Hepatic encephalopathy （HE） is a common complication of severe liver disease in the end stage， and it is urgently needed to improve the rate of effective treatment and clarify the pathogenesis of HE. The liver is a crucial hub for immune regulation， and disruption of immune homeostasis is a key factor in the pathological mechanisms of HE. As the main metabolites of intestinal flora， short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs） play a vital role in the biological processes of both innate and adaptive immunity and can regulate the proliferation and differentiation of immune cells maintain the homeostasis of intestinal microenvironment and the integrity of barrier function. Studies have shown that SCFAs participate in bidirectional and dynamic interactions with the liver-gut-brain axis through immunomodulatory pathways， thereby playing an important role in the diagnosis， treatment， and prognostic evaluation of HE. Starting from the immunoregulatory effect of SCFAs， this article summarizes and analyzes the crosstalk relationship between SCFAs and the liver-gut-brain axis and the significance of SCFAs in the diagnosis and treatment of HE， in order to provide new ideas for optimizing clinical prevention and treatment strategies.

AIM: To investigate the effect of the relationship between scotopic pupil and optical zone diameters on short-term subjective and objective visual quality after small incision lenticule extraction(SMILE).METHODS:In this prospective cohort study, 98 patients(196 eyes)who underwent SMILE from September 2021 to June 2023 were included. Participants were divided into two groups based on the ratio of scotopic pupil diameter to optical zone diameter: group A(ratio >1, 70 eyes)and group B(ratio ≤1, 126 eyes). The preoperative and postoperative uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), spherical equivalent(SE), total corneal high-order aberrations at 4, 6, and 8 mm of pupil diameters, objective scatter index(OSI), pre- and post-operative QoV subjective visual quality questionnaire were observed and recorded. The refractive status of different groups of patients at different time points before and after surgery, and differences in subjective and objective visual quality indices were analyzed. Furthermore, the changes in subjective and objective visual quality(postoperative-preoperative)at different postoperative time points were analyzed between the two groups.RESULTS:No significant differences in visual acuity or refractive state were observed between the two groups at 3 mo postoperatively. In both the group A and the group B, there was a difference in the changes of corneal total higher-order aberration centered on 8 mm cornea at 1 mo postoperatively(P<0.05), and there was a difference in the changes of total higher-order aberration and corneal spherical aberration centered on 8 mm cornea at 3 mo postoperatively(all P<0.05). At 3 mo after surgery, the most commonly reported symptoms in the group A were glare, starburst, hazy vision, and halo. In the group B, the most common symptoms were hazy vision, halo, starburst, and glare. Statistically significant differences were observed in the severity of glare and visual fluctuation between groups before surgery and at 3 mo postoperatively(all P<0.05). However, no significant differences were found in the severity of halo, starburst, blurred vision, double vision, or focusing difficulty at 3 mo postoperatively(all P>0.05).CONCLUSION:When the scotopic pupil diameter exceeds the optical zone, SMILE may increase postoperative corneal aberrations, as evidenced by an increase in high-order corneal aberrations within an 8-mm central corneal range, a higher incidence of postoperative glare, and more severe glare and visual fluctuation symptoms. Nevertheless, these symptoms are mild and remain within a safe range.

Nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） is an important intracellular transcription factor widely involved in the processes such as immune response， inflammatory response， cell proliferation， and apoptosis. The abnormal activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in various liver diseases including chronic hepatitis， liver fibrosis， liver cirrhosis， and hepatocellular carcinoma. Extensive studies have shown that inhibiting NF-κB activity may effectively reduce inflammation and fibrosis and improve metabolic disorders. Several natural compounds， such as matrine and salvianolic acid B， have shown the potential in suppressing NF-κB activity， thereby exerting anti-inflammatory， anti-fibrotic， and anti-tumor effects. This article systematically reviews the critical role of the NF-κB signaling pathway in liver diseases and its potential as a therapeutic target， in order to highlight its potential as a therapeutic target for liver diseases and provide new directions for the treatment of liver diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To provide the experience and demonstration for the transformation of acupuncture-moxibustion techniques standards from Chinese national standards to international standards. METHODS: Questionnaire research, literature research, semi-structured interviews and expert consultation were used. RESULTS: The safety of acupuncture-moxibustion techniques was evaluated through literature research, and based on the results of the questionnaire survey, expert interviews, and expert consultation, 11 main bodies and structure of the former Chinese national standard, Technical Benchmark of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: General Rules for Drafting, were adjusted and optimized in accordance with the requirements of international standard (including the language, normative references, purpose, scope, applicable environment, target population, work team, terms and definitions, general principles and basic requirements, structural elements and text structure, and compilation process); and the first international standard, World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societis (WFAS) Technical Benchmark of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: General Rules for Drafting was formulated to specify the general rules for drafting. CONCLUSION The 3 key questions, "international compatibility", "technical operability" and "safety" should be solved technically on the basis of explicit international requirements. It is the core technical issue during transforming the national standards of technical benchmark of acupuncture and moxibustion into international standards.
Moxibustion/methods* ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Humans ; Translational Research, Biomedical/standards* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; China ; Benchmarking/standards*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Wendan Decoction for phlegm syndrome in rats with metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=8) and 3 phlegm syndrome model groups (induced by high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt feeding and a single-dose intraperitoneal STZ injection; n=24) treated with daily gavage of saline, Wendan Decoction (3.6 g/kg), or metformin (0.1 g/kg) for 4 weeks. General conditions and glucose and lipid metabolism parameters of the rats were monitored, and serum LPS, liver histopathology, hepatic expressions of FXR, CYP7A1 and FGFR4 and ileal expressions of FXR and FGF15 were examined. Gut microbiota structure was analyzed using 16S rDNA sequencing, and serum bile acids were quantified with UHPLC-MS/MS. RESULTS: The rat models of phlegm syndrome exhibited severe hepatic steatosis and necrosis, increased body weight, abdominal circumference, Lee's index, FBG, FINS, HOMA-IR, TG, TC, LDL and LPS, and decreased HDL level. The abundance of Bacteroidetes, Megamonas, and Bacteroides in gut microbiota increased while Firmicutes, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, isohyodeoxycholic acid, and glycohyodeoxycholic acid decreased significantly; hepatic FXR and FGFR4 expressions and ileal FXR and FGF15 expressions decreased while hepatic CYP7A1 expression increased significantly in the rat models. Treatment with Wendan Decoction effectively alleviated hepatic pathology, reduced body weight and abdominal circumference, improved glucose and lipid metabolic profiles and gut microbiota structure, and reversed the changes in hepatic and ileal protein expressions. Correlation analysis revealed that Firmicutes and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group were positively correlated while Bacteroidetes, Megamonas and Bacteroides were negative correlated with the levels of isohyodeoxycholic acid and hyodeoxycholic acid. CONCLUSIONS Wendan Decoction can significantly improve metabolic profiles in rats with phlegm syndrome of MS possibly by regulating the intestinal flora-bile acid axis to modulate the intestinal flora structure and maintain bile acid homeostasis via the FXR signaling pathway.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Metabolic Syndrome/microbiology* ; Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism* ; Rats, Wistar ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Rats ; Male ; Fibroblast Growth Factors/metabolism* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase/metabolism* ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/metabolism*

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly malignant tumor with a very poor prognosis; therefore, more effective treatments are urgently needed for patients afflicted with the disease. In recent years, emerging molecular classifications based on key transcription factors of SCLC have provided more information on the tumor pathophysiology, metastasis, immune microenvironment, and acquired therapeutic resistance and reflected the intertumoral heterogeneity of the various SCLC phenotypes. Additionally, advances in genomics and single-cell sequencing analysis have further revealed the high intratumoral heterogeneity and plasticity of the disease. Herein, we review and summarize these recent lines of evidence and discuss the possible pathogenesis of SCLC.

In vivo confocal microscopy of the cornea is a non-invasive, rapid, and comprehensive technique for real-time, dynamic observation of all layers of the cornea. Confocal microscopy allows the examination of the morphology and cell density in the different layers of the cornea through direct visualization. With the increasing prevalence of diabetes, ocular complications have become common and have garnered more interest and in-depth research from clinical and scientific communities. This paper provides a comprehensive review of research progress made using in vivo confocal microscopy to observe various layers of cornea tissue in diabetic patients.

