This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name， origin， medicinal parts， producing area， harvesting and processing， nature， flavor and efficacy of Piperis Longi Fructus by referring to the materia medica， medical books， and prescription books of past dynasties， combined with the relevant modern literature， in order to provide a basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. According to the herbal textual research， the name of Piper longum first appeared in Nanfang Caomuzhuang， and it also has other aliases such as Biboli， Halou， and Hujiaohua. Historically， the origin of Piperis Longi Fructus has been P. longum of the Piperaceae family. In ancient times， both the fruit and root were used as medicine， and since the Republic of China， the fruit has been mainly used as medicine. The medicinal part is the dried， nearly ripe or ripe fruit spikes. Piperis Longi Fructus is native to India and has been introduced into China since the Tang dynasty. In the Ming dynasty， Bencao Pinhui Jingyao clearly stated that the genuine producing area was "Duanzhou"， present-day Zhaoqing in Guangdong province. Nowadays， it is planted in Guangdong， Guangxi， Hainan， Yunnan and other regions. Historically and currently， harvesting occurs in autumn. The ancient processing method uniformly involved removing the stems， soaking in the sourest vinegar overnight， baking， and scraping off the peels and grains with a knife until clean. In modern times， impurities are removed， and it is dried in the sun and crushed when used. The properties， functions and applications of P. longum are basically the same in ancient and modern times. It tastes pungent， is warm in nature， and non-toxic. It has the effects of warming the middle-jiao to dispel cold， lowering Qi and relieving pain， and is used for cold pain in the epigastrium and abdomen， vomiting， diarrhea， chest pain， headache， and toothache. Based on the research results， it is recommended that when developing famous classical formulas containing Piperis Longi Fructus， the dried nearly ripe or ripe fruit spikes of P. longum should be used. If there are no clear processing requirements， it is recommended to use the raw products for medicinal use， and the specific processing methods can refer to the relevant requirements under Piperis Longi Fructus in the 2025 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. If processing requirements such as soaking in vinegar and peeling are clearly specified， it is recommended to follow the ancient methods.

This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name， origin， medicinal parts， producing area， harvesting and processing， nature， flavor and efficacy of Piperis Longi Fructus by referring to the materia medica， medical books， and prescription books of past dynasties， combined with the relevant modern literature， in order to provide a basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. According to the herbal textual research， the name of Piper longum first appeared in Nanfang Caomuzhuang， and it also has other aliases such as Biboli， Halou， and Hujiaohua. Historically， the origin of Piperis Longi Fructus has been P. longum of the Piperaceae family. In ancient times， both the fruit and root were used as medicine， and since the Republic of China， the fruit has been mainly used as medicine. The medicinal part is the dried， nearly ripe or ripe fruit spikes. Piperis Longi Fructus is native to India and has been introduced into China since the Tang dynasty. In the Ming dynasty， Bencao Pinhui Jingyao clearly stated that the genuine producing area was "Duanzhou"， present-day Zhaoqing in Guangdong province. Nowadays， it is planted in Guangdong， Guangxi， Hainan， Yunnan and other regions. Historically and currently， harvesting occurs in autumn. The ancient processing method uniformly involved removing the stems， soaking in the sourest vinegar overnight， baking， and scraping off the peels and grains with a knife until clean. In modern times， impurities are removed， and it is dried in the sun and crushed when used. The properties， functions and applications of P. longum are basically the same in ancient and modern times. It tastes pungent， is warm in nature， and non-toxic. It has the effects of warming the middle-jiao to dispel cold， lowering Qi and relieving pain， and is used for cold pain in the epigastrium and abdomen， vomiting， diarrhea， chest pain， headache， and toothache. Based on the research results， it is recommended that when developing famous classical formulas containing Piperis Longi Fructus， the dried nearly ripe or ripe fruit spikes of P. longum should be used. If there are no clear processing requirements， it is recommended to use the raw products for medicinal use， and the specific processing methods can refer to the relevant requirements under Piperis Longi Fructus in the 2025 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. If processing requirements such as soaking in vinegar and peeling are clearly specified， it is recommended to follow the ancient methods.

