Optical imaging is highly valued for its superior temporal and spatial resolution. This is particularly important in near-infrared II (NIR-II, 1 000-3 000 nm) imaging, which offers advantages such as reduced tissue absorption, minimal scattering, and low autofluorescence. These characteristics make NIR-II imaging especially suitable for deep tissue visualization, where high contrast and minimal background interference are critical for accurate diagnosis and monitoring. Currently, inorganic fluorescent probes—such as carbon nanotubes, rare earth nanoparticles, and quantum dots—offer high brightness and stability. However, they are hindered by ambiguous structures, larger sizes, and potential accumulation toxicity in vivo. In contrast, organic fluorescent probes, including small molecules and polymers, demonstrate higher biocompatibility but are limited by shorter emission wavelengths, lower quantum yields, and reduced stability. Recently, gold clusters have emerged as a promising class of nanomaterials with potential applications in biocatalysis, fluorescence sensing, biological imaging, and more. Water-soluble gold clusters are particularly attractive as fluorescent probes due to their remarkable optical properties, including strong photoluminescence, large Stokes shifts, and excellent photostability. Furthermore, their outstanding biocompatibility—attributed to good aqueous stability, ultra-small hydrodynamic size, and high renal clearance efficiency—makes them especially suitable for biomedical applications. Gold clusters hold significant potential for NIR-II fluorescence imaging. Atomic-precision gold clusters, typically composed of tens to hundreds of gold atoms and measuring only a few nanometers in diameter, possess well-defined three-dimensional structures and clear spatial coordination. This atomic-level precision enables fine-tuned structural regulation, further enhancing their fluorescence properties. Variations in cluster size, surface ligands, and alloying elements can result in distinct physicochemical characteristics. The incorporation of different atoms can modulate the atomic and electronic structures of gold clusters, while diverse ligands can influence surface polarity and steric hindrance. As such, strategies like alloying and ligand engineering are effective in enhancing both fluorescence and catalytic performance, thereby meeting a broader range of clinical needs. In recent years, gold clusters have attracted growing attention in the biomedical field. Their application in NIR-II imaging has led to significant progress in vascular, organ, and tumor imaging. The resulting high-resolution, high signal-to-noise imaging provides powerful tools for clinical diagnostics. Moreover, biologically active gold clusters can aid in drug delivery and disease diagnosis and treatment, offering new opportunities for clinical therapeutics. Despite the notable achievements in fundamental research and clinical translation, further studies are required to address challenges related to the standardized synthesis and complex metabolic behavior of gold clusters. Resolving these issues will help accelerate their clinical adoption and broaden their biomedical applications.

ObjectiveTobacco-related diseases remain one of the leading preventable public health challenges worldwide and are among the primary causes of premature death. In recent years, accumulating evidence has supported the classification of nicotine addiction as a chronic brain disease, profoundly affecting both brain structure and function. Despite the urgency, effective diagnostic methods for smoking addiction remain lacking, posing significant challenges for early intervention and treatment. To address this issue and gain deeper insights into the neural mechanisms underlying nicotine dependence, this study proposes a novel graph neural network framework, termed TI-GNN. This model leverages functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to identify complex and subtle abnormalities in brain connectivity patterns associated with smoking addiction. MethodsThe study utilizes fMRI data to construct functional connectivity matrices that represent interaction patterns among brain regions. These matrices are interpreted as graphs, where brain regions are nodes and the strength of functional connectivity between them serves as edges. The proposed TI-GNN model integrates a Transformer module to effectively capture global interactions across the entire brain network, enabling a comprehensive understanding of high-level connectivity patterns. Additionally, a spatial attention mechanism is employed to selectively focus on informative inter-regional connections while filtering out irrelevant or noisy features. This design enhances the model’s ability to learn meaningful neural representations crucial for classification tasks. A key innovation of TI-GNN lies in its built-in causal interpretation module, which aims to infer directional and potentially causal relationships among brain regions. This not only improves predictive performance but also enhances model interpretability—an essential attribute for clinical applications. The identification of causal links provides valuable insights into the neuropathological basis of addiction and contributes to the development of biologically plausible and trustworthy diagnostic tools. ResultsExperimental results demonstrate that the TI-GNN model achieves superior classification performance on the smoking addiction dataset, outperforming several state-of-the-art baseline models. Specifically, TI-GNN attains an accuracy of 0.91, an F1-score of 0.91, and a Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.83, indicating strong robustness and reliability. Beyond performance metrics, TI-GNN identifies critical abnormal connectivity patterns in several brain regions implicated in addiction. Notably, it highlights dysregulations in the amygdala and the anterior cingulate cortex, consistent with prior clinical and neuroimaging findings. These regions are well known for their roles in emotional regulation, reward processing, and impulse control—functions that are frequently disrupted in nicotine dependence. ConclusionThe TI-GNN framework offers a powerful and interpretable tool for the objective diagnosis of smoking addiction. By integrating advanced graph learning techniques with causal inference capabilities, the model not only achieves high diagnostic accuracy but also elucidates the neurobiological underpinnings of addiction. The identification of specific abnormal brain networks and their causal interactions deepens our understanding of addiction pathophysiology and lays the groundwork for developing targeted intervention strategies and personalized treatment approaches in the future.

