Investigation of the hypoglycemic mechanism of the ShenQi compound formula through metabonomics and 16S rRNA sequencing.

Introduction: Herbal formulations are renowned for their complex biological activities, acting on multiple targets and pathways, as evidenced by in vitro studies. However, the hypoglycemic effect and underlying mechanisms of Shenqi Compound (SQ), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, remain elusive. This study aimed to elucidate the hypoglycemic effects of SQ and explore its mechanisms of action, focusing on intestinal flora and metabolomics. Methods: A Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rat model was established through a high-fat diet, followed by variable glucose and insulin injections to mimic the fluctuating glycemic conditions seen in diabetes. Results: An eight-week regimen of SQ significantly mitigated hyperglycemia, inflammation, and insulin resistance in these rats. Notably, SQ beneficially modulated the gut microbiota by increasing populations of beneficial bacteria, such as Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Akkermansia, while reducing and inhibiting harmful strains such as Ruminococcus and Phascolarctobacterium. Metabolomics analyses revealed that SQ intervention corrected disturbances in Testosterone enanthate and Glycerophospholipid metabolism. Discussion: Our findings highlight the hypoglycemic potential of SQ and its mechanisms via modulation of the gut microbiota and metabolic pathways, offering a theoretical foundation for the use of herbal medicine in diabetes management.

Association between Body Mass Index and Medication-Overuse Headache among Individuals with Migraine: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a secondary chronic headache disorder that occurs in individuals with a pre-existing primary headache disorder, particularly migraine disorder. Obesity is often combined with chronic daily headaches and is considered a risk factor for the transformation of episodic headaches into chronic headaches. However, the association between obesity and MOH among individuals with migraine has rarely been studied. The present study explored the association between body mass index (BMI) and MOH in people living with migraine. METHODS: This cross-sectional study is a secondary analysis of data from the Survey of Fibromyalgia Comorbidity with Headache study. Migraine and MOH were diagnosed using the criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition. BMI (kg/m2) is calculated by dividing the weight (kg) by the square of the height (m). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between BMI and MOH. RESULTS: A total of 2,251 individuals with migraine were included, of whom 8.7% (195/2,251) had a concomitant MOH. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex, education level, headache duration, pain intensity, headache family history, chronic migraine, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and fibromyalgia, demonstrated there was an association between BMI (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.11; p = 0.031) and MOH. The results remained when the BMI was transformed into a category. Compared to individuals with Q2 (18.5 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤23.9 kg/m2), those with Q4 (BMI ≥28 kg/m2) had an adjusted OR for MOH of 1.81 (95% CI, 1.04-3.17; p = 0.037). In the subgroup analyses, BMI was associated with MOH among aged more than 50 years (OR, 1.13; 95%, 1.03-1.24), less than high school (OR, 1.08; 95%, 1.01-1.15), without depression (OR, 1.06; 95%, 1.01-1.12), and without anxiety (OR, 1.06; 95%, 1.01-1.12). An association between BMI and MOH was found in a sensitivity analysis that BMI was classified into four categories according to the World Health Organization guidelines. CONCLUSION: In this cross-sectional study, BMI was associated with MOH in Chinese individuals with migraine.

The potential of astragalus polysaccharide for treating diabetes and its action mechanism.

Type 2 diabetes presents a significant global health burden and is frequently linked to serious clinical complications, including diabetic cardiomyopathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), extracted from Astragalus membranaceus, exhibits various biochemical and physiological effects. In recent years, a growing number of researchers have investigated the role of APS in glucose control and the treatment of diabetes and its complications in various diabetes models, positioning APS as a promising candidate for diabetes therapy. This review surveys the literature on APS from several databases over the past 20 years, detailing its mechanisms of action in preventing and treating diabetes mellitus. The findings indicate that APS can address diabetes by enhancing insulin resistance, modulating the immune system, protecting islet cells, and improving the intestinal microbiota. APS demonstrates positive pharmacological value and clinical potential in managing diabetic complications, including diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, cognitive dysfunction, wound healing, and more. However, further research is necessary to explore APS's bioavailability, optimal dosage, and additional clinical evidence.