Objective To investigate the value of polar residual network(PResNet)model for assisting evaluation on rat myocardial infarction(MI)segment in myocardial contrast echocardiography(MCE).Methods Twenty-five male SD rats were randomly divided into MI group(n=15)and sham operation group(n=10).MI models were established in MI group through ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery using atraumatic suture,while no intervention was given to those in sham operation group after thoracotomy.MCE images of both basal and papillary muscle levels on the short axis section of left ventricles were acquired after 1 week,which were assessed independently by 2 junior and 2 senior ultrasound physicians.The evaluating efficacy of MI segment,the mean interpretation time and the consistency were compared whether under the assistance of PResNet model or not.Results No significant difference of efficacy of evaluation on MI segment was found for senior physicians with or without assistance of PResNet model(both P＞0.05).Under the assistance of PResNet model,the efficacy of junior physicians for diagnosing MI segment was significantly improved compared with that without the assistance of PResNet model(both P＜0.01),and was comparable to that of senior physicians.Under the assistance of PResNet model,the mean interpretation time of each physician was significantly shorter than that without assistance(all P＜0.001),and the consistency between junior physicians and among junior and senior physicians were both moderate(Kappa=0.692,0.542),which became better under the assistance(Kappa=0.763,0.749).Conclusion PResNet could improve the efficacy of junior physicians for evaluation on rat MI segment in MCE images,shorten interpretation time with different aptitudes,also improve the consistency to some extent.

Objective:To investigate the effects and mechanism of exosome (EXO)-loaded kringle V11 (KV11) delivery on corneal neovascularization (CNV).Methods:KV11 was bound to the surface of endothelial cell-derived exosomes by using CP05, an EXO-targeting anchoring peptide, to produce EXO-KV11.The binding efficiency and optimal concentration ratio were determined using the Apogee flow system.A total of 100 8-week-old healthy male SPF grade SD rats were selected, 10 of which were randomly selected as a normal control group without any treatment.The CNV model was established by alkali burn in the other 90 rats, which were randomly divided into three groups, EXO-KV11 group, KV11 group, and normal saline group by the random number table method, with 30 rats in each group.Each group was injected subconjunctivally with 100 μl of EXO-KV11 (25 μg), KV11 (25 μg), or normal saline every other day from the first day after the alkali burn, respectively.The CNV of rats was observed on days 1, 4, 7, and 14 after alkali burn.The CNV area was calculated by ventricular perfusion with fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-dextran) and corneal angiography.The amount of CNV lumen was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.The distribution of CD31 in rat corneas was determined by immunohistochemical method.The expression levels of voltage-dependent anion channel 1(VDAC1), endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy and apoptosis-associated proteins were detected by Western blot.This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Peking University People's Hospital (No.20210019). All animal procedures complied with the regulations of the Vision and Ophthalmology Association and the Animal Protection and Use Committee of Peking University.Results:The optimal concentration ratio of KV11 to EXO was 4∶1 and the binding affinity reached up to 87.5% by Apogee flow cytometers.On days 7 and 14 after alkali burn, there were significant differences in CNV area among the four groups ( F=4.613, 15.590; both at P<0.05). On day 7 after alkali burn, the CNV area was smaller in EXO-KV11 group than in KV11 and normal saline groups, with statistically significant differences (both at P<0.05). On day 14 after alkali burn, the CNV area was smaller in EXO-KV11 and KV11 groups than in normal saline group, and smaller in EXO-KV11 group than in KV11 group, showing statistically significant differences (all at P<0.05). The results of quantitative analysis of corneal fluorescence mounts showed that the relative CNV fluorescence area of the normal saline group, KV11 group and EXO-KV11 group were (8.3±1.7)%, (5.2±1.6)%and (3.4±0.7)%, respectively, showing a statistically significant overall comparison difference ( F=11.735, P<0.01). The relative CNV fluorescence area was larger in KV11 and normal saline groups than in EXO-KV11 group, and larger in normal saline group than in KV11 group, showing statistically significant differences (all at P<0.05). On day 14 after alkali burn, massive neovascular lumens were observed in the matrix of the normal saline group.The number of neovascular lumens in KV11 group was smaller than that in normal saline group.The corneal structure appeared normal in EXO-KV11 group, and neovascular lumens were rare.Numerous CD31-positive cells were observed in the corneal stroma of the normal saline group, which formed into lumen structures.The number of lumens surrounded by CD31-positive cells in the corneal stroma was smaller in KV11 group than in normal saline group, and smaller in EXO-KV11 group than in KV11 group.There were significant differences in the relative expression levels of VDAC1, protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), p62, cleaved caspase 3 among the four groups ( F=35.960, 8.947, 17.791, 101.168; all at P<0.01). The relative expression levels of VDAC1, PERK, p62, cleaved caspase 3 were higher in EXO-KV11 group than in KV11 and normal saline groups, showing statistically significant differences (all at P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the relative expression of microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3B)Ⅱ/LC3BⅠ protein among all four groups ( F=0.445, P=0.727). Conclusions:EXO-KV11 can inhibit CNV more remarkably than KV11.EXO-KV11 inhibits CNV by promoting the expression of VDAC1 and PERK and suppressing the autophagic flux.