Modified Zhenwu Decoction improved intestinal barrier function of experimental colitis through activation of sGC-mediated cGMP/PKG signaling.

Background: The invasion of luminal antigens and an aberrant immune response resulting from a disrupted physical epithelial barrier are the key characteristics of ulcerative colitis (UC). The restoration of damaged epithelial function is crucial for maintaining mucosal homeostasis and disease quiescence. Current therapies for UC primarily focus on suppressing inflammation.

Modified Zhenwu Decoction suppresses chronic colitis via targeting macrophage CCR2/Fyn/p38 MAPK signaling axis.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with intestinal macrophage infiltration due to disruption of the mucosal barrier and bacterial invasion. Therefore, it is crucial to identify therapeutic agents capable of attenuating the macrophage-induced inflammatory response to preserve mucosal homeostasis and immune tolerance. The modified Zhenwu decoction (CDD-2103) is a novel herbal formulation developed based on the principles of Traditional Chinese medicine.

VNN1 as a potential biomarker for sepsis diagnosis and its implications in immune infiltration and tumor prognosis.

Background: This study explored novel biomarkers for diagnosing sepsis, a severe disease prevalent in clinical settings, particularly threatening to elderly patients.

Methods: Using microarray gene expression datasets and fatty acid metabolism signatures, we identified differentially expressed genes between sepsis and healthy control groups. Correlations between candidate genes, immune cells, and immune function were assessed.

Recurrent Sepsis Exacerbates CD4 T Cell Exhaustion and Decreases Antiviral Immune Responses.

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to an infection. It is a disease with a high incidence, mortality, and recurrence rate and frequently results in its survivors requiring readmission into hospitals. The readmission is mainly due to recurrent sepsis.

Glycyrrhizic acid exerts inhibitory activity against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

Coronavirus causes a disease with high infectivity and pathogenicity, especially SARS in 2003, MERS in 2012, and COVID-2019 currently. The spike proteins of these coronaviruses are critical for host cell entry by receptors. Thus, searching for broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus candidates, such as spike protein inhibitors, is vital and desirable due to the mutations in the spike protein.

Non-pharmacological interventions for improving sleep quality in patients on dialysis: systematic review and meta-analysis.

We conducted a meta-analysis to summarise and quantify the effects of non-pharmacological interventions on sleep quality improvement in uraemic patients on dialysis. We defined the primary outcome as the change of sleep quality before and after interventions (evaluated by polysomonography or subjective questionnaires such as Pittsburgh sleep quality index, PSQI). The change of fatigue scales, inflammatory cytokines and adverse events were analysed as secondary outcomes.