Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment in clinical. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD. In recent years, a variety of therapeutic approaches from different perspectives have been explored to treat AD. Although the drug therapies targeted at the clearance of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) had made a breakthrough in clinical trials, there were associated with adverse events. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AD. Continuous neuroinflammatory was considered to be the third major pathological feature of AD, which could promote the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. At the same time, these toxic substances could accelerate the development of neuroinflammation, form a vicious cycle, and exacerbate disease progression. Reducing neuroinflammation could break the feedback loop pattern between neuroinflammation, Aβ plaque deposition and Tau tangles, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Traditional Chinese herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum and Curcuma were utilized in the treatment of AD due to their ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and indomethacin had been shown to reduce the level of inflammasomes in the body, and taking these drugs was associated with a low incidence of AD. Biosynthetic nanomaterials loaded with oxytocin were demonstrated to have the capability to anti-inflammatory and penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, and they played an anti-inflammatory role via sustained-releasing oxytocin in the brain. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells could reduce neuroinflammation and inhibit the activation of microglia. The secretion of mesenchymal stem cells could not only improve neuroinflammation, but also exert a multi-target comprehensive therapeutic effect, making it potentially more suitable for the treatment of AD. Enhancing the level of TREM2 in microglial cells using gene editing technologies, or application of TREM2 antibodies such as Ab-T1, hT2AB could improve microglial cell function and reduce the level of neuroinflammation, which might be a potential treatment for AD. Probiotic therapy, fecal flora transplantation, antibiotic therapy, and dietary intervention could reshape the composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis. However, the drugs of sodium oligomannose remain controversial. Both exercise intervention and electromagnetic intervention had the potential to attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby delaying AD process. This article focuses on the role of drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, gut microbiota therapy, exercise intervention, and brain stimulation in improving neuroinflammation in recent years, aiming to provide a novel insight for the treatment of AD by intervening neuroinflammation in the future.

Objective:To summarize the use of Castor stent graft in aortic diseases and to analyze their efficacy.Methods:The clinical data of patients with aortic diseases treated with Castor stent graft from November 2017 to August 2022 in Fujian Provincial Hospital were collected and divided into branched stent group and branched stent co-operative group according to the operation method, and the clinical data of both groups were summarized.Results:A total of 75 cases of aortic disease were treated with Castor stents, and finally 53 cases were classified as branched stent group and 22 cases as branched stent co-operative group. The operations in both groups were successful. The median operative time in the branched stent group was 120(100, 160)min, and the median postoperative hospital stay was 7.0(5.5, 10.5)days.There was no postoperative ischemic stroke, no spinal cord ischemia. One case of new aortic dissection occurred. During follow-up, there was one lost case and two deaths, and the rest did not have endoleak, branch stent stenosis, ischemic stroke or re-intervention. In the branched stent co-operative group, there was one postoperative ischemic stroke, one case of slight stenosis of the left subclavian artery stent during follow-up, the remaining cases had satisfactory postoperative outcomes.Conclusion:Castor stent graft is a safe and effective procedure in the treatment of aortic diseases. And Castor stent graft can be used in combination with other endovascular repair techniques in the treatment of complex aortic diseases, with safe and reliable postoperative outcomes.

Lung cancer is the leading type of cancer death, and most patients with lung cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage and have a very poor prognosis. Although low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has entered the clinic as a screening tool for lung cancer, its false-positive rate is more than 90%. As one of the epigenetic modifications of research hotspots, DNA methylation plays a key role in a variety of diseases, including cancer.Hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes and hypomethylation of proto-oncogenes are important events in tumorigenesis and development. Therefore, DNA methylation analysis can provide some useful information for the early screening, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of lung cancer. Although invasive methods such as tissue biopsy remain the gold standard for tumor diagnosis and monitoring, they also have limitations such as inconvenience in sampling. In recent years, there has been a rapid development of liquid biopsy, which can detect primary or metastatic malignancies and reflect the heterogeneity of tumors. In addition, the blood sample can be collected in a minimally invasive or non-invasive format and is well tolerated in older and frail patients. This article explores some of the emerging technologies for DNA methylation analysis and provides an overview of the application of DNA methylation in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

