Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, is characterized by high mortality and recurrence rates. Common treatments include hepatectomy, liver transplantation, ablation therapy, interventional therapy, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). While exhibiting specific advantages, these approaches are associated with varying degrees of adverse effects. To alleviate patients' suffering and burdens, it is crucial to explore additional treatments and elucidate the pathogenesis of HCC, laying a foundation for the development of new TCM-based drugs. With emerging research on gut microbiota, it has been revealed that microbiota plays a vital role in the development of HCC by influencing intestinal barrier function, microbial metabolites, and immune regulation. TCM, with its multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics, has been increasingly recognized as a vital therapeutic treatment for HCC, particularly in patients at intermediate or advanced stages, by prolonging survival and improving quality of life. Recent global studies demonstrate that TCM exerts anti-HCC effects by modulating gut microbiota, restoring intestinal barrier function, regulating microbial composition and its metabolites, suppressing inflammation, and enhancing immune responses, thereby inhibiting the malignant phenotype of HCC. This review aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which gut microbiota contributes to the development and progression of HCC and highlight the regulatory effects of TCM, addressing the current gap in systematic understanding of the "TCM-gut microbiota-HCC" axis. The findings provide theoretical support for integrating TCM with western medicine in HCC treatment and promote the transition from basic research to precision clinical therapy through microbiota-targeted drug development and TCM-based interventions.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/microbiology* ; Liver Neoplasms/microbiology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Acute liver injury (ALI) is one of the common severe diseases in clinic, which is characterized by redox imbalance and inflammatory storm. Untimely treatment can easily lead to liver failure and even death. Rosmarinic acid (RA) has been proved to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, but it is not clear how to protect ALI through antioxidation and inhibition of inflammation. Therefore, this study explored the therapeutic effect and molecular mechanism of RA on ALI through in vitro and in vivo experiments. In the mouse ALI model, the effects of RA on liver function and inflammatory indexes were studied, the pathological changes of liver were observed by HE, the effect of RA on reactive oxygen species in liver was detected by fluorescence method, and the level of F4/80 in liver tissue was detected by immunohistochemical method. The levels of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (CASPASE-1) in liver tissue were measured by Western blot. All animal welfare and experimental procedures follow the rules of the Animal Ethics Committee of Southwest Minzu University. In vitro, human hepatoma cell line HepG2 was used to establish the model of oxidative damage induced by H₂O₂. The cell viability was detected by CCK-8 method. The level of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the supernatant was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the activity of lactatede hydrogenase (LDH) was detected by LDH kit, and the level of ROS was detected by fluorescence probe DCFH-DA labeling. The mRNA expression of Txnip, Nlrp3, Caspase 1, Il1β was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR), and the protein levels of nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (NRF2), TXNIP, NLRP3 and CASPASE-1 were measured by Western blot. The results showed that compared with the model group, the degree of liver swelling, tissue injury, liver function index in RA group were significantly lower than those in model group. And RA significantly attenuated the increases of ROS in liver tissue. The expression levels of TXNIP, NLRP3 and CASPASE-1 in liver tissue were significantly lower than those in model group. Additionally, RA inhibited the expressions of F4/80 and IL-1β. In vitro experiment, compared with model group, RA effectively inhibited the secretion of IL-1β and LDH. The level of ROS also decreased significantly. RA inhibited the mRNA expressions of Txnip, Caspase 1, Il1β. Furthermore, RA significantly increased the expression level of NRF2 protein in nucleus, and decreased the expression level of TXNIP and NLRP3 protein. Specifically, with the addition of ML385, the effect of RA on NRF2, TXNIP, NLRP3, CASPASE-1 protein expression was reversed. Collectively, these findings suggested that RA may inhibit the production of ROS by promoting NRF2 nuclear transfer, and then reduce the activation of NLRP3 inflammatory bodies by TXNIP, reduce cell death and inflammatory response to prevent the liver injury.

