NLRP3 inflammasome plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of age-related diseases in the eye and brain

Key points:With aging,there is increased nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-(NOD-)like receptor(NLR) protein-3(NLRP3) activation in neural and ocular tissues.Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome appears to be a common denominator in the pathogenesis of age-related diseases of the eye and brain.Pharmacological inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome may be a potent therapy for preventing the development and progression of age-related eye and brain diseases.

Gut flora in multiple sclerosis:implications for pathogenesis and treatment

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disorder chara cterized by inflammation,demyelination,and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system.Although current first-line therapies can help manage symptoms and slow down disease progression,there is no cure for multiple sclerosis.The gut-brain axis refers to complex communications between the gut flo ra and the immune,nervous,and endocrine systems,which bridges the functions of the gut and the brain.Disruptions in the gut flora,termed dys biosis,can lead to systemic inflammation,leaky gut syndrome,and increased susceptibility to infections.The pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis involves a combination of genetic and environmental factors,and gut flora may play a pivotal role in regulating immune responses related to multiple scle rosis.To develop more effective therapies for multiple scle rosis,we should further uncover the disease processes involved in multiple sclerosis and gain a better understanding of the gut-brain axis.This review provides an overview of the role of the gut flora in multiple scle rosis.

中医药团体标准评价体系(SCORE-TCM)解读

本文全面解读了中医药团体标准评价体系(System of Consortium Standards Rating and Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine,SCORE-TCM)。SCORE-TCM是结合定性与定量评价,全面评估中医药团体标准在制定主体、文本编写、技术内容、推广应用和实施效益等几方面特征的综合评价工具。文中详述了SCORE-TCM的构建目的、定义和构建过程,解释了评价指标体系中的各项指标,并对每项指标的评价材料进行介绍。本文旨在帮助中医药团体标准的制定者、第三方评价机构和其他相关方更好地理解SCORE-TCM各评价条目的含义,更有效地运用于中医药团体标准的自评价或第三方评价,SCORE-TCM将为《中医药团体标准管理办法》的贯彻实施,以及中医药团体标准的高质量发展提供技术支持。

基于SCORE-TCM的中医药团体标准抽样评价方案设计

目前,各社会团体积极参与中医药标准的制定和发布,特别是“十四五”以来,中医药团体标准化工作更是迎来了提质增效的关键阶段。深入评估社会团体发布的中医药标准质量,是推进中医药团体标准工作的关键环节和重点任务。前期已研制并形成了中医药团体标准评价体系(System of Consortium Standards Rating and Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, SCORETCM)。在上述背景下,本研究通过专家共识法,设计了一套基于SCORE-TCM的中医药团体标准抽样评价方案,应用场景为对于特定社会团体发布的标准,或各团体发布的特定技术类别的标准进行快速评估。该方案涵盖了标准抽样、材料收集、标准评价、结果解读的完整流程,为中医药团体标准的抽样评价工作提供了参考方案。

Urolithiasis: From pathogenesis to management (part two)

Embarking on a scholarly exploration of the intricate landscape of urolithiasis,the second part of the special section in the Asian Journal of Urology serves as a continuum to the scholarly discourse initiated in its predecessor.Urolithiasis is a common condition affecting 5%-10%of the global population[1].Despite significant progress in understanding the pathogenesis and management of urolithiasis,it remains a substantial public health concern.The objective of the special section in the Asian Journal of Urology is to provide an updated knowledge on the pathogenesis,diagnosis,and management of urolithiasis.In this part two of the special section,we stillfocus on the aspects of stone pathogenesis,treatment,complications prevention,and the application of new technologies.