Background: Sex-based differences often influence the therapeutic efficacy and safety of medications. Semen Cuscutae is a traditional tonic botanical drug with sex-specific characteristics, traditionally indicated for conditions such as impotence (exclusive to males) and restless fetus (exclusive to pregnant females). However, most existing studies have focused on a single sex. Objective: To evaluate the sex-specific biological effects of Semen Cuscutae in rats and explore its molecular mechanisms, with the aim of uncovering its pharmacological characteristics through a multiomics approach. Methods: A traditional aqueous extract of Semen Cuscutae (SCA) was used as the experimental material. Forty adult Sprague-Dawley rats (equal numbers of males and females) were randomly divided into 4 groups: male control, male SCA treatment (240 mg/kg), female control, and female SCA treatment (240 mg/kg), with 10 rats in each group. The biological effects were comprehensively evaluated using a combination of open field test, biochemical analyses, proteomics, and gut microbiota profiling. Results: As a tonic botanical drug, SCA appeared to directly affect the mental and behavioral state of rats. It significantly altered the time spent by rats in the center area during the open field test, showing a sex-dependent reversal of behaviors. Proteomic analysis of brain tissue identified 624 differentially expressed proteins across the groups, with 10 key differentially expressed proteins related to sex differences, including fibroblast growth factor receptor 3, transcription elongation factor A protein-like 1, 40S ribosomal protein S25, neural cell adhesion molecule, and anion exchange protein 2 (SLC4A2). Enrichment analysis revealed that in male rats, SCA upregulated proteins involved in biological processes such as ribosome function and energy derivation, supporting protein synthesis and enhancing energy supply, showing an overall gain effect. In contrast, in female rats, SCA downregulated proteins associated with processes such as positive regulation of target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling and vesicle transport, suggesting suppression of neuronal signaling and material transport, indicative of a shift toward a more restrained physiological state. Furthermore, SCA reduced gut microbiota diversity in female rats but increased it in males, including the abundance of Akkermansia, which may serve as a crucial mediator. Conclusion: Overall, the biological effects of SCA differ significantly between male and female rats, with evidence suggesting greater health benefits in males. These findings help elucidate the scientific basis of its traditional applications and provide guidance for the precise application of SCA as a functional health food.

The medical mask,which is used as an important tool of preventing the spread of respiratory diseases,can effectively block the transmission of biological aerosols.The detection for the filtration efficiency of bacteria in medical mask is particular importance.The Andersen sampler,is one kind of device that samples microbial aerosols,is widely used in the inspection for the filtration efficiency for bacteria in medical masks.It mainly consists of six impactors with different pore sizes.It simulates the deposition process of the most of particles at different positions in respiratory system through the bacterial particles in biological aerosols impact respectively the surface of petri dishes with agar under different pore sizes.This paper explored the development background,structure and sampling principle,operation and counting procedures of the Andersen sampler,as well as its application and importance in the inspection for the filtration efficiency for bacteria in medical mask.

Objective To parse the current situation of obstetrics resources in Chinese Public General Hospitals,and explore a new path for the development of obstetric medical service system in public hospitals.Methods Literature search and qualitative interview methods were used to sort out the obstetric resources and services of public general hospitals.Results The obstetrics departments in public general hospitals play an important role in the obstetrics service system,which face more operation pressures and transformation difficulties in the background of low fertility.Public general hospitals can strengthen the inner horizontal integration by multidisciplinary collaboration,and external vertical with medical alliances and obstetric alliances,so as to provide high-quality and continuous obstetric services for regional pregnant women and enhance system resilience.Conclusion Centralized multidisciplinary integration inside the hospitals and alliance with other obstetrics departments outside the hospitals,namely Two"Centralized Development"may be a new path for the high-quality development of obstetrics department in public general hospitals under the background of low fertility rate.

