Myosteatosis is one of the common complications in patients with end-stage liver disease, which is significantly associated with poor outcomes after liver transplantation. Currently, diagnostic criteria of myosteatosis have not been established, and CT is the most commonly used for diagnosis. The pathogenesis of myosteatosis is multifactorial, and the pathophysiological mechanisms linking it to end-stage liver disease are not fully understood. An increasing number of scholars have recognized that the severity of myosteatosis is closely related to its clinical consequences, but there are no effective treatment options available. This article reviews the pathophysiological mechanisms and diagnostic methods of myosteatosis, and its impact on the prognosis of liver transplant recipients, and discusses current treatment strategies to provide references for the perioperative management of liver transplant recipients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the changing trends of the incidence rate， prevalence rate， mortality rate， and disability-adjusted life years （DALYs） of benign hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases among people aged 15 — 39 years in China in 1990 — 2021. MethodsThe data of 2021 Global Burden of Disease Study were downloaded to obtain the epidemiological data of liver fibrosis/chronic liver disease， benign gallbladder/biliary tract diseases， and pancreatitis among people aged 15 — 39 years in China， and estimated annual percentage change （EAPC） was calculated to assess the changing trends of incidence， prevalence， mortality， and DALY rates. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict the incidence and mortality rates from 2022 to 2030. ResultsIn 2021， there were 10 448 778 new cases of benign hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases among the individuals aged 15 — 39 years in China， which was increased by 3.8% compared with the data in 1990， while the numbers of prevalent cases， deaths， and DALYs were reduced by 20.4%， 59.6%， and 50.2%， respectively. In 2021， the age-standardized incidence rates of liver fibrosis/chronic liver disease， benign gallbladder/biliary tract diseases， and pancreatitis were 1 104.40/100 000， 1 045.05/100 000， and 16.64/100 000， respectively； the age-standardized prevalence rates were 20 592.37/100 000， 2 364.85/100 000， and 9.43/100 000， respectively； the age-standardized mortality rates were 1.61/100 000， 0.04/100 000， and 0.18/100 000， respectively. From 1990 to 2021， there was a tendency of increase in the age-standardized incidence rate of liver fibrosis/chronic liver disease （EAPC=0.43， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 0.23 — 0.63）， and there was also a tendency of increase in the age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates of benign gallbladder/biliary tract diseases （incidence rate： EAPC=1.07， 95%CI： 0.91 — 1.24； prevalence rate： EAPC=0.75， 95%CI： 0.59 — 0.89）， while there was a tendency of reduction in the age-standardized mortality rate of all three disease categories. Predictions for 2022 — 2030 indicated a potential reduction in the incidence rate of benign gallbladder/biliary tract diseases and an increase in the incidence rate of pancreatitis. ConclusionThere has been an overall upward trend in the incidence rate of liver fibrosis/chronic liver disease and gallbladder/biliary tract diseases over the past three decades， and it is needed to pay attention to the disease burden of benign hepatobiliary diseases among the people aged 15 — 39 years in China.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to establish a monocrotaline （MCT）-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension （PAH） rat model to systematically evaluate the protective effect of Xiao Qinglongtang （XQLT） on right cardiac function in model rats and further elucidate the underlying regulatory mechanism. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomly assigned to the normal group， model group， XQLT low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （XQLT-L/M/H）， and the beraprost sodium tablet group （BST）. Except for the normal group， rats in all other groups were given a single subcutaneous injection of MCT （60 mg·kg^-1） to induce PAH. Three weeks after injection， rats in the XQLT-L/M/H groups were administered XQLT intragastrically at 3.07， 6.14， 12.28 g·kg^-1·d^-1， respectively. Rats in the BST group received beraprost sodium at 12.6 μg·kg^-1·d^-1， and rats in the model group received an equal volume of saline. All treatments lasted for 3 weeks. Right ventricular systolic pressure （RVSP） was measured by right ventricular catheterization. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. The right ventricle was weighed to calculate the right ventricular hypertrophy index （RVHI）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， Masson staining， and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe myocardial morphology. Serum metabolomic changes were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-MS/MS）. Data-independent acquisition （DIA） proteomics was used to detect differentially expressed （DE） proteins in the right ventricle， and Western blot was used to measure the expression of uncoupling protein 3 （UCP3）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit p110α （PIK3CA）， L1 cell adhesion molecule （L1CAM）， and quinone oxidoreductase （CRYZ）. UPLC-MS/MS was used to analyze the chemical components of XQLT. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed significantly increased RVSP and RVHI （P<0.05）， along with pathological changes in myocardial morphology. Compared with the model group， all XQLT-treated groups exhibited reductions in RVSP and RVHI as well as significant improvements in cardiac function and myocardial morphology. Among the XQLT groups， XQLT-M showed the most pronounced effects （P<0.05）， comparable to the BST group. Serum metabolomics revealed 105 differential metabolites in the XQLT groups versus the model group ［variable importance in projection （VIP） >1， P<0.05］， including 58 upregulated and 47 downregulated metabolites. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that XQLT intervention downregulated phenylalanine metabolism （P<0.01） and upregulated unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis （P<0.05）. Proteomics analysis showed that 982 DE proteins were identified in the MCT groups versus the normal group， including 455 upregulated and 527 downregulated proteins （|fold change （FC）| >1.3， P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， 237 DE proteins were identified in the XQLT groups， including 124 upregulated and 113 downregulated proteins （|FC| >1.3， P<0.05）， with 57 overlapping DE proteins. KEGG enrichment suggested that XQLT mainly modulated pathways related to mineral absorption， ribosomal biogenesis， peroxisomes， glycolysis/gluconeogenesis， spliceosomes， and thyroid hormone signaling. Western blot analysis showed that， compared with the model group， XQLT increased the expression of UCP3， PIK3CA， and L1CAM， while decreasing the expression of CRYZ （P<0.05）. ConclusionXQLT exerts a protective effect on right heart function in MCT-induced PAH rats， and its mechanism is associated with maintaining myocardial homeostasis and alleviating right ventricular remodeling.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Yuyin Lidan granules （YYLD） in preventing the recurrence of common bile duct stones （CBDS） in patients with liver and gallbladder dampness-heat syndrome following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography （ERCP）. MethodsThis randomized， parallel， controlled trial enrolled postoperative CBDS-ERCP patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Sixty-four patients were randomly assigned to an observation group or a control group， with 32 cases in each. Both groups received conventional Western medical treatment after ERCP， while the observation group additionally received YYLD for 8 weeks. The follow-up period lasted for 1 year. The efficacy indicators included bile bilirubin levels， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， clinical efficacy rate， pancreatitis and inflammation markers， postoperative liver function， and CBDS recurrence rate at 1-year follow-up， which were used to jointly evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of both groups. ResultsA total of 56 patients completed the study and were included in the final analysis， i.e.， 29 in the observation group and 27 in the control group. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Compared with pre-treatment and with the control group after treatment， the bile bilirubin level in the observation group significantly decreased （P<0.05）. After treatment， the clinical cure and marked improvement rates were higher in the observation group than in the control group， showing a statistically significant difference in overall clinical efficacy （P<0.05）. Compared with pre-treatment， the primary and secondary symptoms in the observation group， as well as the primary symptom and the secondary symptom of nausea and vomiting in the control group （weeks 4 and 8）， were significantly reduced （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the observation group showed significant reductions in the primary symptom of loose stools/constipation （day 5 and week 4） and in three secondary symptoms， i.e.， bitter taste and sticky dry mouth， abdominal distension and poor appetite （throughout the treatment period）， and general heaviness and fatigue （day 5 and week 4）， with statistical differences （P<0.05）. Compared with pre-treatment， both groups showed decreased lipase and urinary amylase levels （P<0.05）. However， no significant between-group differences were observed in pancreatitis or inflammation-related indices after treatment. Compared with pre-treatment， all liver function indicators in the observation group and alanine aminotransferase （ ALT ）， γ-glutamyl transferase （ γ-GT ）， alkaline phosphatase （ALP）， and conjugated bilirubin in the control group significantly decreased at weeks 4 and 8 （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment， only serum total bilirubin and unconjugated bilirubin were significantly reduced in the observation group during the treatment period （P<0.05）. ConclusionYYLD combined with conventional Western medical treatment can effectively regulate bilirubin metabolism （in bile and serum）， improve TCM clinical symptoms， and prevent CBDS recurrence after ERCP in patients with liver and gallbladder dampness-heat syndrome. This regimen is safe and effective and is worthy of further clinical research and promotion.