Effect of outer membrane vesicles of Lactobacillus pentosus on Tau phosphorylation and CDK5-Calpain pathway in mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) stands as a neurodegenerative disorder causing cognitive decline, posing a significant health concern for the elderly population in China. This study explored the effects of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from the gut microbiota of AD patients on learning and memory abilities and Tau protein phosphorylation in mice. In contrast to the OMVs from healthy controls and the PBS treatment group, mice treated with AD-OMVs exhibited notable declines in learning and memory capabilities, as evidenced by results from the Morris water maze, Y-maze, and novel object recognition tests. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot assessments unveiled elevated levels of hyperphosphorylated Tau in the cortex and hippocampus of mice treated with AD-OMVs. However, there were no alterations observed in the total Tau levels. In addition, AD-OMVs treated mice showed increased neuroinflammation indicated by elevated astrocytes and microglia. Molecular mechanism studies demonstrated that AD-OMVs could activate GSK3ß, CDK5-Calpain and NF-κB pathways in mice hippocampus. These studies suggest AD patient gut microbiota derived OMVs can promote host Tau phosphorylation and improved neuroinflammation.

Uremic toxins mediate kidney diseases: the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) was originally identified as an environmental sensor that responds to pollutants. Subsequent research has revealed that AhR recognizes multiple exogenous and endogenous molecules, including uremic toxins retained in the body due to the decline in renal function. Therefore, AhR is also considered to be a uremic toxin receptor. As a ligand-activated transcriptional factor, the activation of AhR is involved in cell differentiation and senescence, lipid metabolism and fibrogenesis. The accumulation of uremic toxins in the body is hazardous to all tissues and organs. The identification of the endogenous uremic toxin receptor opens the door to investigating the precise role and molecular mechanism of tissue and organ damage induced by uremic toxins. This review focuses on summarizing recent findings on the role of AhR activation induced by uremic toxins in chronic kidney disease, diabetic nephropathy and acute kidney injury. Furthermore, potential clinical approaches to mitigate the effects of uremic toxins are explored herein, such as enhancing uremic toxin clearance through dialysis, reducing uremic toxin production through dietary interventions or microbial manipulation, and manipulating metabolic pathways induced by uremic toxins through controlling AhR signaling. This information may also shed light on the mechanism of uremic toxin-induced injury to other organs, and provide insights into clinical approaches to manipulate the accumulated uremic toxins.

Effect of eHealth interventions on perinatal depression: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal depression (PND) is a common mental health problem, and eHealth interventions may provide a strategy for alleviating PND. AIM: This meta-analysis aimed to determine the effect of eHealth interventions on PND. METHODS: Six databases were searched to retrieve published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of eHealth interventions on PND. A meta-analysis was performed on the data of these studies using a random effects model. RESULTS: A total of 21 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis, which revealed that eHealth interventions significantly reduced antenatal depression (WMD = -1.64, 95 % CI [-2.92, -0.35], P = .013), postpartum depression (SMD = -0.41, 95 % CI [-0.52, -0.29], P < .001), anxiety (SMD = -0.39, 95 % CI [-0.51, -0.28], P < .001), stress (WMD = -2.93, 95 % CI [-4.58, -1.27], P = .001), and improved self-efficacy (SMD = 0.42, 95 % CI [0.21, 0.63], P < .001) compared with the control group. However, eHealth interventions did not significantly improve social support (SMD = 0.27, 95 % CI [-0.01, 0.56], P = .058). For antenatal depression, significant subgroup differences were observed in the digital platform and material presentation format. In addition, for postpartum depression, significant subgroup differences were found in the type of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis results suggest that eHealth interventions can relieve depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms and improve self-efficacy in perinatal women. However, these interventions did not improve social support. Additional high-quality studies on eHealth interventions in PND are needed to validate these results.

Disrupting CD38-driven T cell dysfunction restores sensitivity to cancer immunotherapy.

A central problem in cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is the development of resistance, which affects 50% of patients with metastatic melanoma1,2. T cell exhaustion, resulting from chronic antigen exposure in the tumour microenvironment, is a major driver of ICB resistance3. Here, we show that CD38, an ecto-enzyme involved in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) catabolism, is highly expressed in exhausted CD8+ T cells in melanoma and is associated with ICB resistance. Tumour-derived CD38hiCD8+ T cells are dysfunctional, characterised by impaired proliferative capacity, effector function, and dysregulated mitochondrial bioenergetics. Genetic and pharmacological blockade of CD38 in murine and patient-derived organotypic tumour models (MDOTS/PDOTS) enhanced tumour immunity and overcame ICB resistance. Mechanistically, disrupting CD38 activity in T cells restored cellular NAD+ pools, improved mitochondrial function, increased proliferation, augmented effector function, and restored ICB sensitivity. Taken together, these data demonstrate a role for the CD38-NAD+ axis in promoting T cell exhaustion and ICB resistance, and establish the efficacy of CD38 directed therapeutic strategies to overcome ICB resistance using clinically relevant, patient-derived 3D tumour models.