Disruption of non-classically secreted protein(MoMtp)compromised conidiation,stress homeostasis,and pathogenesis of Magnaporthe oryzae

Blast disease,caused by the hemibiotrophic ascomycete fungus,Magnaporthe oryzae,is a significant threat to sustainable rice production worldwide.Studies have shown that the blast fungus secretes vast arrays of functionally diverse proteins into the host cell for a successful disease progression.However,the final destinations of these effector proteins inside the host cell and their role in advancing fungal pathogenesis remain a mystery.Here,we reported that a putative mitochondrial targeting non-classically secreted protein(MoMtp)positively regulates conidiogenesis and appressorium maturation in M.oryzae.Moreover,MoM TP gene deletion mutant strains triggered a hypersensitive response when inoculated on rice leaves displaying that MoMtp is essential for the virulence of M.oryzae.In addition,cell wall and oxidative stress results indicated that MoMtp is likely involved in the maintenance of the structural integrity of the fungus cell.Our study also demonstrates an upregulation in the expression pattern of the MoMTP gene at all stages of infection,indicating its possible regulatory role in host invasion and the infectious development of M.oryzae.Furthermore,Agrobacterium infiltration and sheath inoculation confirmed that MoMtpGFP protein is predominantly localized in the host mitochondria of tobacco leaf and rice cells.Taken together,we conclude that MoMtp protein likely promotes the normal conidiation and pathogenesis of M.oryzae and might have a role in disturbing the proper functioning of the host mitochondria during pathogen invasion.

Aquaporin-4-IgG-seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders:progress of experimental models based on disease pathogenesis

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders are neuroinflammatory demyelinating disorders that lead to permanent visual loss and motor dysfunction.To date,no effective treatment exists as the exact causative mechanism remains unknown.Therefore,experimental models of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders are essential for exploring its pathogenesis and in screening for therapeutic targets.Since most patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders are seropositive for IgG autoantibodies against aquaporin-4,which is highly expressed on the membrane of astrocyte endfeet,most current experimental models are based on aquaporin-4-IgG that initially targets astrocytes.These experimental models have successfully simulated many pathological features of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders,such as aquaporin-4 loss,astrocytopathy,granulocyte and macrophage infiltration,complement activation,demyelination,and neuronal loss;however,they do not fully capture the pathological process of human neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.In this review,we summarize the currently known pathogenic mechanisms and the development of associated experimental models in vitro,ex vivo,and in vivo for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders,suggest potential pathogenic mechanisms for further investigation,and provide guidance on experimental model choices.In addition,this review summarizes the latest information on pathologies and therapies for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders based on experimental models of aquaporin-4-IgG-seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders,offering further therapeutic targets and a theoretical basis for clinical trials.

Exploring the autophagy-related pathogenesis of active ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND The pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis(UC)is complex,and recent therapeutic advances remain unable to fully alleviate the condition.AIM To inform the development of novel UC treatments,bioinformatics was used to explore the autophagy-related pathogenesis associated with the active phase of UC.METHODS The GEO database was searched for UC-related datasets that included healthy controls who met the screening criteria.Differential analysis was conducted to obtain differentially expressed genes(DEGs).Au-tophagy-related targets were collected and intersected with the DEGs to identiy differentially expressed autophagy-related genes(DEARGs)associated with active UC.DEARGs were then subjected to KEGG,GO,and DisGeNET disease enrichment analyses using R software.Differential analysis of immune infiltrating cells was performed using the CiberSort algorithm.The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm and protein-protein interaction network were used to narrow down the DEARGs,and the top five targets in the Dgree ranking were designated as core targets.RESULTS A total of 4822 DEGs were obtained,of which 58 were classified as DEARGs.SERPINA1,BAG3,HSPA5,CASP1,and CX3CL1 were identified as core targets.GO enrichment analysis revealed that DEARGs were primarily enriched in processes related to autophagy regulation and macroautophagy.KEGG enrichment analysis showed that DEARGs were predominantly associated with NOD-like receptor signaling and other signaling pathways.Disease enrichment analysis indicated that DEARGs were significantly linked to diseases such as malignant glioma and middle cerebral artery occlusion.Immune infiltration analysis demonstrated a higher presence of immune cells like activated memory CD4 T cells and follicular helper T cells in active UC patients than in healthy controls.CONCLUSION Autophagy is closely related to the active phase of UC and the potential targets obtained from the analysis in this study may provide new insight into the treatment of active UC patients.

