LicochalconeB inhibits cGAS-STING signaling pathway and prevents autoimmunity diseases.

Cytosolic DNA activates the STING (stimulator of interferon genes) signaling pathway to trigger interferon and inflammatory responses that protect against microbial infections and cancer. However, Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) persistently activates the STING signaling pathway, which can lead to severe autoimmune diseases. We demonstrate herein that Licochalcone B (LicoB), the main component of traditional licorice, is an inhibitor of the STING signaling pathway.

Cardiometabolic diseases and early cognitive decline: Mitigated by integrated active lifestyle for brain health.

Background: Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) increases the risk of cognitive decline, but the extent to which this can be offset by adherence to an active integrated lifestyle is unknown.

Methods: This prospective study used the baseline and 2-year follow-up data of 2537 dementia-free elderly ≥60 from PINDEC Project. Lifestyle factors (including physical exercise, social interaction, leisure activities, sleep quality, smoking, and alcohol consumption) were collected and the integrated score was calculated.

Serum Exosome-Derived microRNA-193a-5p and miR-381-3p Regulate Adenosine 5'-Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase/Transforming Growth Factor Beta/Smad2/3 Signaling Pathway and Promote Fibrogenesis.

Introduction: Liver fibrosis results from chronic liver injury and inflammation, often leading to cirrhosis, liver failure, portal hypertension, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying hepatic fibrosis; however, translating this knowledge into effective therapies for disease regression remains a challenge, with considerably few interventions having entered clinical validation. The roles of exosomes during fibrogenesis and their potential as a therapeutic approach for reversing fibrosis have gained significant interest.

Glabridin improves autoimmune disease in Trex1-deficient mice by reducing type I interferon production.

Background: The cGAS-STING signaling pathway is an essential section of the natural immune system. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown a strong link between abnormal activation of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, a natural immune pathway mediated by the nucleic acid receptor cGAS, and the development and progression of autoimmune diseases. Therefore, it is important to identify an effective compound to specifically downregulate this pathway for disease.

Liuweiwuling Tablet relieves the inflammatory transformation of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Liuweiwuling Tablet (LWWL) is a patented Chinese medicine approved by the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Clinically, it is used to treat a range of liver diseases that precede hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including hepatitis, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. LWWL is hypothesized to inhibit the inflammatory transformation of HCC, which may have a positive impact on the prevention and treatment of HCC.

No Incidence of Liver Cancer Was Observed in A Retrospective Study of Patients with Aristolochic Acid Nephropathy.

Objective: To assess the risk of aristolochic acid (AA)-associated cancer in patients with AA nephropathy (AAN).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with AAN at Peking University First Hospital from January 1997 to December 2014. Long-term surveillance and follow-up data were analyzed to investigate the influence of different factors on the prevalence of cancer.

Relationship between fear of falling and fall risk among older patients with stroke: a structural equation modeling.

Background: With reduced balance and mobility, older patients with stroke are more susceptible to fear of falling (FOF). A maladaptive form of FOF can cause excessive activity restriction, poor balance, and recurrent falls, forming a self-reinforcing vicious cycle. This study applied and adapted the FOF model to investigate the interaction between FOF and fall risk in older stroke patients.

Novel role for epalrestat: protecting against NLRP3 inflammasome-driven NASH by targeting aldose reductase.

Background: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive and inflammatory subtype of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) characterized by hepatocellular injury, inflammation, and fibrosis in various stages. More than 20% of patients with NASH will progress to cirrhosis. Currently, there is a lack of clinically effective drugs for treating NASH, as improving liver histology in NASH is difficult to achieve and maintain through weight loss alone.

Binding-induced fibrillogenesis peptide inhibits RANKL-mediated osteoclast activation against osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is primarily driven by an imbalance between bone resorption and formation, stemming from enhanced osteoclast activity during bone remodeling. At the crux of this mechanism lies the pivotal RANK-RANKL-OPG axis. In our study, we designed two binding-induced fibrillogenesis (BIF) peptides, namely BIFP and BIFY, targeting RANK and RANKL, respectively.

Logic gate controlled theranostic nanoagents for in situ microwave thermal therapeutic efficacy evaluation.

In vivo monitoring of treatment response is of great significance for tumor therapy in clinical trials, but it remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we demonstrate a logic AND gate theranostic nanoagent that responds to the coexistence of endogenous and exogenous stimuli, namely HAuCl@1-Tetradecanol@Gd-based metal-organic framework@SiO nanocomposites (APGS NCs). Upon microwave (MW) irradiation, HAuCl in the inner part of APGS NCs reacts with the tumor-associated glutathione (GSH).

Effectiveness of Internet-delivered self-help acceptance and commitment therapy (iACT) on nurses' obsessive-compulsive symptoms and sleep quality: A randomized controlled trial with 3-month follow-up.

Background: Frontline nurses suffered unprecedented mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's essential to explore new and more accessible alternatives to improve the availability of psychological treatments. This study aimed to investigate the influence of online self-help iACT linear intervention and iACT loop intervention on sleep quality (SQ), obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS), and psychological flexibility (PF) in nurses.

A newly proposed heatstroke-induced coagulopathy score in patients with heat illness: A multicenter retrospective study in China.