Background and aim:Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI)is a significant challenge in liver trans-plantation,trauma,hypovolemic shock,and hepatectomy,with limited effective interventions available.This study aimed to investigate the role of leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2(LECT2)in hepatic IRI and assess the therapeutic potential of Lect2-short hairpin RNA(shRNA)delivered through adeno-associated virus(AAV)vectors. Materials and methods:This study analyzed human liver and serum samples from five patients under-going the Pringle maneuver.Lect2-knockout and C57BL/6J mice were used.Hepatic IRI was induced by clamping the hepatic pedicle.Treatments included recombinant human LECT2(rLECT2)and AAV-Lect2-shRNA.LECT2 expression levels and serum biomarkers including alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),creatinine,and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)were measured.Histological analysis of liver necrosis and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed. Results:Serum and liver LECT2 levels were elevated during hepatic IRI.Serum LECT2 protein and mRNA levels increased post reperfusion.Lect2-knockout mice had reduced weight loss;hepatic necrosis;and serum ALT,AST,creatinine,and BUN levels.rLECT2 treatment exacerbated weight loss,hepatic necrosis,and serum biomarkers(ALT,AST,creatinine,and BUN).AAV-Lect2-shRNA treatment significantly reduced weight loss,hepatic necrosis,and serum biomarkers(ALT,AST,creatinine,and BUN),indicating thera-peutic potential. Conclusions:Elevated LECT2 levels during hepatic IRI increased liver damage.Genetic knockout or shRNA-mediated knockdown of Lect2 reduced liver damage,indicating its therapeutic potential.AAV-mediated Lect2-shRNA delivery mitigated hepatic IRI,offering a potential new treatment strategy to enhance clinical outcomes for patients undergoing liver-related surgeries or trauma.

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of proteasome inhibitor MG132 on memory impairment induced by chronic hypoxia in mice.Methods(1)A hypoxic model of the mouse midbrain dopaminergic neuron cell line MN9D was established using a hypoxia workstation.To observe the effects of hypoxia on the expression of TH,Ub-K48 and Ub-K63,MN9D cells were divided into normoxia group and hypoxia(12 h,24 h and 48 h)groups.To observe the effects of MG132 on the expression of the above-mentioned proteins,MN9D cells were divided into normoxia group,hypoxia group and hypoxia + MG132(25,50,100,200 μmol/L)group.(2)A mouse model of memory impairment was established using a hypobaric chamber.To observe the effects of hypobaric hypoxia on the expression of TH,Ub-K48 and Ub-K63 in the substantia nigra compacta(SNc)of mice,thirty C57BL/6 mice were randomly and equally divided into normoxia group and hypobaric hypoxia(3 d and 21 d)groups,10 in each group.To observe the effects of MG132 on spatial memory impairment induced by hypobaric hypoxia,twenty-four C57BL/6 mice were randomly and equally divided into normoxia group,hypobaric hypoxia 21 d group and hypobaric hypoxia 21 d+MG132 group,8 in each group.(3)The protein expression levels of TH,Ub-K48,and Ub-K63 in MN9D cells which were either subjected to different durations of hypoxia treatment or pre-treated with MG132 prior to hypoxia treatment were detected using Western blotting(WB).The novel object recognition test was used to detect the memory function of mice.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the proportion of positive immunoreactive area of TH response in the SNc region.The expression levels of TH,Ub-K48,and Ub-K63 in the SNc region were detected by WB.Results(1)Compared with normoxia group,MN9D cells in hypoxia 24 h group showed increasing expression of Ub-K48 and Ub-K63(P<0.05),and decreasing expression of TH(P<0.05),and MN9D cells in all hypoxia groups showed increasing expression of Ub-K48/TH and Ub-K63/TH(P<0.05).Compared with hypoxia group,MN9D cells showed decreasing expression of Ub-K48/TH and Ub-K63/TH in hypoxia + MG132 100 umol/L group and hypoxia + MG132 200 umol/L group(P<0.05).(2)Compared with the mice in normoxia group,mice in 3 d and 21 d hypobaric hypoxia groups showed decreasing expression of TH(P<0.001),and increasing expression of Ub-K48/TH and Ub-K63/TH(P<0.05)in the SNc region.Compared with normoxia group,the mice in 21 d hypobaric hypoxia group showed a lower new object recognition index(P<0.01),and the proportion of positive immunoreactive area of TH response in the SNc region(P<0.05).Compared with 21 d hypobaric hypoxia group,the mice in hypobaric hypoxia 21 d+MG132 group showed a higher new object recognition index(P<0.01).Conclusion The proteasome inhibitor MG132 could alleviate the memory impairment induced by chronic hypoxia in mice,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Ub-K63 and Ub-K48,which in turn upregulates expression of TH in dopaminergic neurons.