This study explored the antibiotic resistance and resistance gene carriage of 140 Salmonella strains isolated from environmental sewage in Guangzhou city between March 1,2022,and November 30,2022.The micro broth dilution method was used to select 17 antibiotics for susceptibility testing.According to whole genome sequencing results,the CARD resistance database was used to obtain corresponding resistance genes.High antimicrobial resistance rates above 80％were observed a-gainst ampicillin,tetracycline,streptomycin,chloramphenicol,and cotrimoxazole.The intermediation rate of polymyxin E and ciprofloxacin exceeded 60％.The multiple drug resistance status was severe,and the rate of multiple drug resistance was as high as 92.86％.The strains carried multiple types of resistance genes,particularly for aminoglycosides,with a carriage rate as high as 92.68％.The resistance of Salmonella in environmental wastewater in Guangzhou to one or more drugs was severe,and the overall multi-drug resistance rate gradually increased over time.The resistance spectrum was diverse,and the resistance mechanism,mediated by mobile genetic elements such as re-sistance genes,was found to be the main cause of resistance to one or more drugs.

Further evidence is needed to explore the impact of high-altitude environments on the neurologic function of neonates.Non-invasive techniques such as cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy and amplitude-integrated electroencephalography can provide data on cerebral oxygenation and brain electrical activity.This study will conduct multiple cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy and amplitude-integrated electroencephalography monitoring sessions at various time points within the first 3 days postpartum for healthy full-term neonates at different altitudes.The obtained data on cerebral oxygenation and brain electrical activity will be compared between different altitudes,and corresponding reference ranges will be established.The study involves 6 participating centers in the Chinese High Altitude Neonatal Medicine Alliance,with altitude gradients divided into 4 categories:800 m,1 900 m,2 400 m,and 3 500 m,with an anticipated sample size of 170 neonates per altitude gradient.This multicenter prospective cohort study aims to provide evidence supporting the impact of high-altitude environments on early brain function and metabolism in neonates.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(4):403-409]

Based on the concept of quality by design(QbD), the Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology combined with standard relation(SR) and analytic hierarchy process(AHP)-entropy weight method(EWM) was applied to optimize the extraction process of the classic prescription Yihuang Decoction. The content of geniposidic acid, phellodendrine hydrochloride, and berberine hydrochloride in Yihuang Decoction, the extract yield, and fingerprint similarity were used as the critical quality attributes(CQAs) of the extraction process. The extraction time, water addition, and extraction times were used as the critical process parameters(CPPs). After determining the levels of each factor and level through single-factor experiments, response surface experiments were designed according to the Box-Behnken principle, and the experimental results were analyzed. The SR between each sample and the reference sample under various evaluation indicators of different extraction parameters was calculated. The weights of the five evaluation indicators were determined using AHP-EWM, followed by comprehensive evaluation. A function model between CPPs and CQAs characterized by comprehensive scores was established to predict the optimal extraction process parameters. In the final comprehensive weight coefficients, the yield rate accounted for 43.1%, and the content of berberine hydrochloride, phellodendrine hydrochloride, and geniposidic acid accounted for 35.1%, 6.3%, and 15.5%, respectively. After comprehensive score analysis with SR, the established second-order polynomial model was statistically significant(P<0.01, and the lack of fit was not significant). The predicted optimal extraction conditions for Yihuang Decoction were determined as follows: 8-fold volume of water, extraction time of 1.5 h, and extraction once. The mean comprehensive score of the validation experiment was 85.77, with an RSD of 0.99%, and it met the quality control stan-dards for the reference sample of Yihuang Decoction. The results indicate that the optimized extraction process for Yihuang Decoction is stable and reliable, and the water extract is close in quality attributes to the reference sample. This can serve as a foundation for the research and development of granules in the future. Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology combined with SR and AHP-EWM can provide references for the modern extraction process research of other classic prescriptions.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Analytic Hierarchy Process ; Berberine ; Entropy ; Water