Purpose: In patients with heatstroke, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is associated with greater risk of in-hospital mortality. However, time-consuming assays or a complex diagnostic system may delay immediate treatment. Therefore, the present study proposes a new heatstroke-induced coagulopathy (HIC) score in patients with heat illness as an early warning indicator for DIC.

The utility of P-I-R classification in predicting the on-treatment histological and clinical outcomes of patients with hepatitis B and advanced liver fibrosis.

Background And Aims: The predominantly progressive, indeterminate, and predominantly regressive (P-I-R) classification extends beyond staging and provides information on dynamic changes of liver fibrosis. However, the prognostic implication of P-I-R classification is not elucidated. Therefore, in the present research, we investigated the utility of P-I-R classification in predicting the on-treatment clinical outcomes.

Isomaculosidine facilitates NLRP3 inflammasome activation by promoting mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production and causes idiosyncratic liver injury.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz. (Dictamni Cortex, DC), a Chinese herbal medicine, is commonly used for treating chronic dermatosis and rheumatism, but can also cause herb-induced liver injury (HILI). Our study has demonstrated that DC can induce idiosyncratic HILI, but the mechanism remains unknown.

Functional Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B with Antiviral Treatment in Children having High-level Viremia and Normal or Mildly Elevated Serum Aminotransferase.

Background And Aims: There is a lack of data supporting the notion that antiviral treatments can benefit children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) having high viremia and normal or mildly elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. We aimed to analyze the efficacy of antiviral treatments in children with CHB and explore the factors associated with functional cure.

Methods: Forty-eight children with CHB having high viremia and normal or mildly elevated serum ALT levels were screened in this real-world study.

Tanshinone I specifically suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome activation by disrupting the association of NLRP3 and ASC.

Background: Abnormal activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is related to a series of inflammatory diseases, including type 2 diabetes, gouty arthritis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, targeting NLRP3 inflammasome is regarded as a potential therapeutic strategy for many inflammatory diseases. A growing number of studies have identified tanshinone I (Tan I) as a potential anti-inflammatory agent because of its good anti-inflammatory activity.

[Value of autocrine motility factors in the prediction of the disease progression of PBC- associated hepatocellular carcinoma].

To clarify the value of autocrine motility factor (ATX) in predicting the disease progression of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A prospective cohort of 179 newly diagnosed autoimmune liver disease (PBC) patients admitted to the Department of Hepatology at the Fifth Medical Center of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital from January 2016 to January 2018 was selected. All PBC patients received ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment and were followed up.

Population Sensitive to Lenvatinib Plus Anti-PD-1 for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Infected with Hepatitis B Virus.

Background: We explore the dose-efficacy relationship of lenvatinib plus anti-PD-1 in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (u-HCC) infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in real-world practice. Furthermore, we identify the population sensitive to lenvatinib plus anti-PD-1 treatments.

Methods: This retrospective study included 70 patients treated with lenvatinib plus at least 3 cycles of anti-PD-1 and 140 with lenvatinib alone.

[Mechanism of podocyte pyroptosis aggravated by up-regulation of phospholipase A receptor by hepatitis B virus X protein].

To explore the effect and underlying mechanism of increased expression of M-type phospholipase A receptor (PLAR) on podocyte membrane induced by hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) on podocyte pyroptosis in hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis (HBV-GN). Transfection of the HBx gene into human kidney podocytes was used to mimic the HBV-GN pathogenesis process. Subsequently, podocytes were divided into the following eight groups: normal control plus secretory phospholipase A-ⅠB (sPLA-ⅠB) group, empty plasmid plus sPLA-ⅠB group, HBx group, HBx plus sPLA-ⅠB group, HBx plus sPLA-ⅠB plus PLAR control siRNA group, HBx plus sPLA-ⅠB plus PLAR-siRNA group, HBx plus sPLA-ⅠB plus ROS control siRNA group, and HBx plus sPLA-ⅠB plus ROS-siRNA group.

Primary Breast Small Cell Carcinoma With Merkel Cell Features: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast is a rare malignant tumor which, with the features of Merkel cells is even rarer. Herein, we report a case of small cell carcinoma with Merkel cell features in a 52-year-old female. Microscopically, the tumor was characterized by diffuse and consistent small round cells that were de-adherent.

Endoscopic resection for the treatment of non-gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A retrospective study from a large tertiary hospital in China.

Background And Aims: Few studies on endoscopic resection (ER) for the treatment of non-gastric gastrointestinal (GI) stromal tumors (GISTs) have been conducted, and most have been case reports or case series. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ER for non-gastric GISTs.

Methods: From January 2010 to December 2022, 329 patients who were diagnosed with GISTs underwent ER.

Tricyclic antidepressants induce liver inflammation by targeting NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Background: Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (IDILI) is common in hepatology practices and, in some cases, lethal. Increasing evidence show that tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) can induce IDILI in clinical applications but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood.

Methods: We assessed the specificity of several TCAs for NLRP3 inflammasome via MCC950 (a selective NLRP3 inhibitor) pretreatment and Nlrp3 knockout (Nlrp3) BMDMs.