In recent years,the incidence and mortality of malignant tumors have been increasing year by year,becoming a se-rious challenge to global public health.Unlike traditional treatment methods,tumor immunotherapy activates the body's own immune system to against tumors,and has significant advantage such as minimal side effects,long-lasting efficacy,and strong targeting.Howev-er,immunotherapy also has issues such as frequent adverse reactions and high treatment costs.In order to enhance the efficacy of im-munotherapy,some phytochemicals are used in the field of immunotherapy as modulators.These phytochemicals not only increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to immune cells,but also reduce the expression of immune checkpoint proteins.Therefore,this article provides a review of phytochemicals that play an important role in tumor immunotherapy and their related mechanisms of action.

The coinfection of respiratory viruses and bacteria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, despite the development of vaccines and powerful antibiotics. As a macromolecule that is difficult to absorb in the gastrointestinal tract, a homogeneous polysaccharide from Houttuynia cordata (HCPM) has been reported to exhibit anti-complement properties and alleviate influenza A virus (H1N1)-induced lung injury; however, the effects of HCPM without in vitro antiviral and antibacterial activities on more complicated pulmonary diseases resulting from viral-bacterial coinfection remains unclear. This study established a representative coinfection murine pneumonia model infected with H1N1 (0.2 LD₅₀) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, 10⁷ CFU). HCPM significantly improved survival rate and weight loss, and ameliorated gut-lung damage and inflammatory cytokine production. Interestingly, the therapeutic effect of HCPM on intestinal damage preceded that in the lungs. Mechanistically, HCPM inhibited the overactivation of the intestinal complement (C3a and C5a) and suppressed the activation of the NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) pathway, which contributes to the regulation of the Treg/Th17 cell balance in the gut-lung axis. The results indicate the beneficial effects of an anti-complement polysaccharide against viral-bacterial coinfection pneumonia by modulating crosstalk between multiple immune regulatory networks.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of dihydroactinidiolide(DHAc)on prolif-eration of gastric cancer cells and its possible mechanism.Methods Gastric cancer MKN45 cells and AGS cells were cultured and divided into the control group(culture medium without DHAc)and treatment groups with different concentrations of DHAc(50,100,200,400,600,800,and 1000 μmol/L).MTT assay and methylene blue(MB)assay were used to detect the effect of DHAc on the via-bility of MKN45 cells and AGS cells.The changes of mitochondrial membrane potential and the cell cycle distribution of MKN45 cells treated with DHAc were detected by flow cytometry,and its effects on the cell cycle of AGS cells were also analyzed.The effects of DHAc on the expression of proteins related to the cell cycle and autophagy in MKN45 cells were detected by Western blot.Results DHAc at different concentrations of 50,100,200,400,600,and 800 μmol/L showed significant inhibitory effects on proliferation of MKN45 cells.Among them,DHAc at the concentration range of 50-400 μmol/L also arrested the cell cycle of MKN45 cells at the G0/G1 phase,down-regulated the expressions of cyclin D1 and CDK4,and significantly reduced the mitochondrial membrane poten-tial(P<0.05);In the lower concentration range of 50-200 μmol/L,DHAc could induce autophagy in MKN45 cells,as manifested by the upregulation of the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio(P<0.05).In addition,different concentrations of DHAc(100,200,400,600,800,and 1000 μmol/L)could also significantly inhibit the proliferation of AGS cells.Among them,DHAc at the concentration range of 100-400 μmol/L could arrest the cell cycle of AGS cells at the G0/G1 phase(P<0.05).Conclusion DHAc can inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer cells.The possible mechanism is that DHAc arrests the cell cycle and induces autophagy in gastric cancer cells.