Melatonin (Mel) has been shown to have cardioprotective effects, but its action on ion channels is unclear. In this experiment, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Mel on late sodium currents (I_Na.L) in mouse ventricular myocytes and the anti-arrhythmic effect at the organ level as well as its mechanism. The whole-cell patch clamp technique was applied to record the ionic currents and action potential (AP) in mouse ventricular myocytes while the electrocardiogram (ECG) and monophasic action potential (MAP) were recorded simultaneously in mouse hearts using a multichannel acquisition and analysis system. The results demonstrated that the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of Mel on transient sodium current (I_Na.T) and specific I_Na.L opener 2 nmol·L^-1 sea anemone toxins II (ATX II) increased I_Na.L were 686.615 and 7.37 μmol·L^-1, respectively. Mel did not affect L-type calcium current (I_Ca.L), transient outward current (I_to), and AP. In addition, 16 μmol·L^-1 Mel shortened ATX II-prolonged action potential duration (APD), suppressed ATX II-induced early afterdepolarizations (EADs), and significantly reduced the incidence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) in Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts. In conclusion, Mel exerted its antiarrhythmic effects principally by blocking I_Na.L, thus providing a significant theoretical basis for new clinical applications of Mel. Animal welfare and experimental process are in accordance with the regulations of the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Wuhan University of Science and Technology (2023130).

Adequate inflammation can effectively eliminate harmful substances and prevent disease as a self-protective measure to prevent further damage to the body,while abnormally activated inflammation is detrimental to the body.Nucleotide binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome that participates in inflammatory responses are closely related to many physiological and pathological processes and play an important role in the occurrence and development of pulmonary diseases.This article mainly reviewed the activation mechanism and hypothesis of NLRP3 inflammasome,as well as the research on treating respiratory diseases by interfering with NLRP3 inflammasome.

In infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia(sBPD),severe pulmonary lobar emphysema may occur as a complication,contributing to significant impairment in ventilation.Clinical management of these infants is extremely challenging and some may require lobectomy to improve ventilation.However,prior to the lobectomy,it is very difficult to assess whether the remaining lung parenchyma would be able to sustain adequate ventilation postoperatively.In addition,preoperative planning and perioperative management are also quite challenging in these patients.This paper reports the utility of selective bronchial occlusion in assessing the safety and efficacy of lobectomy in a case of sBPD complicated by severe right upper lobar emphysema.Since infants with sBPD already have poor lung development and significant lung injury,lobectomy should be viewed as a non-traditional therapy and be carried out with extreme caution.Selective bronchial occlusion test can be an effective tool in assessing the risks and benefits of lobectomy in cases with sBPD and lobar emphysema.However,given the technical difficulty,successful application of this technique requires close collaboration of an experienced interdisciplinary team.