Objective:To verify the performance of MAGLUMI 4000 fully automatic chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer in measuring special sequence of β-Collagen(β-CTx).Methods:Referring to a series of standards included WS/T 492-2016"Verification of performance for precision and trueness of quantitative measurements in clinical laboratories"and CNAS-GL037 2019"Guidance on the verification of quantitative measurement procedures used in the clinical chemistry",the precision,trueness,and linear interval of MAGLUMI 4000 fully automatic chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer were verified in measuring β-CTx.Results:The intra batch precisions(repeatability)of MAGLUMI 4000 fully automatic chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer were respectively 3.22%and 3.49%in measuring serum β-CTx samples with low and high values.The intermediate precisions(precision within laboratory)were respectively 4.35%and 3.29%,both of which met the requirements of laboratory.The results of trueness verification showed that the bias of samples with low concentration was-2.4%,and the bias of samples with high concentration was-2.1%.The expected values of the standards with low and high values were all between the corresponding up and low validation limits of them,which met the judgment criteria.The linear interval was 0.03-6.00 ng/mL,which was within the linear interval,and it can meet the requirements of manufacturer′s claim.Conclusion:The precision,trueness and linear interval of MAGLUMI 4000 fully automatic chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer all passed the verification in measuring β-CTx,which indicates the performance of the project can meet the quality specifications.

BACKGROUND: The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences. RESULTS: Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n  = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n  = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses. CONCLUSION This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; China ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery has been a common practice for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, but the response rate varies among patients. This study aimed to develop a ResNet-Vision Transformer based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-endoscopy fusion model to precisely predict treatment response and provide personalized treatment. METHODS: In this multicenter study, 366 eligible patients who had undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery at eight Chinese tertiary hospitals between January 2017 and June 2024 were recruited, with 2928 pretreatment colonic endoscopic images and 366 pelvic MRI images. An MRI-endoscopy fusion model was constructed based on the ResNet backbone and Transformer network using pretreatment MRI and endoscopic images. Treatment response was defined as good response or non-good response based on the tumor regression grade. The Delong test and the Hanley-McNeil test were utilized to compare prediction performance among different models and different subgroups, respectively. The predictive performance of the MRI-endoscopy fusion model was comprehensively validated in the test sets and was further compared to that of the single-modal MRI model and single-modal endoscopy model. RESULTS: The MRI-endoscopy fusion model demonstrated favorable prediction performance. In the internal validation set, the area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy were 0.852 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.744-0.940) and 0.737 (95% CI: 0.712-0.844), respectively. Moreover, the AUC and accuracy reached 0.769 (95% CI: 0.678-0.861) and 0.729 (95% CI: 0.628-0.821), respectively, in the external test set. In addition, the MRI-endoscopy fusion model outperformed the single-modal MRI model (AUC: 0.692 [95% CI: 0.609-0.783], accuracy: 0.659 [95% CI: 0.565-0.775]) and the single-modal endoscopy model (AUC: 0.720 [95% CI: 0.617-0.823], accuracy: 0.713 [95% CI: 0.612-0.809]) in the external test set. CONCLUSION The MRI-endoscopy fusion model based on ResNet-Vision Transformer achieved favorable performance in predicting treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and holds tremendous potential for enabling personalized treatment regimens for locally advanced rectal cancer patients.
Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy/methods* ; Aged ; Adult ; Chemoradiotherapy/methods* ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Treatment Outcome

