Abstract: Objective　To observe the therapeutic effect of Qiwei Tangmaishu capsules on type 2 diabetes mice, and explore the mechanisms of its treatment of type 2 diabetes based on network pharmacology. Methods TCMSP, ETCM databases were used to query all components and of Qiwei Tangmaishu capsules and their targets. OMIM and DrugBank databases were used to search for targets of type 2 diabetes. The targets of type 2 diabetes and Qiwei Tangmaishu capsules were intersected by Venny 2.1.0. to perform GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis on those intersecting targets using the Metascape website. Then, a mouse model of type 2 diabetes was established, and Qiwei Tangmaishu capsules were given to low, medium, and high dose groups (234, 468, and 936 mg/kg, respectively), and metformin(MET) group (200 mg/kg) for 2 weeks. The weight of each mouse was measured before and after treatment, and fasting blood glucose was also measured. After the 2 weeks, fasting insulin was measured; ELISA was used to detect levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, TLR4, and NF-κB in serum; Hematoxylin eosin staining was used to observe the morphology of pancreatic islets; and Caspase 3 and INS immunofluorescence were used to detect apoptosis of pancreatic islet cells and the number of pancreatic beta cells. Western Blot assay was used to detect the expression levels of pancreatic tissue proteins such as p-Akt, Akt, p-PI3K, PI3K, Bax, Bcl2. Results　1260 active ingredient targets were identified in Qiwei Tangmaishu capsules; 1205 targets of type 2 diabetes were found. Of these, 312 targets were intersected by Venny, with core targets involving Akt1, TNF, IL-6, TLR4, among others. Enrichment analysis identified 240 KEGG pathways, among which “insulin resistance” “PI3K/Akt signaling pathway” were the key pathways enriched. The animal experiment result showed that compared with the model group, the intervention of Qiwei Tangmaishu capsules and metformin significantly improved blood glucose and insulin resistance; the content of inflammatory factors in serum decreased, and the apoptosis rate of pancreatic islet cells significantly decreased; the number of pancreatic beta cells significantly increased; the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax decreased, the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 significantly increased, and the expression of p-PI3K and p-Akt was upregulated. Conclusions　Qiwei Tangmaishu capsules can significantly reduce blood glucose levels, restore insulin sensitivity, and reduce islet cell apoptosis in type 2 diabetic mice. The mechanism may be related to the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Abstract: Objective　To establish a dexamethasone (Dex)-induced zebrafish model of glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis (GIOP) combined with glucocorticoidinduced hypertension (GIHT), and to validate the model by the systematic evaluation of both the phenotypic manifestations and molecular mechanisms. Methods　Zebrafish larvae at 3 or 4 d postfertilization (dpf) were divided randomly into a control group (0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide) and a model group (10 μmol/L Dex). Osteogenic parameters and vessel diameter were assessed at 0, 48, and 96 h postadministration (n= 10). Bone mineralization and density were determined by the total area and sum brightness after Alizarin red staining. Vessel diameter was measured by detecting blood flow in the dorsal aorta. After confirming the optimal administration time, expression levels of bone-formation-related proteins (protein kinase B (Akt), glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β, β-catenin) and angiogenesis-related proteins (AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), nuclear factor (NF)-κB) were detected by Western Blot to verify the molecular effectiveness of the model. Results Exposure to Dex for 96 h reduced bone mineralization and density in zebrafish larvae compared with the control group, and statistical analysis identified 4 dpf zebrafish and Dex administration for 96 h as the optimal modeling times for the GIOP model. Blood vessel diameter was significantly decreased in the model group compared with the control group (P<0.05), and the difference became more pronounced with longer administration time and was particularly evident at 4 dpf and treatment for 96 h. Western Blot analysis showed that Dex significantly decreased protein expression levels of Akt, β-catenin, and NF-κB (P<0.05) and significantly increased the expression of GSK-3β and AMPK (P<0.05), suggesting that Dex effectively inhibited bone formation and angiogenesis after 96 hours treatment in 4 dpf zebrafish. Conclusions　Treatment of 4 dpf zebrafish larvae with 10 μmol/L Dex rapidly established a reliable zebrafish model of GIOP combined with GIHT, providing an ideal animal model for further studies of the common mechanisms of the two diseases and for screening new drugs.

