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Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) remains a dose-limiting and life-threatening complication of thoracic radiotherapy. The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of the naturally extracted flavonoid, 5,7,8-trimethoxyflavone (HY-N7656), in inhibiting RILI. Lung injury in mice was evaluated using micro-computed tomography, histopathological analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting. Network pharmacology was conducted to predict the potential therapeutic targets and signaling pathways of HY-N7656 in RILI. Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing, immunofluorescence, reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q) PCR and protein expression analyses were carried out in vitro using TGF-β-stimulated A549 cells to evaluate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and signaling activity. Results of the present study revealed that HY-N7656 markedly alleviated pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in irradiated mice, leading to a reduction in α-smooth muscle actin expression. In addition, EMT was effectively reversed following treatment with HY-N7656 in A549 alveolar epithelial cells treated with TGF-β, accompanied by restoration of E-cadherin expression and downregulation of mesenchymal markers, such as N-cadherin and vimentin. Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking validation identified the PI3K/Akt pathway as a central target, which was subsequently confirmed via western blot analysis. Moreover, results of the present study demonstrated that HY-N7656 inhibited radiation-induced activation of PI3K and Akt. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the present study was the first to demonstrate that HY-N7656 modulates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to suppress the progression of EMT in RILI, establishing HY-N7656 as a multi-target inhibitor of RILI. These findings present a potential strategy to enhance the safety of radiotherapy, warranting further preclinical and clinical evaluation.

Aim： To study the effect of adenovirus5-mediated human hepatocyte growth factor （Ad5-HGF） transfer on post-infarct heart failure in a swine model. Methods： Twelve young Suzhong swine were randomly divided into 2 groups： the Ad5-HGF group （n=6） and the null-Ad5 group （n=6）. Four weeks after left anterior descending coronary artery （LAD） ligation, Ad5-HGF was transferred into the myocardium via the right coronary artery. Coronary angiography and gated cardiac perfusion imaging were performed at the end of 4 and 7 weeks after LAD ligation, respectively, to evaluate collateral artery growth and cardiac perfusion. Then all animals were killed, the expression of HGF and α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry. Results： Compared with the null-Ad5 group, higher expression of human HGF was observed in the myocardium in the Ad5-HGF group （109.3±7.8 vs 6.2±2.6, t=30.685, P〈0.01）. The left ventricular ejection fraction was higher in the Ad5-HGF group than in the null-Ad5 group （43.9±4.3 vs 30.4±2.8, t=6.514, P〈 0.01）. From the 4th week to the 7th week after operation, left ventricular end systolic volume （42.1±3.0 vs 31.0±4.9, t=12.800, P〈0.01） and left ventricular end diastolic volume （62.2±4.2 vs 55.0±4.8 t=13.207, P〈0.01） were improved in the Ad5-HGF group. Cardiac perfusion was significantly improved in the Ad5-HGF group. In the Ad5-HGF group, growth of collateral arteries was obviously greater （average rank sum 9.17 vs 3.83, n=6, u=-2.687, P〈0.01）, and the number of α-SMA^＋ vessels/mm^2 was significantly greater （56.1±4.2 vs 16.4±3.5, t=17.731, P〈 0.01） than in the null-Ad5 group. Conclusion： High expression levels of human HGF were observed in the myocardium because of non-infarct-related vessel transfer. HGF can increase the number of functional arterioles and improve collateral artery growth. HGF can improve cardiac perfusion and heart function.

Gastric duplication cyst （GDC） lined by pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium （PCCE） is an uncommon lesion stemming from a foregut developmental malformation.Its clinical and radiological presentation is usually nonspecific.In this study,we reported a 76-year-old man who presented with an incidentally found perigastric mass.An exploratory laparotomy revealed a non-communicating cyst below the gastroesophageal junction,measuring 4 cm×4 cm in size.Microscopically,the gastric cyst was lined merely by PCCE.Although rare,GDC lined by PCCE should be included in the differential diagnosis of gastric wall masses.Surgical intervention is warranted in patients who have clinical symptoms,or who are aged more than 50 years.