Background Co-exposure to noise and microwave radiation occurs frequently. The central nervous system has been identified as a sensitive target organ for both noise and microwave exposure individually, and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The specific biological effects resulting from co-exposure to these two factors have yet to be fully elucidated. Objective To clarify the effects of co-exposure to noise and microwave on neurobehavior and hippocampal tissue structure, and to explore the underlying mechanism through the assessment of serum cytokines. Methods C57BL/6N mice were selected and randomly assigned to a blank control group, a noise group, a microwave group, and a combined noise & microwave exposure group. To establish the exposure models, the noise group was subjected to broadband noise at 100 dB for 2 h, while the microwave group received radiation at a central frequency of 9.375 GHz with an average power density of 12 mW·cm⁻² and a specific absorption rate of 2.58 W·kg⁻¹ for 15 min. Open field and tail suspension tests assessed anxiety-like emotional behaviour; novel object recognition and Y-maze tests evaluated cognitive function. Histological changes in hippocampal tissue were examined using haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and Nissl staining under light microscopy. Serum cytokine levels were measured using radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results After 3 d of exposure, the noise, microwave, and combined exposure groups showed significant reductions in exploration frequency, duration, and distance within the central zone of the open field test compared to the control group (P < 0.01); the combined exposure group exhibited increased ratios of peripheral-to-central exploration time and distance (P < 0.05). After 7 d of exposure, compared with the control group, the noise group maintained a decrease in central zone exploration time (P < 0.01), while the combined exposure group showed persistent decline across all central zone metrics (P < 0.05) and elevated peripheral-to-central ratios (P < 0.05); compared to the microwave group, the combined exposure group showed significant less time in the central zone (P < 0.05) and higher peripheral-to-central ratios (P < 0.05). Regarding behaviour and cognition, compared with the control group, the combined exposure group showed increased immobility time in the tail suspension test after 3 d of exposure (P < 0.01). At this interval, all exposure groups demonstrated reduced frequency and duration of novel object recognition (P < 0.05), with the combined exposure group showing a marked decrease in novel arm exploration time (P < 0.01). After 7 d of exposure, compared with the control group, the noise group showed reduced novel object recognition frequency (P < 0.05), and both the noise and microwave groups exhibited decreased novel arm exploration time (P < 0.05). Pathological alterations including an increased number of hyperchromatic nuclei and depleted Nissl bodies were observed in the CA3 and DG regions across all exposure groups with the most severe lesions observed in the combined exposure group. Serum levels of central nervous system-specific protein β (S-100β), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and corticosterone (CORT) were significantly elevated in all exposure groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) levels increased in the combined exposure group (P < 0.05), while CXC chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) levels rose in both the noise and combined groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Specifically, S-100β and CXCL10 levels in the combined exposure group were higher than those in the microwave group (P < 0.05); moreover, levels of S-100β, GFAP, CORT, AQP4, and CXCL10 in the combined exposure group were significantly higher than those in the noise group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Combined exposure to noise and microwave radiation induces pathological changes in the hippocampus of mice, increases levels of serum stress hormones and neuro-specific biomarkers. These impairments are more severe than those observed following single-factor exposure. The underlaying mechanism may be related to systemic stress response, neuronal damage, astrocyte activation, and changes in blood-brain barrier permeability, leading to emotional behavioral abnormalities and cognitive decline.

