Antiviral therapy for hepatitis B virus infection is beneficial for the prognosis hepatocellular carcinoma.

In this editorial, we comment on the article by Mu , published in the recent issue of the . We pay special attention to the immune tolerance mechanism caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the role of antiviral therapy in treating HCC related to HBV infection. HBV infection leads to systemic innate immune tolerance by directly inhibiting pattern recognition receptor recognition and antiviral signaling pathways, as well as by inhibiting the immune functions of macrophages, natural killer cells and dendritic cells.

A rare haplotype of the GJD3 gene segregating in familial Meniere's disease interferes with connexin assembly.

Background: Familial Meniere's disease (FMD) is a rare polygenic disorder of the inner ear. Mutations in the connexin gene family, which encodes gap junction proteins, can also cause hearing loss, but their role in FMD is largely unknown.

Methods: We retrieved exome sequencing data from 94 individuals in 70 Meniere's disease (MD) families.

The relationships of plasma profenofos and ethanol concentrations to clinical outcome in acute profenofos self-poisoning.

Introduction: Many patients acutely self-poisoned with organophosphorus insecticides have co-ingested ethanol. Currently, profenofos 50% emulsifiable concentrate (EC50) is commonly ingested for self-harm in Sri Lanka. Clinical experience suggests that ethanol co-ingestion makes management more difficult.

Differentiating Latent Tuberculosis from Active Tuberculosis Through Activation Phenotypes and Chemokine Markers HLA-DR, CD38, MCP-1, and RANTES: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Latent TB infection (LTBI) affects one fourth of the global population. Currently, there is an absence of an optimal strategy for distinguishing between active tuberculosis (aTB) and LTBI. While some researchers have explored cytokines other than interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) as biomarkers, results have shown significant variability in their ability to differentiate between these conditions.

Evaluating student understanding of core pharmacokinetic concepts.

Both educators and graduates have expressed concern about a perceived pharmacology knowledge gap that includes difficulty applying fundamental principles to clinical and research problems. Consequently, we sought to determine the extent to which current students can explain the meaning of, and appropriately apply, a subset of core concepts, and to identify any misconceptions arising from the responses. Of the twenty-four pharmacology core concepts arising from the recent international collaboration, four pharmacokinetic concepts were chosen, namely drug bioavailability, drug clearance, volume of distribution, and steady-state concentration.

Australian Naturopaths Approach to the Clinical Management of Patients Presenting with Sleep Disorders.

Naturopathic practitioners consult an estimated 6.2% of Australian adults, equating to 1,550,000 people receiving their care each year. Sleep is now recognized as a key pillar of health; however, nearly half of all Australian adults report inadequate sleep.

Anti-neuroinflammatory and Neuroprotective Effects of T-006 on Alzheimer's Disease Models by Modulating TLR4-Mediated MyD88/ NF-κB Signaling.

Introduction: Neuroinflammation derived from the activation of the microglia is considered a vital pathogenic factor of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). T-006, a tetramethylpyrazine derivative, has been found to alleviate cognitive deficits via inhibiting tau expression and phosphorylation in AD transgenic mouse models. Recently, T-006 has been proven to dramatically decrease the levels of total Amyloid β (Aβ) peptide and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) and suppress the expression of ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1 (Iba-1) in APP/PS1 mice.

Evaluating student understanding of pharmacodynamics core concepts.

Pharmacodynamics is an essential subdiscipline of pharmacology that underpins safe and effective prescribing and therapeutic decision-making, as well as drug discovery and development. The exponential increase in the number of therapeutic drugs has prompted members of the pharmacology educator community to question existing pharmacology curricula focused on individual drugs and move toward a curriculum focused on conceptual understanding. A first step towards conceptual understanding is to establish what students currently know about pharmacodynamic core concepts.

Chinese herbal formula Regan Saibisitan alleviates airway inflammation of chronic bronchitis via inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Regan Saibisitan (RGS) is a classic prescription used to treat cough, pneumonia, and other respiratory infections in Uygur medicine. It is a granule composed of 12 kinds of medicinal materials. However, the mechanism by which RGS regulates lung disease remains unclear.

Oral Health Is Associated with Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction in Adult Women.

Background: The disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) form a heterogeneous group of gastrointestinal disorders that, to date, have no organic basis. The role of oral health in the development of these disorders has not been explored.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between oral health and the DGBI.

Buccal Absorption of Biopharmaceutics Classification System III Drugs: Formulation Approaches and Mechanistic Insights.

Buccal drug delivery emerges as a promising strategy to enhance the absorption of drugs classified under the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) Class III, characterized by high solubility and low permeability. However, addressing the absorption challenges of BCS Class III drugs necessitates innovative formulation strategies. This review delves into optimizing buccal drug delivery for BCS III drugs, focusing on various formulation approaches to improve absorption.

The Application of Machine Learning on Antibody Discovery and Optimization.

Antibodies play critical roles in modern medicine, serving as diagnostics and therapeutics for various diseases due to their ability to specifically bind to target antigens. Traditional antibody discovery and optimization methods are time-consuming and resource-intensive, though they have successfully generated antibodies for diagnosing and treating diseases. The advancements in protein data, computational hardware, and machine learning (ML) models have the opportunity to disrupt antibody discovery and optimization research.