With three representative types of gynecological diseases (dysmenorrhea, pelvic inflammation, polycystic ovary syndrome) as examples, the application methods of meridian and acupoint diagnosis for gynecological diseases treated with acupuncture and moxibustion are discussed. During clinical diagnosis and treatment, it is recommended to examine the patient's leg segment along the three yin meridians of foot, aiming to explore the positive reactions of the meridians and acupoints (color, shape, skin temperature, sensory abnormalities, etc.). Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment at this positive reaction place can improve the clinical efficacy. Meridian and acupoint diagnosis could provide basis for meridian syndrome differentiation, thus guiding the selection of acupoint prescriptions; it is also helpful to clarify the deficiency, excess, cold and heat of the disease nature, thus guiding the selection of acupuncture and moxibustion methods. In addition, it is an auxiliary method to estimate the prognosis and outcome of the disease.
Female ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Meridians ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Foot ; Genital Diseases, Female/therapy*

Objective: To analyze the clinical epidemiological characteristics including composition of pathogens , clinical characteristics, and disease prognosis acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in Chinese children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and laboratory data of 1 610 children <15 years of age with ABM in 33 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients were divided into different groups according to age,<28 days group, 28 days to <3 months group, 3 months to <1 year group, 1-<5 years of age group, 5-<15 years of age group; etiology confirmed group and clinically diagnosed group according to etiology diagnosis. Non-numeric variables were analyzed with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, while non-normal distrituction numeric variables were compared with nonparametric test. Results: Among 1 610 children with ABM, 955 were male and 650 were female (5 cases were not provided with gender information), and the age of onset was 1.5 (0.5, 5.5) months. There were 588 cases age from <28 days, 462 cases age from 28 days to <3 months, 302 cases age from 3 months to <1 year of age group, 156 cases in the 1-<5 years of age and 101 cases in the 5-<15 years of age. The detection rates were 38.8% (95/245) and 31.5% (70/222) of Escherichia coli and 27.8% (68/245) and 35.1% (78/222) of Streptococcus agalactiae in infants younger than 28 days of age and 28 days to 3 months of age; the detection rates of Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae were 34.3% (61/178), 14.0% (25/178) and 13.5% (24/178) in the 3 months of age to <1 year of age group; the dominant pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and the detection rate were 67.9% (74/109) and 44.4% (16/36) in the 1-<5 years of age and 5-<15 years of age . There were 9.7% (19/195) strains of Escherichia coli producing ultra-broad-spectrum β-lactamases. The positive rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and blood culture were 32.2% (515/1 598) and 25.0% (400/1 598), while 38.2% (126/330)and 25.3% (21/83) in CSF metagenomics next generation sequencing and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen detection. There were 4.3% (32/790) cases of which CSF white blood cell counts were normal in etiology confirmed group. Among 1 610 children with ABM, main intracranial imaging complications were subdural effusion and (or) empyema in 349 cases (21.7%), hydrocephalus in 233 cases (14.5%), brain abscess in 178 cases (11.1%), and other cerebrovascular diseases, including encephalomalacia, cerebral infarction, and encephalatrophy, in 174 cases (10.8%). Among the 166 cases (10.3%) with unfavorable outcome, 32 cases (2.0%) died among whom 24 cases died before 1 year of age, and 37 cases (2.3%) had recurrence among whom 25 cases had recurrence within 3 weeks. The incidences of subdural effusion and (or) empyema, brain abscess and ependymitis in the etiology confirmed group were significantly higher than those in the clinically diagnosed group (26.2% (207/790) vs. 17.3% (142/820), 13.0% (103/790) vs. 9.1% (75/820), 4.6% (36/790) vs. 2.7% (22/820), χ²=18.71, 6.20, 4.07, all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the unfavorable outcomes, mortility, and recurrence between these 2 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The onset age of ABM in children is usually within 1 year of age, especially <3 months. The common pathogens in infants <3 months of age are Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae, and the dominant pathogen in infant ≥3 months is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Subdural effusion and (or) empyema and hydrocephalus are common complications. ABM should not be excluded even if CSF white blood cell counts is within normal range. Standardized bacteriological examination should be paid more attention to increase the pathogenic detection rate. Non-culture CSF detection methods may facilitate the pathogenic diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Brain Abscess ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Subdural Effusion ; beta-Lactamases