The Pathogenesis and Treatment Progress of Androgenic Alopecia

Androgenic alopecia, also known as seborrheic alopecia, is the most common hair loss disorder in dermatology clinics, mainly characterized by hair follicle miniaturization and progressive hair loss. The etiology and pathogenesis of androgenic alopecia are not clear, but may be related to heredity and androgen metabolism. Currently, minoxidil and finasteride are the only two drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for AGA treatment, other treatments include oral minoxidil, hair transplantation, low energy laser therapy (LLLT), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), Chinese medicine microneedles, and combination therapy. With the development of medicine and science, we have ushered in the era of biologics and targeted therapy. In recent years, a variety of signaling pathways for androgenic alopecia have been found, which may provide a basis for targeted therapy for androgenic alopecia.

A Conversation with Professor Ted Kaptchuk,a Key Architect of Modern TCM in the West

The interview was conducted on November 20th,2022 by Ioannis Solos and Charles Buck.Ted Kaptchuk(泰开阳)is a Professor of Medicine and a Professor of Global Health&Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School.In 1975,he graduated from the Macao Institute of Chinese Medicine,Macao,China.After returning to the West,Ted taught Chinese medicine throughout the States,Europe,Latin America,and Australia.Ted’s book,The Web that Has No Weaver:Understanding Chinese Medicine is a groundbreaking explanation of East Asian medicine that continues to shape the discourse of the Chinese medicine profession in the West and has been translated into 13 languages.In 1990,Ted was recruited in Harvard Medical School to help research Chinese medicine.After encountering high placebo responses in multiple acupuncture clinical trials,Ted decided to switch his career to primarily studying placebo.He has published over 300 peer-reviewed articles.He has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Acupuncture Research(2015),the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies(2021),and the William Silen Lifetime Achievement Award in Mentoring from Harvard Medical School(2022).

Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of epilepsy: electromagnetic stimulation-mediated neuromodulation therapy and new technologies

Epilepsy is a severe,relapsing,and multifactorial neurological disorder.Studies regarding the accurate diagnosis,prognosis,and in-depth pathogenesis are crucial for the precise and effective treatment of epilepsy.The pathogenesis of epilepsy is complex and involves alterations in variables such as gene expression,protein expression,ion channel activity,energy metabolites,and gut microbiota composition.Satisfactory results are lacking for conventional treatments for epilepsy.Surgical resection of lesions,drug therapy,and non-drug interventions are mainly used in clinical practice to treat pain associated with epilepsy.Non-pharmacological treatments,such as a ketogenic diet,gene therapy for nerve regeneration,and neural regulation,are currently areas of research focus.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pathogenesis,diagnostic methods,and treatments of epilepsy.It also elaborates on the theoretical basis,treatment modes,and effects of invasive nerve stimulation in neurotherapy,including percutaneous vagus nerve stimulation,deep brain electrical stimulation,repetitive nerve electrical stimulation,in addition to non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation.Numerous studies have shown that electromagnetic stimulation-mediated neuromodulation therapy can markedly improve neurological function and reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures.Additionally,many new technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy are being explored.However,current research is mainly focused on analyzing patients’clinical manifestations and exploring relevant diagnostic and treatment methods to study the pathogenesis at a molecular level,which has led to a lack of consensus regarding the mechanisms related to the disease.

Comprehensive analysis of the potential pathogenesis of COVID-19 infection and liver cancer