Microdissection of Distinct Morphological Regions Within Uveal Melanomas Identifies Novel Drug Targets.

: Uveal melanomas (UMs) are rare but often deadly malignancies that urgently require viable treatment options. UMs often exhibit tumour heterogeneity, with macroscopic and microscopic differences in morphology between different regions of the same tumour. However, to date, the clinical significance of this and how it may help guide personalised therapy have not been realised.

CtWD40-6 enhances the UV-B tolerance of safflower by regulating flavonoid accumulation.

Moderate UV-B promotes plant growth, but excessive UV-B inhibits plant development. The induction mechanism of how CtWD40-6 responds to UV-B is still unclear in safflower. Our results showed that CtWD40-6 is expressed at the top of safflower leaves and is strongly induced by UV-B.

Base-Controlled Synthesis of Heteroatom-Embedded 9-Membered Cycloalkynes and 6-Membered Sultams through Copper-Catalyzed Cyclization.

A facile copper-catalyzed, base-controlled cyclization reaction has been developed for the synthesis of 9-membered cycloalkyne and 6-membered heterocycle sultams under mild conditions. This protocol utilizes a copper-catalyzed intramolecular A (alkyne-aldehyde-amine) coupling reaction to efficiently synthesize 9-membered cycloalkyne sultams in yields up to 90%. Alternatively, by substituting NaHCO with DBU, the protocol achieves selective deprotection of the -propargyl group, thereby facilitating the formation of 6-membered heterocyclic sultams, also in high yields.

Berberine‑calcium alginate-coated macrophage membrane-derived nanovesicles for the oral treatment of ulcerative colitis.

In this study, we developed calcium alginate-coated nanovesicles derived from macrophage membranes loaded with berberine (Ber@MVs-CA) for the oral treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Ber@MVs-CA demonstrates resistance to gastric acid and controlled drug release in the colonic pH environment, while actively targeting sites of ulcerative colitis injury. pH-responsive release of Ber in Ber@MVs-CA was confirmed through in vitro release experiments.

Semaglutide restores astrocyte-vascular interactions and blood-brain barrier integrity in a model of diet-induced metabolic syndrome.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a metabolic disorder related to obesity and insulin resistance and is the primary determinant of the development of low-intensity chronic inflammation. This continuous inflammatory response culminates in neuroimmune-endocrine dysregulation responsible for the metabolic abnormalities and morbidities observed in individuals with MetS. Events such as the accumulation of visceral adipose tissue, increased plasma concentrations of free fatty acids, tissue hypoxia, and sympathetic hyperactivity in individuals with MetS may contribute to the activation of the innate immune response, which compromises cerebral microcirculation and the neurovascular unit, leading to the onset or progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

CXCR2 Activated JAK3/STAT3 Signaling Pathway Exacerbating Hepatotoxicity Associated with Tacrolimus.

Purpose: Tacrolimus could induce hepatotoxicity during clinical use, and the mechanism was still unclear, which posed new challenge for the prevention and treatment of tacrolimus-induced hepatotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of tacrolimus-induced hepatotoxicity and provide reference for drug development target.

Methods: In this study, biochemical analysis, pathological staining, immunofluorescent staining, immunohistochemical staining, transcriptomic analysis, Western blotting was used to investigate the mechanism of tacrolimus-induced hepatotoxicity in gene knockout mice and Wistar rats.

Green Tea Catechins as Perpetrators of Drug Pharmacokinetic Interactions.

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is a commonly consumed beverage or dietary supplement. As a natural product with a myriad of proposed health benefits, patients are likely to consume green tea while taking their medications unaware of its potential to interact with drugs and influence drug efficacy and safety. Catechins are the abundant polyphenolic compounds in green tea (e.

Hepatitis B virus-induced cirrhosis: Mechanisms, global variations, and treatment advances.

We focus on hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced cirrhosis, global differences, and the evolution of antiviral treatment strategies. Chronic HBV (CHB) infection affects more than 250 million people globally, leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this article was to synthesize the current understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical consequences of HBV-induced cirrhosis, and explore differences in disease progression between geographic regions.

DREAM: an adaptive, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of duloxetine for reducing leg pain in people with chronic sciatica-trial protocol.

Introduction: Sciatica is a debilitating condition that often becomes chronic, and for which there are few effective treatment options. Treatments such as the anti-depressant duloxetine have shown promise, but the evidence is inconclusive. We are describing a high quality, definitive trial to investigate the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of duloxetine in chronic sciatica.

Glycyrrhizic acid-based multifunctional nanoplatform for tumor microenvironment regulation.

Natural compounds demonstrate unique therapeutic advantages for cancer treatment, primarily through direct tumor suppression or interference with the tumor microenvironment (TME). Glycyrrhizic acid (GL), a bioactive ingredient derived from the medicinal herb Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., and its sapogenin glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), have been recognized for their ability to inhibit angiogenesis and remodel the TME.