Parathyroid carcinoma located in the thyroid gland:A case report

BACKGROUND Parathyroid carcinoma(PC)is a difficult-to-diagnose rare disease with low incidence.Relatively accurate preoperative diagnosis is very important in choosing surgical methods and patient prognosis.CASE SUMMARY This study reported the clinical diagnosis and treatment of a rare patient with PC located in the thyroid gland and provided a case reference for the diagnosis and treatment of PC.A case of a 64-year-old male patient who presented to our hospital with systemic muscle and joint pain and palpitations is outlined.Subsequently,the patient was admitted to the Department of Nephrology for the treatment of“multiple myeloma nephropathy pending investigation”.The patient was diagnosed with“primary hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemic crisis”using thyroid color ultrasound.CONCLUSION The intraoperative frozen section report considered the parathyroid tumor.Surgical tumor resection was promptly performed,and the diagnosis of PC was confirmed.

Correction:Establishment of a prediction model for prehospital return of spontaneous circulation in out-of-hospital patients with cardiac arrest

This is an erratum to an already published paper named“Establishment of a prediction model for prehospital return of spontaneous circulation in out-ofhospital patients with cardiac arrest”.We found errors in the affiliated institution of the authors.We apologize for our unintentional mistake.Please note,these changes do not affect our results.

Serum procalcitonin levels are associated with rhabdomyolysis following exertional heatstroke: an over 10-year intensive care survey

BACKGROUND:Heatstroke has become a common emergency event in hospitals.Procalcitonin(PCT)is used as a biomarker of infection in the emergency department(ED),but its role in rhabdomyolysis(RM)following exertional heatstroke(EHS)remains unclear.METHODS:A retrospective cohort study enrolled patients with EHS from the intensive care unit(ICU).We collected RM biomarkers,inflammation markers,critical disease scores at admission,24 h,48 h,and discharge,and 90-day mortality.Correlation analysis,linear regression and curve fi tting were used to identify the relationship between PCT and RM.RESULTS:A total of 162 patients were recruited and divided into RM(n=56)and non-RM(n=106)groups.PCT was positively correlated with myoglobin(Mb),acute hepatic injury,disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC),Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)score,and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II(APACHE II)score,with correlation coefficients of 0.214,0.237,0.285,0.454,and 0.368,respectively(all P<0.05).Interestingly,the results of curve fi tting revealed a nonlinear relationship between PCT and RM,and a two-piecewise linear regression model showed that PCT was related to RM with an odds ratio of 1.3 and a cut-off of<4.6 ng/mL.Survival analysis revealed that RM was associated with higher mortality compared to non-RM cases(P=0.0093).CONCLUSION:High serum PCT concentrations are associated with RM after EHS in critically ill patients.Elevated PCT concentrations should be interpreted cautiously in patients with EHS in the ED.

Investigating the relationship between intracranial atherosclerotic plaque remodelling and diabetes using high-resolution vessel wall imaging

BACKGROUND Intracranial atherosclerosis,a leading cause of stroke,involves arterial plaque formation.This study explores the link between plaque remodelling patterns and diabetes using high-resolution vessel wall imaging(HR-VWI).AIM To investigate the factors of intracranial atherosclerotic remodelling patterns and the relationship between intracranial atherosclerotic remodelling and diabetes mellitus using HR-VWI.METHODS Ninety-four patients diagnosed with middle cerebral artery or basilar artery INTRODUCTION Intracranial atherosclerotic disease is one of the main causes of ischaemic stroke in the world,accounting for approx-imately 10%of transient ischaemic attacks and 30%-50%of ischaemic strokes[1].It is the most common factor among Asian people[2].The adaptive changes in the structure and function of blood vessels that can adapt to changes in the internal and external environment are called vascular remodelling,which is a common and important pathological mechanism in atherosclerotic diseases,and the remodelling mode of atherosclerotic plaques is closely related to the occurrence of stroke.Positive remodelling(PR)is an outwards compensatory remodelling where the arterial wall grows outwards in an attempt to maintain a constant lumen diameter.For a long time,it was believed that the degree of stenosis can accurately reflect the risk of ischaemic stroke[3-5].Previous studies have revealed that lesions without significant luminal stenosis can also lead to acute events[6,7],as summarized in a recent meta-analysis study in which approximately 50%of acute/subacute ischaemic events were due to this type of lesion[6].Research[8,9]has pointed out that the PR of plaques is more dangerous and more likely to cause acute ischaemic stroke.Previous studies[10-13]have found that there are specific vascular remodelling phenomena in the coronary and carotid arteries of diabetic patients.However,due to the deep location and small lumen of intracranial arteries and limitations of imaging techniques,the relationship between intracranial arterial remodelling and diabetes is still unclear.In recent years,with the development of magnetic resonance technology and the emergence of high-resolution(HR)vascular wall imaging,a clear and multidimensional display of the intracranial vascular wall has been achieved.Therefore,in this study,HR wall imaging(HR-VWI)was used to display the remodelling characteristics of bilateral middle cerebral arteries and basilar arteries and to explore the factors of intracranial vascular remodelling and its relationship with diabetes.

Epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China:a hospital-based retrospective study

Traumatic spinal cord injury is potentially catastrophic and can lead to permanent disability or even death.China has the largest population of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.Previous studies of traumatic spinal cord injury in China have mostly been regional in scope;national-level studies have been rare.To the best of our knowledge,no national-level study of treatment status and economic burden has been performed.This retrospective study aimed to examine the epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China at the national level.We included 13,465 traumatic spinal cord injury patients who were injured between January 2013 and December 2018 and treated in 30 hospitals in 11 provinces/municipalities representing all geographical divisions of China.Patient epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and total and daily costs were recorded.Trends in the percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department and cost of care were assessed by annual percentage change using the Joinpoint Regression Program.The percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department did not significantly change overall(annual percentage change,-0.5%and 2.1%,respectively).A total of 10,053(74.7%)patients underwent surgery.Only 2.8%of patients who underwent surgery did so within 24 hours of injury.A total of 2005(14.9%)patients were treated with high-dose(≥500 mg)methylprednisolone sodium succinate/methylprednisolone(MPSS/MP);615(4.6%)received it within 8 hours.The total cost for acute traumatic spinal cord injury decreased over the study period(-4.7%),while daily cost did not significantly change(1.0%increase).Our findings indicate that public health initiatives should aim at improving hospitals’ability to complete early surgery within 24 hours,which is associated with improved sensorimotor recovery,increasing the awareness rate of clinical guidelines related to high-dose MPSS/MP to reduce the use of the treatment with insufficient evidence.

Establishment of a prediction model for prehospital return of spontaneous circulation in out-of-hospital patients with cardiac arrest

BACKGROUND Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest(OHCA)is a leading cause of death worldwide.AIM To explore factors influencing prehospital return of spontaneous circulation(P-ROSC)in patients with OHCA and develop a nomogram prediction model.METHODS Clinical data of patients with OHCA in Shenzhen,China,from January 2012 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)regression and multivariate logistic regression were applied to select the optimal factors predicting P-ROSC in patients with OHCA.A nomogram prediction model was established based on these influencing factors.Discrimination and calibration were assessed using receiver operating charac-teristic(ROC)and calibration curves.Decision curve analysis(DCA)was used to evaluate the model’s clinical utility.RESULTS Among the included 2685 patients with OHCA,the P-ROSC incidence was 5.8%.LASSO and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that age,bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR),initial rhythm,CPR duration,ventilation mode,and pathogenesis were independent factors influencing P-ROSC in these patients.The area under the ROC was 0.963.The calibration plot demonstrated that the predicted P-ROSC model was concordant with the actual P-ROSC.The good clinical usability of the prediction model was confirmed using DCA.CONCLUSION The nomogram prediction model could effectively predict the probability of P-ROSC in patients with OHCA.

Anti-inflammatory effects of amarogentin on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like mice and in HaCat cells

Background:Amarogentin(AMA)is a secoiridoid glycoside extracted from Swertia and Gentiana roots and exhibits many biological effects such as antioxidative,antiinflammatory,and antitumor activities.Atopic dermatitis(AD)is a chronic inflammatory skin disease caused by disorders in the regulation of multiple inflammatory cytokines.No effective cure has been found for AD now.Methods:We constructed the HaCat and splenocyte model and tested the inhibitory effect of AMA on IL-4,IL-6,and IL-13 secretions using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The AD mouse model was constructed and treated with AMA,the severity of skin lesions was observed,epidermal tissue was collected,and epidermal thickness and mast cell infiltration were observed using hematoxylin and eosin and toluidine blue staining,respectively.The expression of kallikrein-related peptidase 7(KLK7)and filaggrin(FLG)was detected using immunostaining and Western blot analysis.The mRNA expression of KLK7 and FLG was detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR).Blood immunoglobulin E(IgE)secretion was detected.Results:AMA inhibited IL-6 secreted by tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α-induced HaCaT cells and reduced IL-4 and IL-13 secreted by phytohemagglutinin(PHA)-induced primary cells in the mice spleen.It was found that the treatment of AMA with 2,4-din itrochlorobenzene-induced AD-like mice could promote the recovery of dermatitis,reduce the score of dermatitis severity and the scratching frequency,treat the skin lesions,reduce the epidermal thickness,decrease the infiltration of mast cells,reduce the IgE level in serum,decrease the expression levels of AD-related cytokines,increase protein and mRNA expression of FLG,and reduce the protein and mRNA expression of KLK7 in the skin tissues of AD-like mice.Conclusion:In conclusion,AMA inhibits inflammatory response at the cellular level,and AMA reduces the validation response of specific dermatitis mice,relieves pruritus,and repairs the damaged skin barrier.