Abstract: Objective　To establish a rat model of perimenopausal dry eye with liver and kidney yin deficiency from the perspective of “measuring evidence by prescription” in Chinese medicine. Methods　Thirty SPFgrade female SD rats were divided randomly into sham-operated, model, and Qiju Dihuang soup groups (n=10). Rats in the latter two groups underwent bilateral ovariectomy and were given 0.1% benzalkonium chloride eye drops combined with provocation for 10 weeks to establish a model of perimenopausal dry eye with liver and kidney yin deficiency. After modeling, rats in the Qiju Dihuang soup group were gavaged with Qiju Dihuang soup at a dose of 8.37 g/(kg·d), rats in the sham-operated and model groups were gavaged with saline at a rate of 1 mL/100 (g·d) for 21 d. The general condition, retinal screen test scores, tear secretion, time of tear film rupture, and corneal fluorescein staining were observed and recorded in each group. Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E₂), and progesterone (PROG) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pathological damage to the cornea and lacrimal glands were detected by hematoxylin/eosin staining. Expression levels of the inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the cornea were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results　Compared with the sham-operated group, rats in the model group showed behavioral signs of slow action and reaction, irritability, body mass loss, and increased anal temperature (P<0.05), decreased retinal screen test scores (P<0.05), tear secretion (P<0.05), and time of tear film rupture (P<0.05), and pathological damage to the cornea and lacrimal glands. FSH levels increased and E₂ and PROG levels decreased (P<0.05) and expression levels of IL-1 and TNF-α increased in the model group compared with the sham group. All the above indexes were significantly improved in the Qiju Dihuang soup group compared with the model group. Conclusions　From the perspective of “measuring evidence by formula” in Chinese medicine, we successfully established a rat model of perimenopausal dry eye with liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome, which provides a theoretical and experimental basis for future systematic and in-depth research on the mechanism of perimenopausal dry eye with formula and evidence.

Abstract: Objective　In this study, we tested different disinfectants and different action times to establish an efficient protocol for zebrafish embryo disinfection, which may in turn improve the management of zebrafish facilities. Methods　We tested three reagents that can be used for embryo disinfection and are readily available in the domestic market: reagent-grade povidone-iodine, sodium hypochlorite, and chlorine dioxide. We evaluated the toxic effects of the reagents at three concentrations and two action times on zebrafish embryos at three stages, in term of survival, dechorioning, and malformation rates. The effects of the three disinfectants were also compared in terms of the amounts of embryos with surface bacteria after disinfection. Results　Chlorine-containing disinfectants, i. e. sodium hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide, were better able to kill bacteria on the embryo surface, while povidoneiodine was not quite effective. Survival, dechorioning, and malformation rates were similar in embryos treated with 30 ppm sodium hypochlorite or chlorine dioxide to those in control embryos. Treatment with chlorine-containing disinfectants for 10 min were more effective in sterilizing than for 5 min. Conclusions　The result of this study suggest treating 6 ~ 30 hpf embryos with 30 ppm sodium hypochlorite for 10 min as an operational method.

Abstract: Objective　To systematically construct patient-derived tumor organoid (PDO) and patientderived xenograft (PDX) models of prostate cancer (PCa), and to explore the inhibitory effect and mechanism of gambogic acid (GA) on PCa. Methods　The PubChem, SwissTargetPrediction, SuperPred, SEA, GeneCards, OMIM, and STRING databases, and the Venny 2.1.0 online website, Cytoscape 3.8.2, and DAVID software were used to construct a protein-protein interaction network. Gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were carried out, and visualization processing was performed to identify the targets and pathways of GA acting on PCa. GA was applied to PDOs and PCa cells (22Rv1, PC3, and DU145) for 48 hours and its effects on cell viability were assessed by CellTiter-Glo and CCK-8 assays. Changes in gene and protein levels of the targets were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western Blot, respectively. The PDX model was treated with GA and the tumor volume and weight were measured. Changes in expression levels of the targets in tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results　Network pharmacology identified signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) as the core target of GA inhibiting PCa, related to the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α signaling pathway. GA reduced the viability of cells and PDOs and significantly down-regulated HIF-1α, STAT3, and P-STAT3 protein levels. In vivo experiments, tumor volume and weight were significantly reduced in the GA group, and immunohistochemistry showed that STAT3 and HIF-1α expression levels were decreased. Conclusions　The clinically representative PDO and PDX models, combined with cell lines, verified the prediction result of network pharmacology, confirming a significant killing effect of GA on PCa, possibly via a mechanism related to the STAT3/HIF-1α signaling pathway.

