Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical clinical condition characterized by rapid renal function decline, with high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown potential effects on mitigating oxidative stress and programmed cell death in AKI models. Scutellaria barbata D. Don (SB) and Scleromitrion diffusum (Willd.) R. J. Wang (SD), a classic TCM herbal pair exhibited anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Using advanced chromatographic separation technology, we enriched the effective fractions of water extracts from SB-SD, obtaining self-assembled herbal nanoparticles (SB and SD nanoparticles, SSNPs) rich in flavonoids and terpenoids. These SSNPs demonstrated robust antioxidant properties in vitro and mitigated AKI progression in vivo by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. Oral administration of SSNPs in mice resulted in absorption into the bloodstream, formation of a protein corona, reduced macrophage phagocytosis, and enhanced bioavailability and renal targeting. Furthermore, we investigated the self-assembly principle of SSNPs using representative flavonoids and terpenoids. Kinetic studies and in situ transmission electron microscopy (in situ TEM) revealed that these compounds self-assemble via supramolecular forces like hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions, forming stable nanostructures. This study elucidates the renoprotective effects and mechanisms of SB and SD, and provides a novel approach for the development of TCM-based nanomedicines, highlighting the potential of nano-TCM in AKI treatment.

Purpose To investigate the value of real-time three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound (RT3D-CEUS) for the evaluation of blunt renal trauma hemorrhage. Materials and Methods Nine healthy New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups, and after heparinization, the models of ongoing hemorrhage of blunt renal trauma were developed by self-made minitype striker in the three groups with different force levels:77.2 N (group A), 106.2 N (group B), 135.1 N (group C). All rabbits were performed ultrasonography (US), color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and RT3D-CEUS before and after strike (within 20 minutes). The results achieved by US, CDFI, 2D-CEUS (A-plane results in RT3D-CEUS) and RT3D-CEUS were compared with each other, and further compared with the pathological results of the executed animals after blood pressure decreased lower than 40 mmHg. Results All rabbits showed traumatic renal lesions and it proved that the bigger the force the heavier the injury (group A: 1 case of levelⅠ, 2 cases of levelⅡ;group B:3 cases of levelⅢ;group C:1 case of levelⅢ, 2 cases of level Ⅳ ). After strike, US identified the presence of increasing hematoma under the capsule but could not detect active bleeding. In CDFI, only 1 case was detected ongoing hemorrhage. 2D-CEUS clearly presented the bleeding in all cases. RT3D-CEUS presented a vivid real-time and stereoscopical image of active hemorrhage in all cases and also showed that the wider the bleeding area was shorter than the shock duration time. Conclusion RT3D-CEUS can present a real-time dynamic bleeding and locate headstream of blood in renal trauma vividly and stereoscopically, and can be used to preliminarily evaluate the degree of ongoing hemorrhage in traumatic kidney.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the relationship between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and metabolic syndrome (MS) in senior patients. Methods The 859 male senior patients including 619 cases with BPH and 8 cases with MS were enrolled in this study, and there were 192 cases with both diseases and 40 controls. The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured. The body mass index (BMI), prostate volume and annual prostate growth rate were determined or calculated. The correlations of BPH with other metabolic risk factors were analyzed. Results The levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body weight, BMI, TG and FPG were higher (t=6.15, 5.99, 13.12, 15.56, 10.63 and 9.94, all P＜0.01), while serum HDL-C level was lower (t=-7.57,P＜0.01) in BPH patients with MS than without MS. As the number of components of MS was increased, the prostate volume was increased (F=2.98, P=0.031). As the age, body weight, BMI, SBP and PG were increased, the prostate volume was increased (t=-6.39,-2.39,-2.36,-2.13,-25.85,all P＜0.05). Spearman analysis showed that prostate volume was positively correlated with age, SBP, body weight, BMI and hypertension (r=0.229, 0.079, 0.090, 0.089 and 0.088, all P＜0.05). And age, body weight and SBP were the independent risk factors for BPH (OR=1.07, 1.03 and 1.34, all P＜0.05). Conclusions The present study demonstrates a relationship between BPH and MS in senior patients. Future studies are needed to confirm our results and to explain underlying mechanisms.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of individualized interferon (IFN)-alpha therapy in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients. Methods Seventy- six Chinese HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients proven by liver biopsy were treated with 5 MU recombinant IFN-alpha 1b subcutaneously thrice every week. All the patients were followed up for at least 24 months the combined responses were defined as normalization of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and HBV DNA＜3 log10 copy/mL. An intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was used in this paper in which all 76 patients were included. Results Six patients were lost. Treatment duration was in the range 2-24 months with a median of 8.5 months, and combined responses were achieved at a median of 6.0 months (range 2-19 months) of treatment duration.Seventy-five-percentile of treatment duration to endpoints was 10.0 months. The combined response rate was 46.1% (35/76) at the end of treatment, 43.3% (33/76) at 12-month follow-up and 40.8% (31/76) at 24-month follow-up. The relapse rate was 20. 0% (7/35) and 25. 7% (9/35) at 12-month and 24-month follow-up, respectively. Higher necroinflammatory activity in liver biopsy predicted a good response, while gender, age, liver fibrosis, baseline ALT, aspartate aminotransferase levels and baseline HBV DNA levels were not impact factors of therapeutic effects by binary Logistic regression analysis.Conclusion Individualized prolonged IFN-alpha regimen lead to considerable sustained disease suppression in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.