Lifestyle improvement and the reduced risk of cardiovascular disease:the China-PAR project

BACKGROUND The benefits of healthy lifestyles are well recognized. However, the extent to which improving unhealthy lifestyles reduces cardiovascular disease(CVD) risk needs to be discussed. We evaluated the impact of lifestyle improvement on CVD incidence using data from the China-PAR project(Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China).METHODS A total of 12,588 participants free of CVD were followed up for three visits after the baseline examination. Changes in four lifestyle factors(LFs)(smoking, diet, physical activity, and alcohol consumption) were assessed through questionnaires from the baseline to the first follow-up visit. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios(HRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals(CIs). The risk advancement periods(RAPs: the age difference between exposed and unexposed participants reaching the same incident CVD risk) and population-attributable risk percentage(PAR%) were also calculated.RESULTS A total of 909 incident CVD cases occurred over a median follow-up of 11.14 years. Compared with maintaining 0-1healthy LFs, maintaining 3–4 healthy LFs was associated with a 40% risk reduction of incident CVD(HR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.45–0.79)and delayed CVD risk by 6.31 years(RAP:-6.31 [-9.92,-2.70] years). The PAR% of maintaining 3–4 unhealthy LFs was 22.0%compared to maintaining 0-1 unhealthy LFs. Besides, compared with maintaining two healthy LFs, improving healthy LFs from 2to 3–4 was associated with a 23% lower risk of CVD(HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.60–0.98).CONCLUSIONS Long-term sustenance of healthy lifestyles or improving unhealthy lifestyles can reduce and delay CVD risk.

Distinctive magnetic resonance imaging features in primary central nervous system lymphoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Primary central nervous system lymphoma(PCNSL)is a rare malignant tumor originating from the lymphatic hematopoietic system.It exhibits unique imaging manifestations due to its biological characteristics.CASE SUMMARY Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)with diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI),perfusion-weighted imaging(PWI),and magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed.The imaging findings showed multiple space-occupying lesions with low signal on T1-weighted imaging,uniform high signal on T2-weighted imaging,and obvious enhancement on contrast-enhanced scans.DWI revealed diffusion restriction,PWI demonstrated hypoperfusion,and spectroscopy showed elevated choline peak and decreased N-acetylaspartic acid.The patient's condition significantly improved after hormone shock therapy.CONCLUSION This case highlights the distinctive imaging features of PCNSL and their importance in accurate diagnosis and management.

New discoveries in the field of metabolism by applying single-cell and spatial omics

Single-cell multi-Omics(SCM-Omics)and spatial multi-Omics(SM-Omics)technologies provide state-of-the-art methods for exploring the composition and function of cell types in tissues/organs.Since its emergence in 2009,single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)has yielded many groundbreaking new discoveries.The combination of this method with the emergence and development of SM-Omics techniques has been a pioneering strategy in neuroscience,developmental biology,and cancer research,especially for assessing tumor heterogeneity and T-cell infiltration.In recent years,the application of these methods in the study of metabolic diseases has also increased.The emerging SCM-Omics and SM-Omics approaches allow the molecular and spatial analysis of cells to explore regulatory states and determine cell fate,and thus provide promising tools for unraveling heterogeneous metabolic processes and making them amenable to intervention.Here,we review the evolution of SCM-Omics and SM-Omics technologies,and describe the progress in the application of SCM-Omics and SM-Omics in metabolism-related diseases,including obesity,diabetes,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and cardiovascular disease(CVD).We also conclude that the application of SCM-Omics and SM-Omics approaches can help resolve the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases in the body and facilitate therapeutic measures for metabolism-related diseases.This review concludes with an overview of the current status of this emerging field and the outlook for its future.