Abstract: Objective　To establish a research protocol to clarify the characteristic changes in major functional activities and cellular processes involved in bone marrow during aging using RNA sequencing, and to identify potential targets for aging prediction and intervention. Methods　Bone marrow cells were extracted from the bilateral tibiae and femurs of three C57BL/6J male mice aged 2, 10, and 18 months, respectively. After red blood cell lysis, RNA was extracted for sequencing analysis. Results　The result of gene expression and Venn analysis showed that gene expression levels were predominantly down-regulated from 2 ~ 10 months, but mainly up-regulated from 10 ~ 18 months. Gene expression thus changed from mainly down-regulation to mainly up-regulation during maturation and development in mice. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes and gene set enrichment analyses indicated that bone marrow tissues in mice at different ages showed significant expression differences in the “immune system”“development and regeneration” “transport and catabolism” “cell growth and death” and other pathways. Specifically, inflammatory, cytoskeletal, and DNA repair pathways showed sustained activation, contrasting with progressive hematopoietic decline and fluctuating immune regulation. Enriched pathway screening revealed interactions among differentially expressed genes, such us upregulated genes Bmpr1a and Inhba, downregulated genes Dntt and Ccnd1, and downregulated genes Col1a1, Col1a2, Fcgr1, Fyn, Lgmn, Ctsl, Ctsk, Ctss, Gnail, Myl4, and Ccr5, involved in HSCs homeostasis, cell cycle, DNA repair, immune regulation, and apoptosis. Conclusions　This study provides data on gene expression changes at the transcriptional level and offers a research strategy to explore the major characteristic changes in bone marrow during aging in mice. The result identify aging-related genes and signaling pathways, thus providing new strategies for delaying aging and preventing aging-related diseases.

Abstract: Objective　This study sought to accelerate the establishment of a Parkinson’s disease mouse model by intracerebral injection of α-synuclein preformed fibrils (α-Syn PFF) into B6-hSNCA-A53T transgenic mice to induce rapid development of Parkinson’s-like pathological features. Methods　C57BL/6J background α-Syn A53T transgenic mice were selected as the model group, with isogenic C57BL/6J mice as the control group. α-Syn PFF was delivered into the bilateral striatum using stereotactic brain injection. After modeling, the open-field test was used to assess spontaneous activity and anxiety-like behaviors, while the rotarod, grip strength, and pole tests evaluated motor coordination and limb muscle tone. The buried food test was conducted to assess olfactory function. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to investigate neuroinflammation and pathological α-synuclein in the mouse brain. Results　Compared with the control group, 1 month after the α-Syn PFF injection, model mice showed increased locomotion in the open-field test, with no significant differences in the rotarod, grip strength, or pole tests, but prolonged food-seeking time. Two months after model establishment, the model group showed significantly reduced locomotor activity in open field testing, impaired motor coordination in rotarod, grip strength and pole tests, and olfactory dysfunction in buried food tests. Phosphorylated α-synuclein accumulation was observed in the substantia nigra, cortex, and hippocampus, accompanied by pronounced microglial activation, Lewy body deposition, and substantial dopaminergic neuron loss in the substantia nigra. Conclusions　A53T mice developed olfactory dysfunction and motor impairments more rapidly after α-Syn PFF injection. Significant pathological changes were observed, including the aggregation of α-synuclein/Lewy body in the substantia nigra, cortex, and hippocampus, and the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. This model can serve as a rapidly established animal model for α-synucleinopathy-related Parkinson’s disease.

Abstract:Anxiety is a major emotional disorder manifested in the individual’s expectation of future threats. The incidence rate of anxiety is about 7.3%, with the highest lifetime prevalence rate among mental health conditions. The mechanism of anxiety overlaps with depression, and anxiety is a typical symptom of various mental diseases or emotional disorders in traditional Chinese medicine. The high rates of comorbidity and disability pose serious threats to people’s health. Animal models are important tools for studying anxiety and are of great use for deciphering the pathogenesis of anxiety and for developing drugs. The traditional paradigm of stress-induced anxiety, however, is relatively limited. Based on traditional theory combined with clinical and animal experimental data, we propose a new hypothesis of “insufficiency of ZhiYi’ causing anxiety, defined as “an anxiety state induced by the inability of an individual to meet their own needs, limited or lacking after multiple attempts, rendered hindered and powerless by an inability to meet their desires”. This hypothesis is more in line with the typical manifestations of despair, lack of pleasure, and social withdrawal in clinical patients, and is supported by traditional theory and experimental data showing “hunger but unable to eat, food but unable to obtain, and gain but not full”. Based on this, the established modeling paradigm is easy to apply, with good repeatability and low cost, and can be used to establish anxiety models in rats and mice, to provide a theoretical and model basis for the development and pharmacological evaluation of antianxiety drugs.