Aim To explore the effect of Danggui Shaoyao San on edema in rats with nephrotic syndrome and the underlying mechanism.Methods Rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,Danggui Shaoyao San group(17.2 g·kg-1·d-1),losartan group(30 mg·kg-1·d-1)and tolvaptan group(3 mg·kg-1·d-1).The rat model of nephrot-ic syndrome was established by tail vein injection of adriamycin.After four weeks of treatment,the levels of renal function and 24 h urinary protein were detected.The distribution of aquaporin 2(AQP2)and pS256-AQP2 in renal tissue was detected by immunohisto-chemistry.The levels of plasma arginine vasopressin(AVP)and angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)were measured by radioimmunoassay.The expressions of renal AQP2,pS256-AQP2,angiotensin type 1 receptor(AT1R),arginine vasopressin receptor 2(V2R)protein and mRNA were measured by Western blot and RT-PCR,respectively.Results The three drugs could improve renal function,reduce proteinuria,decrease plasma AVP and Ang Ⅱ levels,and down-regulate AQP2 and pS256-AQP2 protein and mRNA expression in model rats.Danggui Shaoyao San and tolvaptan were more ef-fective than losartan in reducing plasma AVP levels.Conclusions Danggui Shaoyao San may regulate the expression of AQP2 by reducing the levels of AVP and Ang Ⅱ,and improve the edema of nephrotic syndrome rats.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

AIM To explore the effects of rhubarb ethanol extract on autophagy and apoptosis of HT22 cells after hemin-induced injury.METHODS The HT22 cells were divided into the blank group,the model group,and the high,medium and low dose rhubarb ethanol extract groups(25,12.5 and 6.25 μg/mL).After the 24 hours corresponding drug intervention,3 hours induction of 40 μmol/L hemin was used for the modeling of cell cerebral hemorrhage injury.Subsequently,the cells had their cell viability detected by CCK-8 method;their leakage rate of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)detected by kit;their apoptosis rate detected by flow cytometry;and their apoptosis and autophagy related protein expressions of cysteine protease-3(caspase-3),Bcl-2 related X protein(Bax),B cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)and microtubule related protein light chain 3(LC3)detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the normal group,the model group displayed decreased cell viability(P<0.01);increased LDH leakage rate,apoptosis rate and the protein expressions of Bax/Bcl-2,caspase-3,Beclin1 and LC3(P<0.01);and decreased protein expression of P62(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,all of the groups intervened with rhubarb ethanol extract showed increased cell viability(P<0.05,P<0.01),decreased LDH leakage rate,apoptosis rate and protein expressions of Bax/Bcl-2,caspase-3,Beclin1 and LC3(P<0.05,P<0.01),in addition to the decreased protein expression of P62 increased(P<0.05,P<0.01)in the high and middle dose rhubarb ethanol extract groups.CONCLUSION The ethanol extract of rhubarb may protect neurons and reduce cell damage through its efficacy in regulating their autophagy and apoptosis.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of daily use of a test emollient combined with topical glucocorticoids applied at the weekend for delaying the recurrence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children during the maintenance period.Methods:A randomized, blank-controlled, multicenter clinical study was conducted in children with moderate AD from Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University, Children′s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and Shenzhen Children′s Hospital from March 2021 to February 2022. A total of 127 children aged 0 - 12 years with moderate AD were treated with topical glucocorticoids combined with emollients during the run-in period, 112 out of them achieved the investigator′s global assessment (IGA) score ≤ 1 point, and then the 112 patients were randomly divided into a test group (56 cases) and a control group (56 cases) at a ratio of 1∶1. Patients in the test group received treatment with a test emollient twice a day in combination with topical glucocorticoids applied at the weekend, and those in the control group were only treated with topical glucocorticoids at the weekend. Patients in the two groups were followed up at baseline, week 2 (± 3 d), week 4 (± 5 d), and week 12 (±7 d), as well as at the time of AD relapse, and the effect of the test emollient on the remission rate of AD in children during the maintenance period was evaluated, so were its effects on the dosage of topical glucocorticoids, pruritus, sleep, and skin pH. The occurrence of treatment-related adverse events was evaluated and recorded at the same time. Study endpoints were defined as AD relapse during the maintenance period, end of 12-week follow-up, or occurrence of serious adverse events. Comparisons of efficacy indicators between groups were conducted by using chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Satterthwaite t′ test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results:In the full-analysis set, 45 (80.36%) patients with AD maintained remission in the test group (56 cases) and 30 (53.57%) in the control group (56 cases), and the remission rate difference between the two groups was 26.79% (95% confidence interval [ CI]: 10.09%, 43.49%; χ2 = 9.11, P = 0.003) ; the 12-week follow-up during the maintenance period showed that the time to first relapse was 75.05 ± 25.07 days in the test group, which was significantly longer than that in the control group (49.55 ± 33.92 days, t′ = 4.52, P < 0.001). At the study endpoint, the test group showed significantly decreased AD disease severity score (eczema area and severity index [EASI] score: 0.00 [0.00, 1.20] points vs. 0.60 [0.00, 4.00] points), pruritus visual analog scale (VAS) score (0.00 [0.00, 2.00] points vs. 2. 00 [0.00, 10.00] points), and sleep VAS score (0.00 [0.00, 0.00] points vs. 1.00 [0.00, 4.00] points) compared with the control group ( Z = -2.77, 2.43, 3.48, P = 0.006, = 0.015, < 0.001, respectively), while there was no significant difference in the pH value at the lesional sites between the test group and control group ( t = 0.97, P = 0.335). For the group aged 0 - 2 years, the average daily glucocorticoid dosage at the weekend in AD children during the maintenance period was significantly lower in the test group than in the control group ( Z = -1.97, P = 0.049) ; for the group aged >2 - 12 years, there was no significant difference in the average daily glucocorticoid dosage at the weekend between the two groups ( Z = -0.25, P = 0.802). During the study period, no significant difference was observed in the incidence of treatment-related adverse events between the test group (2/56, 3.57%) and control group (3/56, 5.36%; P = 1.000), and no serious adverse events occurred. Conclusion:Compared with the weekend treatment with topical glucocorticoids alone, the daily use of the test emollient combined with topical glucocorticoids at the weekend could markedly improve the remission rate of AD, prolong the time to relapse, and reduce the disease severity at relapse in children with AD during the maintenance period, which provides a new option for maintenance treatment of children with AD.