Lingguizhugan decoction attenuates diet-induced obesity and hepatosteatosis via gut microbiota

BACKGROUND Obesity is a major risk factor for a variety of diseases such as diabetes,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular diseases. Restricting energy intake, or caloric restriction(CR), can reduce body weight and improve metabolic parameters in overweight or obese patients. We previously found that Lingguizhugan decoction(LZD) in combination with CR can effectively lower plasma lipid levels in patients with metabolic syndrome. However, the mechanism underlying CR and LZD treatment is still unclear.AIM To investigate whether CR and LZD improve metabolic parameters by modulating gut microbiota.METHODS We extracted the water-soluble components out of raw materials and dried as LZD extracts. Eight-week old male C57 BL/6 mice were treated with a 3-d treatment regime that included 24 h-fasting followed by gavage of LZD extracts for 2 consecutive days, followed by a normal diet(ND) ad libitum for 16 wk. To test the effects of gut microbiota on diet-induced obesity, 8-wk old male C57 BL/6 mice received fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT) from CR and LZD-treated mice every 3 d and were fed with high-fat diet(HFD) ad libitum for 16 wk.Control mice received either saline gavage or FMT from ND-fed mice receiving saline gavage as mentioned above. Body weight was monitored bi-weekly. Food consumption of each cage hosting five mice was recorded weekly. To monitor blood glucose, total cholesterol, and total triglycerides, blood samples were collected via submandibular bleeding after 6 h fasting. Oxygen consumption rate was monitored with metabolic cages. Feces were collected, and fecal DNA was extracted. Profiles of gut microbiota were mapped by metagenomic sequencing.RESULTS We found that CR and LZD treatment significantly reduced the body weight of mice fed with ND(28.71 ± 0.29 vs 28.05 ± 0.15, P < 0.05), but did not affect plasma total cholesterol or total triglyceride levels. We then transplanted the fecal microbiota collected from CR and LZD-treated mice under ND feeding to HFDfed mice. Intriguingly, transplanting the mice with fecal microbiota from CR and LZD-treated mice potently reduced body weight(44.95 ± 1.02 vs 40.53 ± 0.97, P <0.001). FMT also reduced HFD-induced hepatosteatosis, in addition to improved glycemic control. Mechanistic studies found that FMT increased OCR of the mice and suppressed the expression and protein abundance of lipogenic genes in the liver. Metagenomic analysis revealed that HFD drastically altered the profile of gut microbiota, and FMT modified the profile of the gut microbiota.CONCLUSION Our study suggests that CR and LZD improve metabolic parameters by modulating gut microbiota.

Interleukin-22 receptor 1 is expressed in multinucleated giant cells:A study on intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn’s disease

BACKGROUND It is challenging to distinguish intestinal tuberculosis from Crohn’s disease due to dynamic changes in epidemiology and similar clinical characteristics. Recent studies have shown that polymorphisms in genes involved in the interleukin (IL)- 23/IL-17 axis may affect intestinal mucosal immunity by affecting the differentiation of Th17 cells. AIM To investigate the specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in the IL-23/IL-17 axis and possible pathways that affect susceptibility to intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease. METHODS We analysed 133 patients with intestinal tuberculosis, 128 with Crohn’s disease, and 500 normal controls. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded specimens or whole blood. Four SNPs in the IL23/Th17 axis (IL22 rs2227473, IL1β rs1143627, TGFβ rs4803455, and IL17 rs8193036) were genotyped with TaqMan assays. The transcriptional activity levels of different genotypes of rs2227473 were detected by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. The expression of IL-22R1 in different intestinal diseases was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The A allele frequency of rs2227473 (P = 0.030, odds ratio = 0.60, 95% confidence interval: 0.37-0.95) showed an abnormal distribution between intestinal tuberculosis and healthy controls. The presence of the A allele was associated with a higher IL-22 transcriptional activity (P < 0.05). In addition, IL-22R1 was expressed in intestinal lymphoid tissues, especially under conditions of intestinal tuberculosis, and highly expressed in macrophage-derived Langhans giant cells. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of IL-22R1 in patients with Crohn's disease and intestinal tuberculosis was significantly higher than that in patients with intestinal polyps and colon cancer (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION High IL-22 expression seems to be a protective factor for intestinal tuberculosis. IL-22R1 is expressed in Langhans giant cells, suggesting that the IL-22/IL-22R1 system links adaptive and innate immunity.