Abstract:Neurogenic bladder (NB) is one of the most challenging urinary system disorders, with spinal cord injury (SCI) being an important etiological factor. Animal models provide crucial tools for investigating the pathogenesis, therapeutic strategies, and novel drug screening for NB subsequent to SCI. We reviewed and synthesized recent literature on NB animal models after SCI from both domestic and international sources. This review summarizes and analyzes research advancements using these models in terms of animal species, SCI segments, modeling techniques, and evaluation indicators, with the aim of offering insights and guidance for future experimental research based on animal models of NB following SCI.

Abstract:The core pathological feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the abnormal aggregation of αsynuclein and the result ing neuronal damage. α-Synuclein exhibits toxic effects when it forms oligomers or fibrils, leading to neuronal death via multiple pathways, including mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired vesicular trafficking, dopamine auto-oxidation, and neuroinflammation. In addition, α-synuclein can propagate between cells via exosomes, endocytosis/exocytosis, tunneling nanotubes, or vagal nerve axonal transport, creating a cascade of pathological effects. Animal models of PD that recapitulate the key pathological hallmark of α-synuclein accumulation are indispensable tools for elucidating disease mechanisms and developing novel therapeutic interventions. To date, various strategies, including transgenic techniques, bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-mediated expression, viral vector-mediated overexpression, and gene editing, have been employed to develop α-synuclein overexpression animal models. These models have significantly advanced our exploration of the relationship between PD and α-synuclein. This systematic review considers the structure and function of α-synuclein, its mechanisms of toxicity, intercellular propagation pathways, animal models of overexpression, and potential therapeutic targets based on its pathogenic mechanisms.

Abstract:Mitochondrial autophagy is a unique mechanism that selectively clears dysfunctional or excess mitochondria, closely related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is characterized by aggregated neurotoxic proteins and dysfunctional mitochondria. Numerous recent studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine can have significant therapeutic effects against AD, and its advantages including multi-target, multi-pathway, and multi-action mechanisms have become an important component of AD research. Chinese medicine formulas and monomeric active ingredients, such as Jiannaoyizhi Fang, Danggui Shaoyao Tang, alkaloids, and flavonoids, can regulate mitochondrial autophagy-related signaling pathways and targets, inhibit neuronal mitochondrial autophagy defects, and play a neuroprotective role. This review elaborates on the basic process of mitochondrial autophagy and its related signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of AD, and considers the latest research progress on the use of traditional Chinese medicine to improve AD by regulating mitochondrial autophagy, to provide ideas and references for future basic research and clinical treatment.

Abstract:Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of disorders characterized by chronic progressive degeneration of neurons in the brain and/or spinal cord. Their etiology remains unclear, the pathogenesis is complex, and no effective treatments exist. Importantly, the roles of mitochondria-localized silent information regulator (SIRT) family members, including SIRT3, SIRT4, and SIRT5, in neurodegenerative diseases are attracting increasing attention. Accumulating evidence demonstrates their involvement in critical processes of neuronal degeneration by regulating, for example, mitochondrial function and inflammatory responses. This review summarizes the research advances on mitochondrial SIRTs in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and aims to provide new insights for elucidating disease pathogenesis and developing prevention/therapeutic strategies.

Abstract:Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is common neurodegenerative diseases that is the main causes of cognitive dysfunction and behavioral abnormalities. Constructing animal models with similar characteristics to human patients is crucial for advancing investigations of AD, and to develop new therapeutic drugs. Combined with the latest research progress, this review classifies animal models of AD according to aging models, genetically modified models, and chemically induced models. This review systematically summarizes the commonly used animal models of AD, and elucidates the modeling mechanisms and pathological changes, and compares their advantages and limitation, with a view to provide method ological references for researchers in selecting appropriate animal model for AD investigation.

Abstract:The comorbidity of depression and cancer represents a significant global public health challenge, severely impacting patients’ quality of life and clinical outcomes. This systematic review considers the epidemiological characteristics, clinical implications, and major challenges in current research regarding comorbid depression and cancer, focusing on the role of depression in promoting tumor progression and suppressing immune function via the neuroendocrine-immune regulatory network. We discuss the dynamic changes and interaction mechanisms of depression-related neurotransmitters (such as serotonin and norepinephrine) and stress hormones (such as cortisol) within the tumor microenvironment. We also reveal the molecular mechanisms by which depression regulates malignant biological behaviors such as tumor immune evasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis via activation of the hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. This review also evaluates the application value and limitations of existing animal models for studying the mechanisms underlying the comorbidity of depression and cancer, emphasizing the importance and urgency of developing more precise comorbidity models to uncover the mechanisms and explore management strategies. This review aims to raise awareness of risk prediction, clinical interventions, and basic research on the comorbidity of depression and cancer, to provide a theoretical foundation and new research directions for developing depression-cancer comorbidity models.