Endodontic diseases are a kind of chronic infectious oral disease.Common endodontic treatment concepts are based on the removal of inflamed or necrotic pulp tissue and the replacement by gutta-percha.However,it is very essential for endodontic treatment to debride the root canal system and prevent the root canal system from bacterial reinfection after root canal therapy(RCT).Recent research,encompassing bacterial etiology and advanced imaging techniques,contributes to our understanding of the root canal system's anatomy intricacies and the technique sensitivity of RCT.Success in RCT hinges on factors like patients,infection severity,root canal anatomy,and treatment techniques.Therefore,improving disease management is a key issue to combat endodontic diseases and cure periapical lesions.The clinical difficulty assessment system of RCT is established based on patient conditions,tooth conditions,root canal configuration,and root canal needing retreatment,and emphasizes pre-treatment risk assessment for optimal outcomes.The findings suggest that the presence of risk factors may correlate with the challenge of achieving the high standard required for RCT.These insights contribute not only to improve education but also aid practitioners in treatment planning and referral decision-making within the field of endodontics.

Chemical cleaning and disinfection are crucial steps for eliminating infection in root canal treatment.However,irrigant selection or irrigation procedures are far from clear.The vapor lock effect in the apical region has yet to be solved,impeding irrigation efficacy and resulting in residual infections and compromised treatment outcomes.Additionally,ambiguous clinical indications for root canal medication and non-standardized dressing protocols must be clarified.Inappropriate intracanal medication may present side effects and jeopardize the therapeutic outcomes.Indeed,clinicians have been aware of these concerns for years.Based on the current evidence of studies,this article reviews the properties of various irrigants and intracanal medicaments and elucidates their effectiveness and interactions.The evolution of different kinetic irrigation methods,their effects,limitations,the paradigm shift,current indications,and effective operational procedures regarding intracanal medication are also discussed.This expert consensus aims to establish the clinical operation guidelines for root canal irrigation and a position statement on intracanal medication,thus facilitating a better understanding of infection control,standardizing clinical practice,and ultimately improving the success of endodontic therapy.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction and behavioral impairment, and there is a lack of effective drugs to treat AD clinically. Existing medications for the treatment of AD, such as Tacrine, Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Aducanumab, only serve to delay symptoms and but not cure disease. To add insult to injury, these medications are associated with very serious adverse effects. Therefore, it is urgent to explore effective therapeutic drugs for AD. Recently, studies have shown that a variety of enzyme inhibitors, such as cholinesterase inhibitors, monoamine oxidase (MAO)inhibitors, secretase inhibitors, can ameliorate cholinergic system dysfunction, Aβ production and deposition, Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress damage, and the decline of synaptic plasticity, thereby improving AD symptoms and cognitive function. Some plant extracts from natural sources, such as Umbelliferone, Aaptamine, Medha Plus, have the ability to inhibit cholinesterase activity and act to improve learning and cognition. Isochromanone derivatives incorporating the donepezil pharmacophore bind to the catalytic active site (CAS) and peripheral anionic site (PAS) sites of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which can inhibit AChE activity and ameliorate cholinergic system disorders. A compound called Rosmarinic acid which is found in the Lamiaceae can inhibit monoamine oxidase, increase monoamine levels in the brain, and reduce Aβ deposition. Compounds obtained by hybridization of coumarin derivatives and hydroxypyridinones can inhibit MAO-B activity and attenuate oxidative stress damage. Quinoline derivatives which inhibit the activation of AChE and MAO-B can reduce Aβ burden and promote learning and memory of mice. The compound derived from the combination of propargyl and tacrine retains the inhibitory capacity of tacrine towards cholinesterase, and also inhibits the activity of MAO by binding to the FAD cofactor of monoamine oxidase. A series of hybrids, obtained by an amide linker of chromone in combine with the benzylpiperidine moieties of donepezil, have a favorable safety profile of both cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity. Single domain antibodies (such as AAV-VHH) targeted the inhibition of BACE1 can reduce Aβ production and deposition as well as the levels of inflammatory cells, which ultimately improve synaptic plasticity. 3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl maslinic acid from the extract of Ligustrum lucidum can specifically inhibit the activity of γ-secretase, thereby rescuing the long-term potentiation and enhancing synaptic plasticity in APP/PS1 mice. Inhibiting γ-secretase activity which leads to the decline of inflammatory factors (such as IFN-γ, IL-8) not only directly improves the pathology of AD, but also reduces Aβ production. Melatonin reduces the transcriptional expression of GSK-3β mRNA, thereby decreasing the levels of GSK-3β and reducing the phosphorylation induced by GSK-3β. Hydrogen sulfide can inhibitGSK-3β activity via sulfhydration of the Cys218 site of GSK-3β, resulting in the suppression of Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, which ameliorate the motor deficits and cognitive impairment in mice with AD. This article reviews enzyme inhibitors and conformational optimization of enzyme inhibitors targeting the regulation of cholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, secretase, and GSK-3β. We are hoping to provide a comprehensive overview of drug development in the enzyme inhibitors, which may be useful in treating AD.