Association of the ADIPOQ Rs2241766 and Rs266729 Polymorphisms with Metabolic Syndrome in the Chinese Population:A Meta-analysis

Objective This meta-analysis was performed to summarize the association of the ADIPOQ rs2241766 and rs266729 polymorphisms with metabolic syndrome（MS） in the Chinese population.Methods We searched for articles in MEDLINE via PubM ed,EMBASE,HuG E Navigator,CNKI,and Wanfang databases and calculated odds ratios（ORs） with 95% confidence intervals（CIs） to determine the strength of associations in fixed-or random-effects models.Results We included 21 articles in the meta-analysis：17 reports of ADIPOQ rs2241766 with 3628 cases and 3000 controls and 8 of rs266729 with 2021 cases and 2226 controls.We found an increased risk of MS with the ADIPOQ rs2241766 polymorphism in some genetic models（allele model：OR=1.12,95% CI：1.03-1.21;dominant model：OR=1.15,95% CI：1.04-1.28;homozygote model：OR=1.22,95% CI：1.00-1.49） but no association with the ADIPOQ rs266729 polymorphism（allele model：OR=0.98,95% CI：0.82-1.17;dominant model：OR=0.90,95% CI：0.79-1.02;recessive model：OR=1.09,95% CI：0.85-1.39;homozygote model：OR=1.03,95% CI：0.80-1.33）.Conclusion The results of this meta-analysis suggest an association between the ADIPOQ rs2241766 polymorphism and MS in the Chinese population.G allele of ADIPOQ rs2241766 increases the risk of MS.Better designed studies with different ethnic populations and larger sample sizes are needed for assessing the relationship between ADIPOQ rs2241766 and rs266729 polymorphisms and MS in the future.

Rapid and Sensitive Chemiluminescent Enzyme Immunoassay for the Determination of Neomycin Residues in Milk

Immunoassays greatly contribute to veterinary drug residue analysis.However,there are few reports on detecting neomycin residues by immunoassay.Here,a rapid and sensitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay(CLIEA)was successfully developed for neomycin

An improved Tet-on system in micro RNA overexpression and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing

Background: Tetracycline(Tet)-regulated expression system has become a widely applied tool to control gene activity. This study aimed to improve the Tet-on system with superior regulatory characteristics.Results: By comprehensively comparing factors of transactivators, Tet-responsive elements(TREs), orientations of induced expression cassette, and promoters controlling the transactivator, we developed an optimal Tet-on system with enhanced inducible efficiency and lower leakiness. With the system, we successfully performed effective inducible and reversible expression of micro RNA, and presented a more precise and easily reproducible fine-tuning for confirming the target of a mi RNA. Finally, the system was applied in CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of nuclear factor of activated T cells-5(NFAT5), a protective transcription factor in cellular osmoregulation.Conclusions: This study established an improved Tet-on system for powerful and stringent gene regulation in functional genetic studies.

Anti-tumor activities and apoptotic mechanism of ribosome-inactivating proteins

Ribosome-inactivating proteins(RIPs) belong to a family of enzymes that attack eukaryotic ribosomes and potently inhibit cellular protein synthesis.RIPs possess several biomedical properties,including anti-viral and anti-tumor activities.Multiple RIPs are known to inhibit tumor cell proliferation through inducing apoptosis in a variety of cancers,such as breast cancer,leukemia/lymphoma,and hepatoma.This review focuses on the anti-tumor activities of RIPs and their apoptotic effects through three closely related pathways:mitochondrial,death receptor,and endoplasmic reticulum pathways.

Neolignans and Norlignans from Insect Medicine Polyphaga plancyi and Their Biological Activities

Ten neolignans or norlignans(1-10)including eight new compounds were isolated from the whole bodies of Polyphaga plancyi Bolivar.Their structures were identified by spectroscopic data.Compounds 3,4,8,and 9 are racemates indicated by chiral HPLC analysis.Chiral separation followed by ECD calculations allowed to clarify the absolute configurations of all the antipodes.All the new compounds were evaluated for their biological properties toward extracellular matrix in rat renal proximal tubular cells,human cancer cells(K562,A549,and Huh7),EV71,ROCK2,JAK3,DDR1,and coagulation.