As the core hub of energy metabolism in eukaryotes, mitochondria participate in a variety of cellular activities, including metabolic regulation of the cell matrix, apoptosis, and the activation of signal transduction pathways. Their functional status is closely linked to the initiation and progression of various diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases are primarily characterized by the progressive loss and dysfunction of neurons, and mitochondrial dysfunction is considered one of the key triggers in this process. The specific mechanisms by which mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to neurodegenerative diseases have attracted widespread attention. When misfolded or unfolded proteins are detected, a process known as the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR) is activated to promote proper protein folding or degradation, thereby restoring mitochondrial function. As a mitochondrial stress defense mechanism, mtUPR primarily regulates the expression of nuclear-encoded genes, such as chaperones and proteases, to alleviate mitochondrial stress. Studies have shown that, in addition to misfolded and unfolded proteins, other mitochondrial stresses—such as mitochondrial DNA abnormalities and reactive oxygen species (ROS)—can also induce mtUPR. The biological functions of mtUPR extend beyond mitochondria and are crucial for the health of the entire cell and even the whole organism. The mtUPR process involves communication between mitochondria and the nucleus, a phenomenon that is highly conserved and has been observed across different species. Abnormal activation or inhibition of mtUPR is closely associated with the development of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. An in-depth exploration of the dynamic regulatory role and molecular mechanisms of mtUPR is therefore of great significance for understanding the pathogenesis of these disorders. In addition to neuron loss, neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the brain, including insoluble fibrils of amyloid beta, phosphorylated tau, or α-synuclein. While the molecular pathways of mtUPR are largely conserved across different diseases, the possibility of differential regulatory factors cannot be excluded. Although mtUPR activation is predominantly recognized for its cytoprotective role, it may exert deleterious effects when overstimulated or sustained. Chronic mtUPR activity has been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and increased neuronal vulnerability, contributing to the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes the fundamental concepts, major inducers, and signaling pathways of the mtUPR. We focus on the intrinsic relationship and regulatory patterns between mtUPR and neurodegenerative diseases, providing insights that may aid the development of targeted therapies. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future directions of mtUPR research in this field, aiming to pave the way for new therapeutic breakthroughs. A major limitation arises from the experimental models currently used; most findings rely on model organisms or cultured cells, which cannot fully replicate the complexity of human neurons. Future research should therefore focus on three main directions: (1) defining the molecular switches that determine whether mtUPR acts in a protective or detrimental manner; (2) elucidating differences in mtUPR molecular pathways across various models of neurodegenerative diseases; and (3) establishing robust biomarkers for mtUPR activity.

ObjectiveThe malaria parasites remodel the host erythrocyte structure by exporting parasite proteins that interact with the membrane skeleton proteins of red blood cells (RBCs), facilitating their intracellular survival and pathogenicity. Skeleton-binding protein 1 (SBP1) is a conserved exported protein across Plasmodium species. In Plasmodium falciparum, SBP1 has been reported to interact with erythrocyte membrane skeleton proteins 4.1R and spectrin, while its contribution to erythrocyte remodeling and parasite virulence in Plasmodium berghei (Pb) remains unclear. This study aims to determine whether PbSBP1 associates with the host cytoskeletal protein 4.1R and to investigate its role in the remodeling of host RBCs and the pathogenicity of Plasmodium berghei. MethodsIn Plasmodium berghei, the relationship between PbSBP1 and the erythrocyte cytoskeletal protein 4.1R was examined using co-immunoprecipitation. A Pbsbp1 gene knockout mutant of Plasmodium berghei (Pbsbp1∆) was generated based on the principle of double crossover homologous recombination. The deformability of erythrocytes infected with Pbsbp1∆ parasites was assessed using microfluidic methods. Microchannels with an array of cylindrical pillars were used to detect modifications in infected RBC deformability. The infected RBCs were squashed between the rows and recovered between the columns and the transit velocity (μm/s) of infected RBCs travelling through the microchannel was recorded. The component of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton junctional complex, tropomodulin (TMOD), was fluorescently labeled, and the cytoskeletal network of infected erythrocytes was imaged using super-resolution stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) to analyze ultrastructural changes in the cytoskeleton of wild-type (WT) and Pbsbp1∆-infected erythrocytes. Actin-based junctional complexes were displayed as individual clusters by the labeled TMOD in the STORM images, and the cluster densities and distances between adjacent clusters of infected RBCs were calculated. Additionally, rodent malaria models (BALB/c mice) and experimental cerebral malaria models (C57BL/6 mice) were employed to monitor the growth of Pbsbp1∆ and WT parasites during the intraerythrocytic stage and their capacity to induce cerebral malaria in mice. ResultsPbSBP1 may participate in the remodeling of infected erythrocytes through direct or indirect interaction with the erythrocyte cytoskeletal protein 4.1R. Microfluidic assays revealed that the deformability of erythrocytes infected with Pbsbp1∆ parasites was significantly enhanced compared to those infected with WT parasites. STORM imaging further demonstrated that the ultrastructure of the erythrocyte cytoskeleton in Pbsbp1∆-infected cells was altered relative to that in WT-infected erythrocytes. The distances between nearest neighbors of clusters had a tendency to increase while the cluster densities were decreased in Pbsbp1∆-infected RBCs compared to WT-infected RBCs. Subsequent phenotypic analysis indicated that the growth rate of Pbsbp1∆ parasites during the intraerythrocytic stage was significantly slower than that of WT parasites, and their ability to induce cerebral malaria in mice was also attenuated. These findings suggest that PbSBP1 is involved in the remodeling of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton, likely through its direct or indirect interaction with protein 4.1R, thereby regulating the deformability of infected erythrocytes and influencing the pathogenicity of the blood-stage parasites. ConclusionThis study establishes a role for PbSBP1 in host erythrocyte remodeling and parasite virulence, providing new research strategies for the prevention and treatment of malaria.