Amide proton transfer-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for application in renal fibrosis: A radiological-pathological based analysis.

BACKGROUND: Renal fibrosis (RF) being the most important pathological change in the progression of CKD, is currently assessed by the evaluation of a biopsy. This present study aimed to apply a novel functional MRI (fMRI) protocol named amide proton transfer weighting (APTw) to evaluate RF non-invasively. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were initially subjected to bilateral kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and Sham operation, respectively. All rats underwent APT mapping on the 7th and the 14th day after operation. Besides, 26 patients undergoing renal biopsy at the Nephrology Department of Shanghai Tongji Hospital between July 2022 and May 2023. Patients underwent APT and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mappings within 1 week before biopsy. MRI results of both patients and rats were calculated by comparing with gold standard histology for fibrosis assessment. RESULTS: In animal models, the cortical APT (cAPT) and medullary APT (mAPT) values were positively correlated with the degree of renal fibrosis. Compared to the sham group, IRI group showed significantly increased cAPT and mAPT values on the 7th and 14th day after surgery, but no group differences were found in ADC values. Similar results were found in human patients. Cortical/medullary APT values were significantly increased in patients with moderate-to-severe fibrosis than patients with mild fibrosis. ROC curve analysis indicated that APT value displayed a better diagnostic value for RF. Furthermore, combination of cADC and cAPT improved fibrosis detection by imaging variables alone (p<0.1). CONCLUSION: APT values had better diagnostic capability at early stage of RF compared to ADC values, and the addition of APT imaging to conventional ADC will significantly improve the diagnostic performance for predicting kidney fibrosis.

Evaluation of the TLR3 involvement during Schistosoma japonicum-induced pathology.

BACKGROUND: Despite the functions of TLRs in the parasitic infections have been extensively reported, few studies have addressed the role of TLR3 in the immune response to Schistosoma japonicum infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the properties of TLR3 in the liver of C57BL/6 mice infected by S. japonicum. METHODS: The production of TLR3+ cells in CD4+T cells (CD4+CD3+), CD8+T cells (CD8+CD3+), γδT cells (γδTCR+CD3+), NKT cells (NK1.1+CD3+), B cells (CD19+CD3-), NK (NK1.1-CD3+) cells, MDSC (CD11b+Gr1+), macrophages (CD11b+F4/80+), DCs (CD11c+CD11b+) and neutrophils (CD11b+ Ly6g+) were assessed by flow cytometry. Sections of the liver were examined by haematoxylin and eosin staining in order to measure the area of granulomas. Hematological parameters including white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), platelet (PLT) and hemoglobin (HGB) were analyzed. The levels of ALT and AST in the serum were measured using biochemical kits. The relative titers of anti-SEA IgG and anti-SEA IgM in the serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). CD25, CD69, CD314 and CD94 molecules were detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Flow cytometry results showed that the expression of TLR3 increased significantly after S. japonicum infection (P < 0.05). Hepatic myeloid and lymphoid cells could express TLR3, and the percentages of TLR3-expressing MDSC, macrophages and neutrophils were increased after infection. Knocking out TLR3 ameliorated the damage and decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells in infected C57BL/6 mouse livers.,The number of WBC was significantly reduced in TLR3 KO-infected mice compared to WT-infected mice (P < 0.01), but the levels of RBC, platelet and HGB were significantly increased in KO infected mice. Moreover, the relative titers of anti-SEA IgG and anti-SEA IgM in the serum of infected KO mice were statistically decreased compared with the infected WT mice. We also compared the activation-associated molecules expression between S.japonicum-infected WT and TLR3 KO mice. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data indicated that TLR3 played potential roles in the context of S. japonicum infection and it may accelerate the progression of S. japonicum-associated liver pathology.

Characteristics of splenic PD-1+ γδT cells in Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis infection.