Computed tomography combined with gastroscopy for assessment of pancreatic segmental portal hypertension

BACKGROUND Pancreatic segmental portal hypertension(PSPH) is the only type of portal hypertension that can be completely cured. However, it can easily cause varicose veins in the esophagus and stomach and hemorrhage in the digestive tract.AIM To explore the application of computed tomography(CT) to examine the characteristics of PSPH and assess the risk level.METHODS This was a retrospective analysis of CT images of 22 patients diagnosed with PSPH at our center. Spearman correlation analysis was performed using the range of esophageal and gastric varices(measured by the vertical gastric wall), the ratio of the width of the splenic portal vein to that of the compression site(S/C ratio), the degree of splenomegaly, and the stage determined by gastroscopy. This study examined whether patients experienced gastrointestinal bleeding within 2 wk and combined CT and gastroscopy to explore the connection between bleeding and CT findings.RESULTS The range of esophageal and gastric varices showed the best correlation in the diagnosis of PSPH(P < 0.001), and the S/C ratio(P = 0.007) was correlated with the degree of splenomegaly(P = 0.021) and PSPH(P < 0.05). This study revealed that male patients were more likely than females to progress to grade 2 or grade 3 as determined by gastroscopy. CT demonstrated excellent performance, with an area under the curve of 0.879.CONCLUSION CT can be used to effectively analyze the imaging signs of PSPH, and CT combined with gastroscopy can effectively predict the risk level of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Relationship between Gut Microbiota and Type 2 Diabetic Erectile Dysfunction in Sprague-Dawley Rats

In order to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota and type 2 diabetic erectile dysfunction（T2DED）, we analyzed the characteristics of gut microbiota in the Sprague-Dawley（SD） rats with T2DED. Thirty-five SD rats were randomly divided into two groups： control group（n=15） with normal diet, and experimental group（n=20） with construction of T2D model. Faecal and serum samples were collected at 2nd and 8th week after establishment of T2D model, respectively. Faecal samples were used for analysis of gut microbiota, and serum samples for detection of trimethylamine N-oxide（TMAO）, lipopolysaccharide（LPS）, and inflammatory factors like interleukin-1（IL-1）, IL-2, IL-10, and monocyte chemoattractantprotein-1（MCP-1）. The main compositions of gut microbiota were Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes at the phylum level, and Oscillospira, Allobaculum, Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, SMB53, Prevotella, Coprococcus, Sutterella and Blautia at the genus level with relatively higher abundance in all SD rats. The relative abundance of Enterococcus, Corynebacterium, Aerococcus, Facklamia（opportunistic pathogens in most case） increased, and that of Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium, Anaerotruncus（beneficial bacteria） decreased in T2DED group as compared with that at 2nd week after establishment of T2D model（T2D2 group）. The serum contents of TMAO, LPS, IL-1, IL-2, IL-10 and MCP-1 in T2DED group were significantly higher than those in control group. The gut microbiota of T2DED rats was inhibited. The gut microbiota of T2DED rats had changed, as the relative abundance of beneficial bacterium was decreased while that of opportunistic pathogens was increased. The variations of gut microbiota might lead to inflammation and prompt the emergence of erectile dysfunction in the rats with T2D. TMAO might play an important role in the formation of T2DED.

Annual advances of integrative pharmacology in 2019

Representative studies concerning the pharmacology of traditional medicine and active herbal products have been summarized over the past 12 months.This annual integrative pharmacology review encompasses research articles published during 2019 on the bioactive compounds and extracts used in traditional medicine.Reports highlighting the pharmacology progress of traditional medicine were specifically introduced,including artemisinin for cancer cell sensibility and induction to ferroptosis,rutin for neuroinflammation suppression,Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma for gut microbiota regulation against obesity,green tea and Pu-erh tea for metabolic syndrome,and marine-derived oligosaccharide(GV-971)from brown algae for anti-dementia.Moreover,novel TCM molecular targets and pharmacological mechanisms were trialed against different human diseases,including cancers,cardiovascular,cerebrovascular diseases,diabetes,and metabolic diseases.Notably,herb-derived bioactive products have become important treatment alternatives for cancer research in 2019.Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases,together with diabetes and metabolic diseases,are ongoing research areas for traditional medicine.Moreover,inflammation and infectious disease are also attracting more attention by researchers,which might have been influenced by seasonal influenza or HIV/Ebola viral infections.Further traditional medicine investigations are required in neurodegenerative diseases,depression,and mental diseases.Taken together,the findings of the integrative pharmacology review in 2019 provide a vast number of novel lead compounds or drug candidates for future clinical agent development and also details a novel series of attractive therapeutic targets and molecular mechanisms for human diseases.