated in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital during Nov.2020 and Sep.2024.The clinical manifestations, imaging features, treatment methods, histological characteristics and prognosis were summarized. Results: The average age of the patients was (72.00±4.28) years.Varying degrees of dysuria occurred in 4 patients. All patients underwent multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) examination before surgery, and the results indicated typical prostate cancer.Preoperative biopsies showed high-grade (Gleason 8-10) prostate acinar adenocarcinoma.Postoperative pathological diagnoses were mixed types of prostate acinar adenocarcinoma and SRCC, and no metastasis was found in the pelvic lymph nodes.All patients were followed up for 1 to 46 months after surgery and are currently alive.Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy only was performed in 3 cases; apalutamide and leuprolide/triptorelin was administered after surgery in 2 cases; bicalutamide + goserelin was administered after surgery in 1 case, who developed bladder metastasis of prostate cancer 24 months later, and the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration decreased to a safe level (<0.2 ng/mL) after the use of darolutamide with radiotherapy.No recurrence or metastasis was found in the remaining patients. Conclusion: Primary prostatic SRCC is a rare and highly aggressive malignant tumor of the prostate.The diagnosis depends on pathological examinations due to lack of specific imaging features and clinical manifestations.The prognosis is poor, and there is currently no standardized treatment.The combined use of surgery, hormonotherapy and radiotherapy can help improve the survival rate of patients.

Objective: To investigate the safety and feasibility of transurethral blue laser vaporization of the prostate (BVP) under intravenous anesthesia without intubation. Methods: Clinical data of 30 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (prostate volume <40 mL) patients undergoing BVP under intravenous anesthesia without intubation in our hospital during Jul.and Nov.2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Preoperative and 1-month postoperative international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life score (QoL), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and postvoid residual volume (PVR) were compared.The operation time, cumulative blue laser activation time, recovery time, postoperative bladder irrigation time, postoperative catheter indwelling time, postoperative 2-hour visual analog scale (VAS) score and incidence of surgical and anesthetic complications were recorded. Results: All 30 patients successfully completed BVP under intravenous anesthesia without intubation.The operation time was (12.5±5.0) min, cumulative laser activation time (9.8±4.1) min, recovery time (6.8±1.2) min, postoperative bladder irrigation time (11.0±4.6) h, postoperative catheter indwelling time (2.7±1.1) days and postoperative 2-hour VAS score was (3.0±1.3).No cases required conversion to intubated general anesthesia, and no severe perioperative surgical or anesthetic complications occurred.Significant improvements in IPSS, QoL, Qmax, and PVR were observed 1 month postoperatively (P＜0.001). Conclusion: BVP under intravenous anesthesia without intubation in the treatment of prostate volume <40 mL BPH is clinically feasible, significantly improving lower urinary tract symptoms without significant surgical or anesthetic complications.

This article presents the diagnosis and treatment processes, and morphological and genetic testing of Gongylonema pulchrum in a case with G. pulchrum found in the oral mucosa. In addition, this article reviews publications pertaining to G. pulchrum human infections by Chinese scientists during the recent 10 years and summarizes the demographic and clinical characteristics, location and number of parasites, diagnosis and treatment processes, and epidemiological surveys of cases infected with G. pulchrum, so as to provide insights into improving the diagnostic capability among clinicians.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of timosaponin BⅡ （TBⅡ） combined with icariin （ICA） on osteoclast （OC）-osteoblast （OB） coupling and decipher the mechanism from the cellular level. MethodsThe cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） was used to assess the effects of different concentrations of TBⅡ and different concentrations of TBⅡ+ICA on the growth of RAW264.7 cells. Soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand （sRANKL） was used to induce the differentiation of RAW264.7 pre-osteoclasts into osteoclasts. The cells were allocated into sRANKL， TBⅡ （1， 5， 10 μmol·L^-1）， and TBⅡ+ICA groups. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining was performed to assess the effects of TBⅡ and TBⅡ+ICA on osteoclast differentiation. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was conducted to examine the effects of TBⅡ+ICA on the expression of key genes involved in osteoclast differentiation and osteoclast-derived coupling factors. The osteogenic differentiation conditioned medium mixed with osteoclast supernatant was used to induce osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red S staining were employed to determine the effect of TBⅡ+ICA on osteogenic differentiation. Real-time PCR was employed to evaluate the effects of conditioned medium on key genes involved in osteogenic differentiation. ResultsTBⅡ at 1， 5， 10 μmol·L^-1 had no significant effect on the cell survival rate. Compared with the sRANKL group， TBⅡ inhibited osteoclast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner and achieved the best effect at 10 μmol·L^-1 （P<0.01）. Compared with the sRANKL group， different concentrations of TBⅡ down-regulated the mRNA levels of osteoclast differentiation-related genes c-Fos， RANK， and RANKL （P<0.05）. None of 10 μmol·L^-1 TBⅡ， 10 μmol·L^-1 TBⅡ+10^-4 μmol·L^-1 ICA， or 10 μmol·L^-1 TBⅡ+10^-3 μmol·L^-1 ICA affected the viability of RAW264.7 cells. TBⅡ and/or ICA inhibited osteoclast differentiation （P<0.01）， and TBⅡ + ICA had the best effect （P<0.01）. Compared with the sRANKL group， TBⅡ and/or ICA down-regulated the mRNA levels of c-Fos， RANK， and RANKL （P<0.05）. The single application of TBⅡ and ICA had no significant effect on the mRNA levels of Wnt10b， Cthrc1， and C3a， while TBⅡ+ICA exerted up-regulating effects （P<0.05）. Compared with those in the blank group， the bone differentiation and mineralization abilities of the normal osteogenic induction group and each osteogenic induction + osteoclast supernatant group were improved （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the normal osteogenic induction group and the osteogenic induction + osteoclast supernatant group showed up-regulated mRNA levels of Runx2 and OCN （P<0.01）. ConclusionTBⅡ+ICA can inhibit osteoclast differentiation， maintain the normal osteoclast-osteoblast coupling， and promote osteogenic differentiation.