BACKGROUND A growing number of clinical examples suggest that coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)appears to have an impact on the treatment of patients with liver cancer compared to the normal population,and the prevalence of COVID-19 is significantly higher in patients with liver cancer.However,this mechanism of action has not been clarified.Gene sets for COVID-19(GSE180226)and liver cancer(GSE87630)were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.After identifying the common differentially expressed genes(DEGs)of COVID-19 and liver cancer,functional enrichment analysis,protein-protein interaction network construction and scree-ning and analysis of hub genes were performed.Subsequently,the validation of the differential expression of hub genes in the disease was performed and the regulatory network of transcription factors and hub genes was constructed.RESULTS Of 518 common DEGs were obtained by screening for functional analysis.Fifteen hub genes including aurora kinase B,cyclin B2,cell division cycle 20,cell division cycle associated 8,nucleolar and spindle associated protein 1,etc.,were further identified from DEGs using the“cytoHubba”plugin.Functional enrichment analysis of hub genes showed that these hub genes are associated with P53 signalling pathway regulation,cell cycle and other functions,and they may serve as potential molecular markers for COVID-19 and liver cancer.Finally,we selected 10 of the hub genes for in vitro expression validation in liver cancer cells.CONCLUSION Our study reveals a common pathogenesis of liver cancer and COVID-19.These common pathways and key genes may provide new ideas for further mechanistic studies.

Research Status of TCM Rehabilitation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

This paper mainly analyzes the application status of TCM rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),hoping to provide support and help for clinical staff through this study,and promote the further development of COPD rehabilitation program.

To explore the pathogenesis of anterior resection syndrome by magnetic resonance imaging rectal defecography

BACKGROUND Over 90%of rectal cancer patients develop low anterior resection syndrome(LARS)after sphincter-preserving resection.The current globally recognized evaluation method has many drawbacks and its subjectivity is too strong,which hinders the research and treatment of LARS.AIM To evaluate the anorectal function after colorectal cancer surgery by quantifying the index of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)defecography,and pathogenesis of LARS.METHODS We evaluated 34 patients using the standard LARS score,and a new LARS evaluation index was established using the dynamic images of MRI defecography to verify the LARS score.RESULTS In the LARS score model,there were 10(29.41%)mild and 24(70.58%)severe cases of LARS.The comparison of defecation rate between the two groups was 29.36±14.17%versus 46.83±18.62%(P=0.004);and MRI-rectal compliance(MRI-RC)score was 3.63±1.96 versus 7.0±3.21(P=0.001).Severe and mild LARS had significant differences using the two evaluation methods.There was a significant negative correlation between LARS and MRI-RC score(P<0.001),and they had a negative correlation with defecation rate(P=0.028).CONCLUSION MRI defecography and standard LARS score can both be used as an evaluation index to study the pathogenesis of LARS.

Etiology and pathogenesis of corona virus disease 2019 on the view of Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine has played an important role in the prevention and treatment of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 epidemic.But in views of different TCM scholars there are different opinions about disease name,characteristic of etiology,law of pathogenesis about this epidemic.Based on related literatures,this article overviews of the characteristics of TCM etiology,law of pathogenesis and methods of syndrome differentiation,hoping to find research method that fit in with TCM clinical practice.Prerequisite of treatment is identifying the cause.The clinical manifestations of patients are important to TCM,and the etiological attributes can be inferred from the clinical manifestations.SARS-CoV-2 belongs to exogenous etiological factors,but there are different opinions about its characteristics of six pathogenic factors.Cold,Dampness,Warm,Dry,Toxin,Summer-heat,Wind,are all involved.Thus,different understanding of the pathogenesis and the law of transmission is caused.Such as cold and dampness hurt Yang,furthermore,consumed of Qi;dampness and toxin infected from external environment,turbid dampness produced inside the body;dryness affecting lungs and consume of Yin;warm-heat-turbid-toxin affected lungs,stomach and intestine;and then produced phlegm stagnation or blood stasis,furthermore consumed Qi and Yin.Based on those differences,methods of syndrome differentiation in treatment of COVID-19 are diverse,which contain pattern differentiation of zang-fu organs,pattern differentiation of Wei-defence,Qi,Ying nutrients and blood;pattern differentiation by the eight principles,and pattern differentiation of six meridians.Because of SARS-CoV-2 can spread to the whole country or even the whole world in a short period of time,its pathogenic nature should be roughly the same.So studying the treatment of COVID-19 based on clinical cases,refining the similarities and differences in the clinical presentation of patients with different subtypes during the epidemic,clarification of the etiologic attribution and evolutionary patterns of disease mechanisms,developing a comprehensive understanding of COVID-19 in Chinese medicine is needed.Furthermore,getting a full understanding of COVID-19,and providing reference for the prevention and treatment of unknown infectious diseases.

