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Oxidative stress is preferentially treated as a risk factor for the development and progression of osteoporosis. Corynoline as a component of Corydalis bungeana Turcz presents antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory properties. In the present study, the effects of Corynoline on osteoblasts following hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)‐induced injury were evaluated accompanied by the investigation of the molecular mechanisms involved. It was found that Corynoline downregulated the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and restored the osteogenic potential of the disrupted osteoblasts by H2O2 exposure. Furthermore, Corynoline was revealed to activate the Nrf2/HO‐1 signaling pathway, while ML385 (an Nrf2 inhibitor) would prevent the Corynoline‐mediated positive effects on the disrupted osteoblasts. In terms of the animal experiments, Corynoline treatment contributed to a significantly alleviated bone loss. These findings indicate that Corynoline may significantly attenuate the H2O2‐induced oxidative damage of osteoblasts via the Nrf2/HO‐1 signaling pathway, providing novel insights to the development of treatments for osteoporosis induced by oxidative injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C-reactive protein (CRP) plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and monitoring of the non-specific acute phase response in humans. In contrast, rat CRP (rCRP) is an atypical acute-phase protein that possesses unique features, such as a possible incapacity to trigger the complement system and markedly elevated baseline plasma concentrations. To facilitate in vitro studies on these unique characteristics, obtaining high-quality pure rCRP is essential. Here we explored various strategies for rCRP purification, including direct isolation from rat plasma and recombinant expression in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Our study optimized the recombinant expression system to enhance the secretion and purification efficiency of rCRP. Compared to traditional purification methods, we present a streamlined and effective approach for the expression and purification of rCRP in the Pichia pastoris system. This refined methodology offers significant improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of rCRP purification, thereby facilitating further structural and functional studies on rCRP., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Cheng, Tang, Gou, Li, Xu and Zhu.)

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a plasma protein that is evolutionarily conserved, found in both vertebrates and many invertebrates. It is a member of the pentraxin superfamily, characterized by its pentameric structure and calcium-dependent binding to ligands like phosphocholine (PC). In humans and various other species, the plasma concentration of this protein is markedly elevated during inflammatory conditions, establishing it as a prototypical acute phase protein that plays a role in innate immune responses. This feature can also be used clinically to evaluate the severity of inflammation in the organism. Human CRP (huCRP) can exhibit contrasting biological functions due to conformational transitions, while CRP in various species retains conserved protective functions in vivo . The focus of this review will be on the structural traits of CRP, the regulation of its expression, activate complement, and its function in related diseases in vivo ., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhou, Tang, Xu and Cheng.)

Objective: To explore the injury effect and mechanism of hypothalamic neurons after high power microwave (HPM) exposure., Methods: Primarily cultured hypothalamic neurons were exposed to 10 and 30 mW/cm(2) HPM, and the inverted phase contrast microscope (IPCM) and flow cytometry (FCM) were employed to detect the injury of cells and change of mitochondrion membrane potential (MMP) and Ca(2+) in the cytoplasm of neurons., Results: The ratio of apoptosis was significantly higher than that of the sham exposure (P < 0.05) induced by 10 and 30 mW/cm(2) HPM and necrosis increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the group of 30 mW/cm(2) at 6 h after exposure. The content of Ca(2+) in the cytoplasm of neuron cells increased (P < 0.01) while MMP decreased significantly (P < 0.01) after radiation of 30 mW/cm(2) HPM at 6 h after exposure., Conclusion: Apoptosis is one of the major death ways of hypothalamic neurons. The overloading of Ca(2+) and the decline of MMP are involved in the process.

Objective: To study the changes of morphology and function in rat hippocampus induced by high power microwave (HPM) radiation., Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats were radiated by HPM. Then their learning and memory abilities were tested with Y maze and were sacrificed 6 h, 1 d, 3 d and 7 d after radiation. The hippocampus was taken out to study the basic pathologic changes, apoptosis and the expressions of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) by means of HE staining, Nissel body staining, in situ terminal end labeling and immunohistochemistry., Results: The learning and memory abilities of rats reduced significantly after HPM radiation. HPM also resulted in rarefaction, edema and hemangiectasia of hippocampus, nervous cells degeneration and necrosis, decrease or disappearance of Nissel bodies. The injuries were more serious in field CA4 and dentate gyrus, which showed dose-effect relationship, and were progressively aggravated within 7 days. The apoptosis cells were significantly increased. NSE was increased in neurons. The NSE positive areas were also seen in the interstitial matrix and blood vessels. GFAP was increased in astrocytes, which became shorter and thicker., Conclusion: HPM can damage the abilities of learning and memory and results in morphologic changes in hippocampus. The major pathologic changes are degeneration, apoptosis and necrosis of neurons and edema in interstitium. NSE and GFAP play an important role in the pathologic process.