Although the functions of programmed death-1 (PD-1) on αß T cells have been extensively reported, a role for PD-1 in regulating γδT cell function is only beginning to emerge. Here, we investigated the phenotypic and functional characteristics of PD-1-expressing γδT cells, and the molecular mechanism was also explored in the Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis (P. yoelii NSM)-infected mice. Flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) were performed. An inverse agonist of RORα, SR3335, was used to investigate the role of RORα in regulating PD-1+ γδT cells. The results indicated that γδT cells continuously upregulated PD-1 expression during the infection period. Higher levels of CD94, IL-10, CX3CR1, and CD107a; and lower levels of CD25, CD69, and CD127 were found in PD-1+ γδT cells from infected mice than in PD-1- γδT cells. Furthermore, GO enrichment analysis revealed that the marker genes in PD-1+ γδT cells were involved in autophagy and processes utilizing autophagic mechanisms. ScRNA-seq results showed that RORα was increased significantly in PD-1+ γδT cells. GSEA identified that RORα was mainly involved in the regulation of I-kappaB kinase/NF-κB signaling and the positive regulation of cytokine production. Consistent with this, PD-1-expressing γδT cells upregulated RORα following Plasmodium yoelii infection. Additionally, in vitro studies revealed that higher levels of p-p65 were found in PD-1+ γδT cells after treatment with a RORα selective synthetic inhibitor. Collectively, these data suggest that RORα-mediated attenuation of NF-κB signaling may be fundamental for PD-1-expressing γδT cells to modulate host immune responses in the spleen of Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis-infected C57BL/6 mice, and it requires further investigation.

PGAM5 exacerbates acute renal injury by initiating mitochondria-dependent apoptosis by facilitating mitochondrial cytochrome c release.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a worldwide public health problem characterized by the massive loss of tubular cells. However, the precise mechanism for initiating tubular cell death has not been fully elucidated. Here, we reported that phosphoglycerate mutase 5 (PGAM5) was upregulated in renal tubular epithelial cells during ischaemia/reperfusion or cisplatin-induced AKI in mice. PGAM5 knockout significantly alleviated the activation of the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis pathway and tubular apoptosis. Apoptosis inhibitors alleviated the activation of the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis pathway. Mechanistically, as a protein phosphatase, PGAM5 could dephosphorylate Bax and facilitate Bax translocation to the mitochondrial membrane. The translocation of Bax to mitochondria increased membrane permeability, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and facilitated the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c (Cyt c) into the cytoplasm. Knockdown of Bax attenuated PGAM5 overexpression-induced Cyt c release and tubular cell apoptosis. Our results demonstrated that the increase in PGAM5-mediated Bax dephosphorylation and mitochondrial translocation was implicated in the development of AKI by initiating mitochondrial Cyt c release and activating the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis pathway. Targeting this axis might be beneficial for alleviating AKI.

The research progress of crosstalk mechanism of autophagy and apoptosis in diabetic vascular endothelial injury.

In recent years, the widespread prevalence of diabetes has become a major killer that threatens the health of people worldwide. Of particular concern is hyperglycemia-induced vascular endothelial injury, which is one of the factors that aggravate diabetic vascular disease. During the process of diabetic vascular endothelial injury, apoptosis is an important pathological manifestation and autophagy is a key regulatory mechanism. Autophagy and apoptosis interact with each other. Hence, the crosstalk mechanism between the two processes is an important means of regulating diabetic vascular endothelial injury. This article reviews the research progress in apoptosis in the context of diabetic vascular endothelial injury and discusses the crosstalk mechanism of autophagy and apoptosis and its role in this injury. The purpose is to guide the prevention and treatment of diabetic vascular endothelial injury in the future.

Multimodal magnetic resonance scans of patients with mild cognitive impairment.

The advancement of neuroimaging technology offers a pivotal reference for the early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a significant area of focus in contemporary cognitive function research. Structural MRI scans present visual and quantitative manifestations of alterations in brain tissue, whereas functional MRI scans depict the metabolic and functional state of brain tissues from diverse perspectives. As various magnetic resonance techniques possess both strengths and constraints, this review examines the methodologies and outcomes of multimodal magnetic resonance technology in MCI diagnosis, laying the groundwork for subsequent diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for MCI.

O avanço da tecnologia de neuroimagem oferece uma referência fundamental para a detecção precoce do comprometimento cognitivo leve (CCL), uma área significativa de foco na pesquisa contemporânea da função cognitiva. A ressonância magnética estrutural apresenta manifestações visuais e quantitativas de alterações no tecido cerebral, enquanto a ressonância magnética funcional retrata o estado metabólico e funcional dos tecidos cerebrais sob diversas perspectivas. Como várias técnicas de ressonância magnética possuem pontos fortes e restrições, esta revisão examinou as metodologias e os resultados da tecnologia de ressonância magnética multimodal no diagnóstico de CCL, estabelecendo as bases para intervenções diagnósticas e terapêuticas subsequentes para CCL.