In this study, we investigated the effect of Cigu Xiaozhi formula on HSC-T6 activity in hypoxic microenvironment based on network pharmacology and computer-aided drug design, and predicted and verified its possible targets and related signaling pathways. The potential active components and targets of Cigu Xiaozhi formula were screened by searching Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), Encyclopaedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM) and Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BATMAN-TCM) databases, and the liver fibrosis related targets retrieved from Gene Cards and Pharm GK database were integrated to obtain the potential targets of Cigu Xiaozhi formula in the treatment of liver fibrosis. GO enrichment analysis and KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analysis were performed on Omic Share platform, and Cytoscape software was used to construct the "potential active ingredient-key target-pathway" network. The active components and target proteins were subjected to molecular docking analysis by Auto Dock software. According to the results of molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculation, the top 5 active components with degree were scored. The active components stigmasterol and β-sitosterol were subjected to molecular docking. CoCl₂ was used to induce HSC-T6 cells to construct hypoxia model in vitro. The cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay, and the optimal time and concentration of hypoxia model of HSC-T6 cells was determined to be 100 µmol·L^-1 CoCl₂ for 24 h. Under hypoxia condition, HSC-T6 cells were activated, the wound healing rate was significantly increased, and the fluorescence signal of activation marker protein α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was significantly enhanced. However, 6% drug-containing serum could inhibit the activation of HSC-T6 cells, and the wound healing rate was significantly decreased, and the fluorescence signal of α-SMA was significantly weakened. Further studies showed that the expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), α-SMA and key proteins of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in HSC-T6 cells were up-regulated under hypoxia, while the expressions of HIF-1α, α-SMA, Patched-1 (Ptch-1) and glioma related oncogene homology-1 (Gli-1) were down-regulated in 6% drug-containing serum group, the YC-1 group and the cyclopamine group. These results indicated that HIF-1α and Hh signaling pathways were involved in the activation of HSC-T6 cells, and the traditional Chinese medicine Cigu Xiaozhi formula could inhibit the activation of HSC-T6 cells, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of HIF-1α expression and the blocking of Hh signaling pathway. In conclusion, Cigu Xiaozhi formula can inhibit the activation of HSC-T6 cells by directly acting on HIF-1α and Hh signaling pathway, and exert an anti-hepatic fibrosis effect. The animal experimental protocol has been reviewed and approved by Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, in compliance with the Institutional Animal Care Guidelines.