The expanding amyloid family:Structure,stability,function,and pathogenesis

The hidden world of amyloid biology has suddenly snapped into atomic-level focus,revealing over 80 amyloid protein fibrils,both pathogenic and functional.Unlike globular proteins,amyloid proteins flatten and stack into unbranched fibrils.Stranger still,a single protein sequence can adopt wildly different two-dimensional conformations,yielding distinct fibril polymorphs.

Advances in the Pathogenesis and Pharmacologic Treatment of Diabetic Cataracts

Diabetic cataract(DC)is a common complication prior to diabetes mellitus,which is a metabolic disease with pathogenesis including abnormal metabolism of polyphenol pathway(PP)and non-enzymatic glycosylation(NEG)of proteins,etc.The therapeutic drugs are mainly aldose reductase inhibitors(ARIs)and glycosylation inhibitors.The therapeutic regimens for DC are becoming more and more diversified due to the development of biological testing and clinical research technology,thus improving its clinical efficacy.With the development of biological testing and clinical research technology,the treatment options for DC have become increasingly diversified and the treatment specificity has been improved,improving its clinical efficacy.In order to comprehensively analyze the pathogenesis and pharmacological treatment of this disease,the following review is made.

Pathogenesis and treatment of diabetes mellitus-related erectile dysfunction: current therapies and potential challenges

Erectile dysfunction(ED)is one of the important complications of diabetes,which is very common in diabetic patients,affecting more than half of male patients,and the incidence of the disease is about 3.5 times that of the normal population.The pathogenesis of diabetic erectile dysfunction(DMED)is complex,involving nerve,vascular,endocrine,muscular and psychological aspects.At present,the therapeutic approaches of DMED include drug therapy,surgery,physical therapy and so on.This article provides a review of current research on the pathogenesis and treatment of DMED.Further elucidation of the pathogenesis of DMED and the development of new therapeutic approaches are of great significance for the prevention and treatment of DMED.

城市轨道交通ATO与TCMS功能融合设计

[目的]基于ATO(列车自动运行系统)与TCMS(列车控制及监控系统)的基本功能,采用融合设计的方式可简化重复设计,并优化列车控制功能,故有必要开展相关研究。[方法]通过综合分析现阶段ATO和TCMS在城市轨道交通中的功能和应用,研究ATO和TCMS控制功能融合,提出了一种列车系统集成化和控制功能更佳的一体化设计方案,并分析了功能融合所带来的优势。[结果及结论]融合ATO和TCMS功能后,可提高列车的系统集成度,使之更容易实现智能化,但也需要克服技术和管理等方面的挑战。

应用于中继卫星通信系统的16QAM-TCM技术研究

网格编码调制技术可以在不改变信息传输频谱带宽的条件下,改善信噪比,减少发射功率,降低误码率,其实现的方法是分割星座图形成子集,逐步增大星座图中信号点之间的最小欧氏距离。本论文在项目组自研的中继卫星通信系统仿真平台上,仿真了8PSK与16QAM-TCM两种调制技术的解调性能,仿真曲线反映了误比特率需求与所需信噪比之间的关系。仿真结果表明:(1)在理想信道条件、I/Q(Inphase/Quadrature,同相/正交)幅相不平衡、幅频特性、群时延、相位噪声、功率放大器饱和点条件下,假设误比特率需求为1E-7,16QAM-TCM技术的信噪比需求与8PSK调制技术的信噪比需求相比,分别可节省8.85 dB、9.04 dB、8.45 dB、10.2 dB、8.5 dB、14.6 dB的信噪比;(2)在非线性信道条件下,当信噪比增大时,8PSK调制技术的误比特率在1E-3数量级附近波动,不再变化;(3)假设需求的误比特率为1E-7,16QAMTCM调制技术非线性信道信噪比仿真值与理想信道信噪比仿真值相比,损失了4.8 dB。