NDUFA4L2 is a novel biomarker for colorectal cancer through bioinformatics analysis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. NDUFAL42 is an important mitochondrial respiratory chain subunit that plays a critical role in cellular energy metabolism. However, the role of NDUFA4L2 in CRC remains unclear. Therefore, we used the data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to prove the relationship between NDUFA4L2 and CRC. The expression levels of NDUFA4L2 in CRC tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining of NDUFA4L2 from the HPA database. Wilcoxon rank sum test, Chi-square test, Fisher exact test and logistic regression were used to evaluate relationships between clinical-pathologic features and NDUFA4L2 expression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to describe binary classifier value of NDUFA4L2 using area under curve (AUC) score. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate factors contributing to prognosis. Gene oncology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were used to predict the function of differentially expressed genes associated with NDUFA4L2. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to predict canonical pathways associated with NDUFA4L2.Immune infiltration analysis was performed to identify the significantly involved functions of NDUFA4L2. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were established and 20 hub genes identified with Cytoscape software. Increased NDUFA4L2 expression in CRC was associated with T stage (P = .019), N stage (P < .001), Pathologic stage (P = .020), Residual tumor (P = .023), Perineural invasion (P = .039), Lymphatic invasion (P = .007), Histological type(P < .001), PFI event (P = .007) and DSS event (P = .004).ROC curve suggested the significant diagnostic and prognostic ability of NDUFA4L2 (AUC = 0.878). High NDUFA4L2 expression predicted a poorer Overall-survival (P = .021), poorer progression-free interval (P = .001), and poorer Disease Specific Survival (P = .002). GO, KEGG, GSEA and immune infiltration analysis showed that NDUFA4L2 expression was correlated with regulating the function of DNA and some types of immune infiltrating cells. NDUFA4L2 expression was significantly correlated with poor survival and immune infiltrations in CRC, and it may be a promising prognostic biomarker in CRC.

Synthesis of meta-arylphenol derivatives via acid-promoted rearrangement of cyclohexadienones.

A highly effective strategy for the synthesis of meta-arylphenol derivatives through the selective rearrangement of 4-alkyl-4-aryl-2,5-cyclohexadienones under metal-free conditions was developed, in which acid-promoted [1,2]-migration of the aryl group at C-4 occurred exclusively when the alkyl group at C-4 was a methyl group. Treatment of 4-methyl-4-aryl-2,5-cyclohexadienones with 37% HCl in Ac2O at room temperature provided polysubstituted meta-arylphenyl acetates in 75-94% yields. The application of this protocol in the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic compounds was also described.

Status of diagnosis and preventative treatment for primary headache disorders: real-world data of unmet needs in China.

BACKGROUND: Headache disorders are widely prevalent and pose a considerable economic burden on individuals and society. Globally, misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment of primary headache disorders remain significant challenges, impeding the effective management of such conditions. Despite advancements in headache management over the last decade, a need for comprehensive evaluations of the status of primary headache disorders in China regarding diagnosis and preventative treatments persists. METHODS: In the present study, we analyzed the established queries in the Survey of Fibromyalgia Comorbidity with Headache (SEARCH), focusing on previous diagnoses and preventative treatment regimens for primary headache disorders. This cross-sectional study encompassed adults diagnosed with primary headache disorders who sought treatment at 23 hospitals across China between September 2020 to May 2021. RESULTS: The study comprised 2,868 participants who were systematically examined. Migraine and tension-type headaches (TTH) constituted a majority of the primary headache disorders, accounting for 74.1% (2,124/2,868) and 23.3% (668/2,868) of the participants, respectively. Medication overuse headache (MOH) affected 8.1% (231/2,868) of individuals with primary headache disorders. Over half of the individuals with primary headache disorders (56.6%, 1,624/2,868) remained undiagnosed. The previously correct diagnosis rates for migraine, TTH, TACs, and MOH were 27.3% (580/2,124), 8.1% (54/668), 23.2% (13/56), and 3.5% (8/231), respectively. The misdiagnosis of "Nervous headache" was found to be the most prevalent among individuals with migraine (9.9%, 211/2,124), TTH (10.0%, 67/668), trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) (17.9%, 10/56), and other primary headache disorders (10.0%, 2/20) respectively. Only a minor proportion of individuals with migraine (16.5%, 77/468) and TTH (4.7%, 2/43) had received preventive medication before participating in the study. CONCLUSIONS: While there has been progress made in the rate of correct diagnosis of primary headache disorders in China compared to a decade ago, the prevalence of misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment of primary headaches remains a veritable issue. As such, focused efforts are essential to augment the diagnosis and preventive treatment measures related to primary headache disorders in the future.