Objective:To compare the burden of benign prostatic hyperplasia（BPH）between China and the United States from 1990 to 2021.Methods:The prevalence，incidence，years lived with disability（YLD），and their age-standardized rates for BPH in China and the United States from 1990 to 2021 were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021（GBD 2021）. The average annual percentage change（AAPC）of the age-standardized incidence rate（ASIR）and the age-standardized YLD rate（ASYR）was calculated using Joinpoint regression analysis. In addition，the YLD burden of BPH，prostate cancer，kidney cancer，bladder cancer，and three other urological diseases were compared between the two countries.Results:From 1990 to 2021，the number of BPH cases in China increased from 1.460 4 million to 3.244 5 million，the number of prevalent cases rose from 9.940 5 million to 23.111 2 million，and YLDs grew from 0.2 million person-years to 0.460 2 million person-years，with AAPCs of 2.63%，2.78%，and 2.75%，respectively. In 2021，the numbers of incident cases，prevalent cases，and YLDs were 0.577 9 million，4.930 3 million，and 0.095 9 million person-years in the United States，and 13.787 6 million，112.502 million，and 2.235 7 million person-years globally. China’s ASIR decreased from 363.07/100 000 to 299.14/100 000（AAPC -0.60%），and ASYR from 57.33/100 000 to 45.84/100 000（AAPC -0.70%），both of which were higher than those in the United States but lower than the global level. Age-specific analyses showed declining incidence and YLD rates across all age groups in China，while certain age groups in the United States demonstrated increasing trends. From 1990 to 2021，the proportion of YLDs attributable to BPH among seven urological diseases in China rose from 61.4% to 69.2%. In 2021，YLDs due to prostate cancer accounted for the highest proportion among seven urinary system diseases in the United States，reaching 54.5%. Projections indicate that although ASIR and ASYR in China will decline from 2022 to 2040，the absolute numbers of incident cases and YLDs are projected to continue to rise，reaching 4.97 million and 0.78 million，respectively，by 2040.Conclusions:Between 1990 and 2021，the number of incidence cases，prevalence cases，and YLDs of BPH in China increased markedly，while ASIR and ASYR declined. The disease burden of BPH remains substantial，with a higher proportion of YLDs among urological diseases compared with the United States. By 2040，the number of BPH cases and YLDs in China is projected to further increase，underscoring the need for greater public health attention.

Phytochemicals are natural products derived from nature.Numerous studies have demonstrated that they can inhib-it the occurrence and development of different tumors through various pathways.Recent studies have revealed that the tumor microen-vironment is a key regulatory target that drives the malignant progression of tumors,and its synergistic anti-tumor effects with phyto-chemicals has become a research focus.Therefore,this article reviews the current status and progress of research on the role of phyto-chemicals in the tumor microenvironment and its possible mechanisms in recent years.

Objective:To compare the burden of benign prostatic hyperplasia（BPH）between China and the United States from 1990 to 2021.Methods:The prevalence，incidence，years lived with disability（YLD），and their age-standardized rates for BPH in China and the United States from 1990 to 2021 were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021（GBD 2021）. The average annual percentage change（AAPC）of the age-standardized incidence rate（ASIR）and the age-standardized YLD rate（ASYR）was calculated using Joinpoint regression analysis. In addition，the YLD burden of BPH，prostate cancer，kidney cancer，bladder cancer，and three other urological diseases were compared between the two countries.Results:From 1990 to 2021，the number of BPH cases in China increased from 1.460 4 million to 3.244 5 million，the number of prevalent cases rose from 9.940 5 million to 23.111 2 million，and YLDs grew from 0.2 million person-years to 0.460 2 million person-years，with AAPCs of 2.63%，2.78%，and 2.75%，respectively. In 2021，the numbers of incident cases，prevalent cases，and YLDs were 0.577 9 million，4.930 3 million，and 0.095 9 million person-years in the United States，and 13.787 6 million，112.502 million，and 2.235 7 million person-years globally. China’s ASIR decreased from 363.07/100 000 to 299.14/100 000（AAPC -0.60%），and ASYR from 57.33/100 000 to 45.84/100 000（AAPC -0.70%），both of which were higher than those in the United States but lower than the global level. Age-specific analyses showed declining incidence and YLD rates across all age groups in China，while certain age groups in the United States demonstrated increasing trends. From 1990 to 2021，the proportion of YLDs attributable to BPH among seven urological diseases in China rose from 61.4% to 69.2%. In 2021，YLDs due to prostate cancer accounted for the highest proportion among seven urinary system diseases in the United States，reaching 54.5%. Projections indicate that although ASIR and ASYR in China will decline from 2022 to 2040，the absolute numbers of incident cases and YLDs are projected to continue to rise，reaching 4.97 million and 0.78 million，respectively，by 2040.Conclusions:Between 1990 and 2021，the number of incidence cases，prevalence cases，and YLDs of BPH in China increased markedly，while ASIR and ASYR declined. The disease burden of BPH remains substantial，with a higher proportion of YLDs among urological diseases compared with the United States. By 2040，the number of BPH cases and YLDs in China is projected to further increase，underscoring the need for greater public health attention.