This study aims to investigate the pathogenesis of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer(PLGC) and explore the potential molecular mechanism of Weifuchun Capsules(WFC) in treating PLGC via the nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)/NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome signaling pathway. Ninety male SPF-grade Wistar rats were randomized into a normal feeding group and a modeling group. The normal feeding group received a regular diet, while the modeling group was subjected to the disease-syndrome combined modeling of PLGC. Specifically, the rats had free access to the water containing 120 μg·mL~(-1) N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG) and received a diet containing 0.05% ranitidine in an irregular feeding pattern(alternations between fasting and overfeeding). After 15 weeks, the rats in the normal feeding group were randomized into control, control-NF-κB activator betulinic acid(C-BA), and control-NF-κB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamaten(C-PDTC) groups. Meanwhile, the rats in the modeling group continuously underwent the modeling procedure and were randomized into model, WFC, model-NF-κB activator(M-BA), and model-NF-κB inhibitor(M-PDTC) groups. The model group and control group were given aseptic water by intragastric administration, once a day. WFC was given at a dose(432 mg·kg~(-1)) 6 times the equivalent dose for adults(body weight: 60 kg) by gavage, once a day. The rats in the C-BA and M-BA groups were administrated with BA by intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 10 mg·kg~(-1), twice a week. The rats in the C-PDTC and M-PDTC groups were administrated with PDTC by intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 50 mg·kg~(-1), twice a week. The interventions were carried out for 4 weeks. Histopathological changes of the gastric mucosa were observed and scored by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and alcian blue-periodic acid Sthiff(AB-PAS) staining. The levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), and IL-10 in the gastric tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expression levels of proteins associated with the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome in the gastric mucosa were determined by Western blot. The positive expression areas of proteins related to NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome in the gastric mucosa were measured by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that compared with the control group, the model, C-BA, and M-BA groups showed significantly risen scores of mucosal inflammation, degree of inflammatory activity, gland atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia, and the model and M-BA groups showed significanly risen scores of dysplasia. Compared with the model group, the WFC group demonstrated significantly declined scores of mucosal inflammation and degree of inflammatory activity, as well as declined scores of intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia. Compared with the control group, the model and C-BA groups showed significantly elevated levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α in the gastric tissue, and the model group showed significantly elevated level of IL-10. In addition, the model and C-BA groups showed significantly up-regulated expression of NF-κB p65, NLRP3, cysteine-aspartic acid protease 1(caspase-1), and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC) in the gastric mucosa and increased positive expression areas of NF-κB p65, NLRP3, and ASC. Compared with the model group, the WFC group showed significantly decreased levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, TNF-α, and IL-10 in the gastric tissue, and the M-PDTC group showed significantly lowered levels of IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α in the gastric mucosa. Both WFC and M-PDTC groups demonstrated significantly down-regulated expression levels of NF-κB p65, phosphorylated NF-κB p65(p-NF-κB p65), NLRP3, and caspase-1 in the gastric mucosa, along with significant decreases in the positive expression areas of NF-κB p65, NLRP3, and ASC. In conclusion, the pathogenesis of PLGC is closely related to the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway. WFC can alleviate mucosal inflammation, inhibit glandular atrophy, partially reverse intestinal metaplasia, and reduce dysplasia to delay the process of inflammation-cancer transformation, and meanwhile it can effectively lower the levels of inflammatory cytokines and down-regulate the expression of pathway-related proteins in the stomach. Therefore, WFC may treat PLGC by inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.
Animals ; Male ; NF-kappa B/genetics* ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Inflammasomes/genetics* ; Humans ; Precancerous Conditions/metabolism* ; Capsules

Maidong products are categorized into "Hang Maidong" and "Chuan Maidong". Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, "Hang Maidong" has been regarded as having superior quality, but currently, it remains in name only in the market. This article reviewed historical materia medica and local chronicles from the Ming and Qing Dynasties and analyzed the historical evolution of Maidong production areas. The history of Maidong production in Zhejiang can be traced back to the Song Dynasty, and cultivation had already developed by at least the Ming Dynasty. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was consistently used as a tribute. Ming Dynasty chronicles record "Chuan Maidong", which had already been cultivated on a large scale by the Qing Dynasty. "Hang Maidong" and "Chuan Maidong" share the same origin, with the former identifiable by the "gourd waist" shape of its tuberous root. Based on this, it can be inferred that the "Maimendong" herb illustrated in the Origins of Materia Medica(Ben Cao Yuan Shi) and the Maidong stored in the Qing Palace Imperial Pharmacy were both "Hang Maidong". The protection and development of the authentic "Hang Maidong" medicinal herb are urgently needed.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history* ; History, 17th Century ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history* ; History, Medieval ; History, 16th Century ; History, 18th Century ; History, 15th Century ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry* ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Materia Medica/history* ; History, 21st Century