Effect of psychological interventions on mental health, personal relationships and quality of life of women who have subjectively experienced traumatic childbirth.

BACKGROUND: No targeted review has assessed the effect of psychological interventions on the mental health, personal relationships, and the quality of life of women who have subjectively experienced traumatic childbirth. METHODS: Eight databases were searched from inception to January 2023. Study selection, data extraction, quality appraisal, and data analysis were conducted by two researchers independently. RESULTS: In total, eight studies were included. The results indicated that psychological interventions could effectively alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depression, and anxiety in women who have subjectively experienced traumatic childbirth. The interventions were more effective in alleviating PTSD symptoms than depression or anxiety. The subgroup analysis results showed that the effect of multiple sessions might be better than that of a single session. There was insufficient evidence supporting the effect of psychological interventions to improve personal relationships and the quality of life. LIMITATIONS: Study limitations included the small number of studies included for meta-analysis, substantial heterogeneity, and the retrieval of only studies written in English or Chinese. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological intervention is a promising method for the mental health of women who have subjectively experienced traumatic childbirth, but more studies are needed to confirm the effects. More studies are also required to explore the impact of psychological interventions on personal relationships and the quality of life. Future studies should focus on comparing which specific type of psychological intervention is most effective. Additional investigations should include the potential adverse effects and long-term effects of psychological interventions and details, such as content, process, and timing.

[The number of TIGIT+CD8+ T cells increases but their cytokine secretion decreases in the lungs of Plasmodium yoelii infected mice].

Objective To investigate the effect of T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT) on the function of CD8+ T cells in the lungs of Plasmodium infected mice. Methods The lungs of the mice infected with Plasmodium yoelii were isolated, weighed and photographed after 12 days' infection. After dissolution, lung lymphocytes were isolated, counted and stained, and then the contents of CD8+ and TIGIT+CD8+ T cells were detected by flow cytometry. The expressions of L selectin (CD62L), CD69, programmed death 1 (PD-1), CD25, and C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1) on TIGIT+CD8+ T cells were detected by flow cytometry. After stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin, the ability of TIGIT+CD8+T cells to secrete interferon γ(IFN-γ), interleukin 21 (IL-21), IL-4, IL-17, and IL-10 was detected. Results The body mass of mice with Plasmodium infection was reduced. The lungs became darker, and the ratio of the lung mass to body mass was significantly increased. Compared with the normal mice, the percentages and absolute quantity of CD8+ and TIGIT+CD8+ T cells in the lungs of the infected mice were significantly increased. The percentage of TIGIT+CD8+ T cells expressing CD62L in the infected group was significantly lower, while the percentage of the CD69, PD-1, and CX3CR1 cells were significantly higher than that of TIGIT+CD8+ T cells from the normal mice. The percentages of TIGIT+CD8+ T cells secreting IL-21, IL-4, IL-17 and IL-10 cells in the infected group were significantly lower. Conclusion The lung lesions from mice with Plasmodium infection are obvious, the numbers of TIGIT+CD8+ T cells increase, and these cells express a variety of activation-related molecules, but the ability to secrete cytokines is reduced.

Role of miRNAs in Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease characterized by autoimmunity, synovial inflammation and joint destruction. Pannus formation in the synovial cavity can cause irreversible damage to the joint and cartilage and eventually permanent disability. Current conventional treatments for RA have limitations regarding efficacy, safety and cost. microRNA (miRNA) is a type of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) that regulates gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. The dysregulation of miRNA has been observed in RA patients and implicated in the pathogenesis of RA. miRNAs have emerged as potential biomarkers or therapeutic agents. In this review, we explore the role of miRNAs in various aspects of RA pathophysiology, including immune cell imbalance, the proliferation and invasion of fibroblast-like synovial (FLS) cell, the dysregulation of inflammatory signaling and disturbance in angiogenesis. We delve into the regulatory effects of miRNAs on Treg/Th17 and M1/M2 polarization, the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway, neovascular formation, energy metabolism induced by FLS-cell-induced energy metabolism, apoptosis, osteogenesis and mobility. These findings shed light on the potential applications of miRNAs as diagnostic or therapeutic biomarkers for RA management. Furthermore, there are some strategies to regulate miRNA expression levels by utilizing miRNA mimics or exosomes and to hinder miRNA activity via competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network-based antagonists. We conclude that miRNAs offer a promising avenue for RA therapy with unlimited potential.