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides in the continuation treatment of mild and moderate depression.Methods An open,single-arm,multi-center design was adopted in our study.Adult patients with mild and moderate depression who had received acute treatment of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides were enrolled and continue to receive Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides capsules for 24 weeks,the dose remained unchanged during continuation treatment.The remission rate,recurrence rate,recurrence time,and the change from baseline to endpoint of Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),Clinical Global Impression-Severity(CGI-S)and Arizona Sexual Experience Scale(ASEX)were evaluated.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was reported.Results The scores of HAMD-17 at baseline and after treatment were 6.60±1.87 and 5.85±4.18,scores of HAMA were 6.36±3.02 and 4.93±3.09,scores of CGI-S were 1.49±0.56 and 1.29±0.81,scores of ASEX were 15.92±4.72 and 15.57±5.26,with significant difference(P＜0.05).After continuation treatment,the remission rate was 54.59％(202 cases/370 cases),and the recurrence rate was 6.49％(24 cases/370 cases),the recurrence time was(64.67±42.47)days.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was 15.35％(64 cases/417 cases).Conclusion Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides capsules can be effectively used for the continuation treatment of mild and moderate depression,and are well tolerated and safe.

Objective:To investigate the effect of exosomes loaded with Lycium barbarum miRNA(Lb-miR2911)on spermato-genic function recovery in non-obstructive azoospermia(NOA)rats through cross-regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways.Methods:We established an NOA model in 30 four-week-old male SD rats by intraperitoneal injection of busulfan.At 5 weeks after modeling,we equally randomized the rats into a model control group(MC,untreated),an Lb-miR2911EXO group(Lb-miR2911EXO,treated by intratesticular injection of Lb-miR2911-loaded exosomes),and a sham group(Shame,treated by intratesticular injection of exosomes-empty drug),with another 10 male SD rats taken as normal controls(NC).We observed the uptake and metabolic changes of Lb-miR2911 in the testis tissue of the rats by RNA FISH at 2 and 6 weeks after treatment,detected cell proliferation,spermatogenesis and gene expressions of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways in the testis tissue by Transcriptome sequencing analysis combined with Western blot and RT-PCR at 12 weeks,evaluated the recovery of the spermatogenic function based on the testis tissue morphology and sperm quality,and assessed the organ toxicity of Lb-miR2911 in the tissue and organs of the rats based on histomorphological analysis and the levels of serum TNF-α,IL-1β,Aspartate aminotransferase(AST),Alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and other relevant indi-cators.Results:After 12 weeks of treatment,histomorphological analysis showed regular arrangement of spermatogenic cells at all levels in the testis tissue,with a large number of mature sperm in the tubular lumen,and with significantly higher Johnsen scores,tes-tis weight,testicular index,sperm concentration and sperm motility in the Lb-miR2911EXO than in the sham group(all P<0.05).Compared with the model controls,the Lb-miR2911EXO group exhibited remarkably down-regulated gene expression of DACT3(P<0.05),up-regulated expressions of DVL2 and β-catenin(P<0.05),elevated levels of p-DVL2 and β-catenin(nucleus)proteins(P<0.05),increased expressions of cell proliferation-related genes CCND1,CCNE1 and CCNE2(P<0.05)and spermatogenesis-related genes DMC1,CCR6,JAM2 and KLC3(P<0.05).No pathological changes were observed in the lung,liver and kidney tis-sues of the rats,or in the levels of serum TNF-α,IL-1β,AST,ALT,creatinine and urea nitrogen in the rats treated with Lb-miR2911EXO compared with the normal controls(P>0.05).Conclusion:Lb-miR2911-loaded exosomes promote spermatogenic function recovery in NOA rats through cross-regulation of the DACT3,Wnt and β-catenin signaling pathways.