Phytochemicals are natural products derived from nature.Numerous studies have demonstrated that they can inhib-it the occurrence and development of different tumors through various pathways.Recent studies have revealed that the tumor microen-vironment is a key regulatory target that drives the malignant progression of tumors,and its synergistic anti-tumor effects with phyto-chemicals has become a research focus.Therefore,this article reviews the current status and progress of research on the role of phyto-chemicals in the tumor microenvironment and its possible mechanisms in recent years.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of dihydroactinidiolide(DHAc)on prolif-eration of gastric cancer cells and its possible mechanism.Methods Gastric cancer MKN45 cells and AGS cells were cultured and divided into the control group(culture medium without DHAc)and treatment groups with different concentrations of DHAc(50,100,200,400,600,800,and 1000 μmol/L).MTT assay and methylene blue(MB)assay were used to detect the effect of DHAc on the via-bility of MKN45 cells and AGS cells.The changes of mitochondrial membrane potential and the cell cycle distribution of MKN45 cells treated with DHAc were detected by flow cytometry,and its effects on the cell cycle of AGS cells were also analyzed.The effects of DHAc on the expression of proteins related to the cell cycle and autophagy in MKN45 cells were detected by Western blot.Results DHAc at different concentrations of 50,100,200,400,600,and 800 μmol/L showed significant inhibitory effects on proliferation of MKN45 cells.Among them,DHAc at the concentration range of 50-400 μmol/L also arrested the cell cycle of MKN45 cells at the G0/G1 phase,down-regulated the expressions of cyclin D1 and CDK4,and significantly reduced the mitochondrial membrane poten-tial(P<0.05);In the lower concentration range of 50-200 μmol/L,DHAc could induce autophagy in MKN45 cells,as manifested by the upregulation of the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio(P<0.05).In addition,different concentrations of DHAc(100,200,400,600,800,and 1000 μmol/L)could also significantly inhibit the proliferation of AGS cells.Among them,DHAc at the concentration range of 100-400 μmol/L could arrest the cell cycle of AGS cells at the G0/G1 phase(P<0.05).Conclusion DHAc can inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer cells.The possible mechanism is that DHAc arrests the cell cycle and induces autophagy in gastric cancer cells.

In recent years,the incidence and mortality of malignant tumors have been increasing year by year,becoming a se-rious challenge to global public health.Unlike traditional treatment methods,tumor immunotherapy activates the body's own immune system to against tumors,and has significant advantage such as minimal side effects,long-lasting efficacy,and strong targeting.Howev-er,immunotherapy also has issues such as frequent adverse reactions and high treatment costs.In order to enhance the efficacy of im-munotherapy,some phytochemicals are used in the field of immunotherapy as modulators.These phytochemicals not only increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to immune cells,but also reduce the expression of immune checkpoint proteins.Therefore,this article provides a review of phytochemicals that play an important role in tumor immunotherapy and their related mechanisms of action.

Methods: Patients with dry eye who were treated in the Ophthalmology Ward and Outpatient Department of the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine from October 1, 2020, to October 30, 2021 were enrolled as the research participants in the study. They were assigned to two groups based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome types: heat stagnation in liver meridian pattern group and Qi-Yin deficiency pattern group. Healthy volunteers who underwent health check-ups in the Health Management Department were included as healthy group following the random number table method. The tears of the patients and the healthy volunteer participants were tested by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The differential metabolites were screened out by multivariate statistical analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment was performed on the differential metabolites. Finally, the association analysis of differential proteins and metabolites was conducted to verify and supplement the metabolites. Results: A total of 32 dry eye patients were enrolled, including 16 cases with heat stagnation in liver meridian pattern and 16 cases with Qi-Yin deficiency pattern. Fourteen healthy volunteers were included as healthy group. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics among the three groups (P > 0.05). A total of 412 biomarkers were determined in Qi-Yin deficiency pattern group, mainly including lipids, lipid-like molecules, organic acids and their derivatives, organic heterocyclic compounds, and nucleosides and their analogues. For heat stagnation in liver meridian pattern group, 112 metabolites were determined, mainly including organic acids and their derivatives, lipids, and lipid-like molecules. The KEGG enrichment results of pathways and the relative content analysis of differential markers demonstrate that purine metabolism and caffeine metabolism pathways are common metabolic characteristics of all dry eyes. Among them, deoxyinosine monophosphate (dIMP) and 2-(formamido)-N1-(5-phospha-D-ribosyl) acetamidine can serve as their biomarkers. The main characteristics of Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome pattern were the significant enhancement of metabolic pathways such as lysine degradation, ovarian steroidogenesis, cholesterol metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and bile secretion (P < 0.05). Dry eye associated with the heat stagnation in liver meridian pattern is mainly characterized by inhibition of the valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis pathways (P < 0.05). Conclusion Metabolomics can be used as an effective basis for TCM syndrome classification. Different patterns of dry eye syndrome exhibit typical characteristics in the types and concentrations of metabolites, which correspond to the syndrome classification in TCM. This study initially confirms the rationality of TCM syndrome classification and provides significant reference for the mechanism of dry eye and drug development.