This study was mainly based on the compatibility of Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Chuanxiong Rhizoma to prepare submicron emulsion and evaluated its physical and pharmaceutical properties. Firstly, pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were drawn by dripping method which took Chuanxiong oil as the oil phase and the area of microemulsion region as the index. On this basis, suitable emulsifier and co-emulsifier were screened for the preparation of Chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion. Then, the formula realizing the largest oil loading was selected. Finally, puerarin substituted part of emulsifier and co-emulsifier to lower their content, so as to form puerarin-Chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion featuring the combination of medicine and adjuvant. Its particle size, zeta potential, centrifugal stability and storage stability were determined, and the in vitro drug release behavior was investigated by dialysis bag method, based on which the quality of the as-prepared submicron emulsion was evaluated comprehensively. The proposed method was proved feasible for the preparation of Chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion, which adopted polyoxyethylene castor oil(EL-40) as the emulsifier and was free from co-emulsifier. The formula of the maximum oil loading was found as Chuanxiong oil∶EL-40∶water 3∶7∶90. Further, puera-rin successfully replaced up to 10% of the emulsifier in submicron emulsion. Eventually, the optimal drug-loading formula was determined as puerarin∶Chuanxiong oil∶EL-40∶water 7∶30∶63∶900. The quality evaluation results of the as-prepared submicron emulsion demonstrated that the average emulsion droplet size was 333.9 nm, the PDI 0.26, and the zeta potential-10.12 mV. The submicron emulsion had a good centrifugal stability and did not present any instable phenomena such as delamination and precipitation during its standing still for 50 days. The evaluation of in vitro drug release behavior indicated that the submicron emulsion was capable of releasing the drug completely. The puerarin-chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion prepared in this study possessed a stable quality and to some extent increased the solubility of puerarin along with a sustained-release effect. This study provided ideas for the clinical application of puerarin.
Emulsions ; Isoflavones ; Particle Size ; Solubility

Objective:High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprints of liposoluble and water-soluble fractions of Xiaojinwan were established and the similarity of fingerprints was evaluated, so as to explore the quality consistency of Xiaojinwan. Method:Chromatographic separation was carried out on Welch Ultimate AQ-C₁₈ column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) with the mobile phase of 0.1% phosphoric acid solution (A)-acetonitrile (B) for gradient elution (liposoluble fraction of 0-5 min, 40%B; 5-10 min, 40%-50%B; 10-20 min, 50%-60%B; 20-30 min, 60%-65%B; 30-40 min, 65%-70%B; 40-50 min, 70%-80%B; 50-60 min, 80%-90%B; 60-65 min, 90%-95%B; 65-75 min, 95%-100%B; 75-80 min, 100%B; water-soluble fraction of 0-20 min, 2%-5%B; 20-30 min, 5%-10%B; 30-37 min, 10%-20%B; 37-45 min, 20%-30%B; 45-50 min, 30%-40%B; 50-58 min, 40%B), the flow rate was 1 mL·min^-1, the column temperature was 30 ℃. The detection wavelengths of the liposoluble and water-soluble fractions were 202, 250 nm, and their injection volumes were 10, 20 μL, respectively. A total of 30 batches of Xiaojinwan from five manufacturers were detected by HPLC, the chromatographic peaks of each part were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and identified. Result:A total of 55 chromatographic peaks were detected in the fingerprints, and the similarity of fingerprint of 30 batches of Xiaojinwan was quite different. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of fingerprint similarity of liposoluble and water-soluble fractions of Xiaojinwan were 21.5% and 32.8%, respectively. There were significant differences in the quality of samples from different manufacturers and the same manufacturer, and the chemical consistency evaluation results were dominated by liposoluble fraction, and the main reason for the chemical difference of this preparation was the composition of Liquidambaris Resina. Conclusion:The quality consistency of Xiaojinwan is poor. The establishment of two-fraction fingerprint provides a new idea for the overall quality evaluation and control of Xiaojinwan, and can provide a reference for the quality consistency evaluation of traditional pills.