Objective: To explore the setting of gray zone of Treponema pallidum (TP) testing by retrospective analysis of blood donors with single reagent reactive anti-TP results, so as to improve blood utilization and supply safety. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 112 blood donors previously deferred due to single reagent reactive TP antibody results between January 2020 and December 2023, and subjected to dual ELISA reagents and TPPA test. The gray zone panel analysis was performed on the two ELISA reagents currently used in our department. The detection rate at each concentration of the gray zone panle was counted, and the corresponding concentrations for C , C , and C and gray zone cut-off were calculated. Results: Among the 50 samples deferred by reagent 1, 19 were confirmed reactive and 31 non-reactive in supplementary testing. Among the 62 samples deferred by reagent 2, 12 were confirmed reactive and 50 non-reactive in supplementary testing. For reagent 1, the detection rate of was 56% for S/CO≥1 and 20% for 0.5≤S/CO<1, retrospectively. For reagent 2, the detection rate was 27% for S/CO≥1 and 12.5% for 0.5≤S/CO<1, retrospectively. The detection rate for S/CO≥1 was higher than those for 0.5≤S/CO<1 for both reagents. All the 112 samples were negative in TPPA test. The C concentration of reagent 1 was 1.51 mIU/mL, and the concentration range of C ±20% was 1.21-1.81 mIU/mL. The C concentration of reagent 2 was 1.45 mIU/mL, and the concentration range of C ±20% was 1.16-1.74 mIU/mL. The C and C concentration of both reagents were within the C ±20% range, suggesting that the gray zone cutoff for both Reagent 1 and Reagent 2 should be set at S/CO=0.8 (80% of the CO value). Conclusion: All anti-TP single reagent reactive samples with S/CO value within the gray zone was tested negative by TPPA. It is necessary to consider the rationality and necessity of establishing the gray zone, so as to ensure blood safety and improve the utilization rate of blood resources.

ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the mechanism of Jinyang Dingtong plaster in improving the peripheral pain sensitization and synovial fibrosis in rats with knee osteoarthritis （KOA） by blocking the ion channels of transient receptor potentials （TRPs）. MethodsThe active components in the transdermal absorption solution of Jinyang Dingtong plaster were identified by using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole ion trap tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-MS/MS） technology. A KOA rat model was established through intra-articular injection of monoiodoacetic acid. The rats were randomly divided into blank control group， KOA group， compound Nanxing Zhitong plaster Group， and Jinyang Dingtong plaster group， with eight rats per group. Among them， the rats in the compound Nanxing Zhitong plaster group and the Jinyang Dingtong plaster group were intervened with external application treatment. After the intervention period， the cold and mechanical stimulus pain thresholds of rats in each group were detected， and the transverse diameter of the knee joint was measured. The levels of inflammatory factors in the serum such as interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， nerve growth factor （NGF）， and calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Protein expression levels of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 （TRPA1）， transient receptor potential melastatin 8 （TRPM8）， transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 （TRPV1）， transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 （TRPV4）， transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）， and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） in synovial tissue were detected by Western blot. Histopathological changes in synovial tissue were observed by using hematoxylin and eosin （HE）， Masson， and Sirius red staining， while the expression of type Ⅰ collagen and alpha-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） was detected by multiplex immunofluorescence. ResultsA total of 35 active components in the transdermal absorption solution of Jinyang Dingtong plaster were identified by UPLC-MS/MS， including phenolic acids， flavonoids， quinones， alkaloids， terpenes， lignans， and coumarins. Among them， the constituents such as berberine， paeoniflorin， ferulic acid， and caffeic acid exhibit clear anti-inflammatory， analgesic， and anti-fibrotic pharmacological effects. Compared to the blank control group， rats in the KOA group showed a significant decrease in cold and mechanical stimuli pain thresholds （P<0.01）. After 14 and 28 days of Jinyang Dingtong plaster intervention， the pain threshold in this group was significantly increased compared to that in KOA group （P<0.01）， showing no significant difference from that in compound Nanxing Analgesic plaster group. Additionally， Jinyang Dingtong plaster reduced the levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， NGF， and CGRP in the serum of KOA rats （P<0.01）， lowered the expression of TRPA1， TRPM8， TRPV1， TRPV4， TGF-β， and VEGF proteins in synovial tissue （P<0.01）， improved synovial pathological damage in KOA rats， and significantly decreased fluorescence intensity of type Ⅰ collagen and α-SMA （P<0.01）. ConclusionJinyang Dingtong plaster can improve the peripheral pain sensitization and synovial fibrosis in KOA rats by downregulating the expression of ion channels of TRPs and related inflammatory and fibrotic factors.

Natural flavonoids have attracted considerable attention owing to their favorable biosafety profiles and multiple pharmacological properties in recent years. Luteolin, a representative flavonoid compound, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, and neuroprotective effects in multiple ocular disease models by modulating key signaling pathways, including NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, Nrf2/HO-1, and AGE-RAGE. Accumulating experimental evidence supports the potential application of luteolin in various ocular diseases, including corneal and ocular surface diseases, inflammatory eye diseases, glaucoma, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. However, clinical evidence remains limited. This review systematically summarizes research progress on luteolin in ocular diseases over the past five years, analyzes its molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential, and discusses future directions,so as toprovide a theoretical basis for clinical translation.

ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the mechanism of Jinyang Dingtong plaster in improving the peripheral pain sensitization and synovial fibrosis in rats with knee osteoarthritis （KOA） by blocking the ion channels of transient receptor potentials （TRPs）. MethodsThe active components in the transdermal absorption solution of Jinyang Dingtong plaster were identified by using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole ion trap tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-MS/MS） technology. A KOA rat model was established through intra-articular injection of monoiodoacetic acid. The rats were randomly divided into blank control group， KOA group， compound Nanxing Zhitong plaster Group， and Jinyang Dingtong plaster group， with eight rats per group. Among them， the rats in the compound Nanxing Zhitong plaster group and the Jinyang Dingtong plaster group were intervened with external application treatment. After the intervention period， the cold and mechanical stimulus pain thresholds of rats in each group were detected， and the transverse diameter of the knee joint was measured. The levels of inflammatory factors in the serum such as interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， nerve growth factor （NGF）， and calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Protein expression levels of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 （TRPA1）， transient receptor potential melastatin 8 （TRPM8）， transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 （TRPV1）， transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 （TRPV4）， transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）， and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） in synovial tissue were detected by Western blot. Histopathological changes in synovial tissue were observed by using hematoxylin and eosin （HE）， Masson， and Sirius red staining， while the expression of type Ⅰ collagen and alpha-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） was detected by multiplex immunofluorescence. ResultsA total of 35 active components in the transdermal absorption solution of Jinyang Dingtong plaster were identified by UPLC-MS/MS， including phenolic acids， flavonoids， quinones， alkaloids， terpenes， lignans， and coumarins. Among them， the constituents such as berberine， paeoniflorin， ferulic acid， and caffeic acid exhibit clear anti-inflammatory， analgesic， and anti-fibrotic pharmacological effects. Compared to the blank control group， rats in the KOA group showed a significant decrease in cold and mechanical stimuli pain thresholds （P<0.01）. After 14 and 28 days of Jinyang Dingtong plaster intervention， the pain threshold in this group was significantly increased compared to that in KOA group （P<0.01）， showing no significant difference from that in compound Nanxing Analgesic plaster group. Additionally， Jinyang Dingtong plaster reduced the levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， NGF， and CGRP in the serum of KOA rats （P<0.01）， lowered the expression of TRPA1， TRPM8， TRPV1， TRPV4， TGF-β， and VEGF proteins in synovial tissue （P<0.01）， improved synovial pathological damage in KOA rats， and significantly decreased fluorescence intensity of type Ⅰ collagen and α-SMA （P<0.01）. ConclusionJinyang Dingtong plaster can improve the peripheral pain sensitization and synovial fibrosis in KOA rats by downregulating the expression of ion channels of TRPs and related inflammatory and fibrotic factors.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of Shentong Zhuyutang combined with Dilongtang in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation （LDH） with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome， and its effect on nucleus pulposus reabsorption and immune-inflammatory factors， exploring its therapeutic mechanism from the perspective of reabsorption. MethodsA total of 120 patients with LDH from the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine， treated between June 2020 and January 2023， were randomly divided into the control group （52 cases， with 8 dropouts） and the observation group （49 cases， with 11 dropouts） according to a random number table. The control group received routine treatment， while the observation group was treated with Shentong Zhuyutang combined with Dilongtang in addition to routine treatment. Visual Analogue Scale （VAS）， Oswestry Disability Index （ODI）， Japanese Orthopaedic Association （JOA） score， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome score were measured before treatment and after 3 courses of treatment. Venous blood samples were collected for the determination of serological indexes. MR examination was performed during the 6-month follow-up to calculate the absorption rate. ResultsAfter treatment， both groups showed significant reductions in VAS， ODI， TCM syndrome score， serum tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， matrix metalloproteinase （MMP）-9， and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） levels， and a significant increase in JOA score compared with pre-treatment values （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group， the observation group showed significantly lower VAS， ODI， TCM syndrome score， serum TNF-α， MMP-9， and VEGF levels， and a significantly higher JOA score （P<0.05）. The proportion of nucleus pulposus reabsorption in the observation group was 57.14% （28/49）， significantly higher than 21.15% （11/52） in the control group （χ²=6.161， P<0.05）. ConclusionShentong Zhuyutang combined with Dilongtang can effectively relieve pain， improve lumbar function， and alleviate TCM clinical symptoms in LDH patients with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome. Imaging findings suggest that the treatment promotes the reabsorption of nucleus pulposus protrusion， while laboratory testing shows reduced serum levels of TNF-α， MMP-9， and VEGF， which contribute to the rehabilitation of patients.

The global distribution of medical resources is uneven and organ shortages are becoming increasingly serious. ASEAN countries have been working hard to explore and promote local organ transplantation in order to alleviate the serious imbalance between organ donation and organ transplantation needs. However, the development of cadaveric organ donation varies among ASEAN countries, and the cadaveric organ donation rate in most countries is generally low. Since 1991, China and ASEAN have evolved from dialogue to strategic cooperation, then to a community with a shared future, and further to a comprehensive strategic partnership, all demonstrating broad prospects for cooperation. This article analyzes the current situation and challenges of organ donation and transplantation in ASEAN countries, combining field visits and its own experience, and proposes strategies for strengthening international cooperation, optimizing policy environment, enhancing technical capabilities, and increasing public awareness in the field of organ donation and transplantation under the China-ASEAN development strategy framework. The aim is to build a more equitable, efficient, and sustainable organ donation and transplantation system, contributing to the realization of global public health security and a community of common health for mankind.