This paper summarizes professor WANG Qingguo's experience in treatment of headache based on the "achieving harmony by unblocking and balancing" concept. It is considered that although the pathogenesis of headache is generally attributed to "pain arises from obstruction" and "pain arises from malnourishment"， clinical presentations often involve a complex mixture of deficiency and excess， as well as cold and heat patterns. Professor WANG proposes the diagnostic and therapeutic theory of "achieving harmony by unblocking and balancing"， advocating for equal emphasis on "freeing the flow of qi and blood" and "regulating the balance of yin and yang". He has summarized eight treatment methods for common headache patterns. For wind-cold attacking the collaterals， treatment should focus on dispersing and unblocking through modified Gegen Decoction （葛根汤）. For wind-dampness binding， it is recommended to unblock and drain， using modified Qingshang Juantong Decoction （清上蠲痛汤）. For damp-heat congestion， unblocking and clearing is the method， using modified Toufeng Shen Formula （头风神方）. For liver-gallbladder qi constraint， unblocking and soothing is the treatment principle， and modified Sanpian Decoction （散偏汤） is suggested. For insufficiency of center qi， even supplementation method is recommended， and modified Yiqi Congming Decoction （益气聪明汤） can be used. For liver yang hyperactivity， unblocking and subduing are combined， using modified Xunlong Decoction （驯龙汤）. For deficiency-cold in the liver and stomach， warming， harmonizing， unblocking， and descending are applied， using modified Wuzhuyu Decoction （吴茱萸汤）. For blood deficiency with cold congelation， unblocking and nourishing are undertaken together， using modified Danggui Sini Decoction （当归四逆汤）. The ultimate goal is to restore the dynamic balance of yin， yang， qi， and blood in the body， thereby allevia-ting pain by restoring clarity and function to the head orifices.

This paper summarizes professor WANG Qingguo's experience in treatment of headache based on the "achieving harmony by unblocking and balancing" concept. It is considered that although the pathogenesis of headache is generally attributed to "pain arises from obstruction" and "pain arises from malnourishment"， clinical presentations often involve a complex mixture of deficiency and excess， as well as cold and heat patterns. Professor WANG proposes the diagnostic and therapeutic theory of "achieving harmony by unblocking and balancing"， advocating for equal emphasis on "freeing the flow of qi and blood" and "regulating the balance of yin and yang". He has summarized eight treatment methods for common headache patterns. For wind-cold attacking the collaterals， treatment should focus on dispersing and unblocking through modified Gegen Decoction （葛根汤）. For wind-dampness binding， it is recommended to unblock and drain， using modified Qingshang Juantong Decoction （清上蠲痛汤）. For damp-heat congestion， unblocking and clearing is the method， using modified Toufeng Shen Formula （头风神方）. For liver-gallbladder qi constraint， unblocking and soothing is the treatment principle， and modified Sanpian Decoction （散偏汤） is suggested. For insufficiency of center qi， even supplementation method is recommended， and modified Yiqi Congming Decoction （益气聪明汤） can be used. For liver yang hyperactivity， unblocking and subduing are combined， using modified Xunlong Decoction （驯龙汤）. For deficiency-cold in the liver and stomach， warming， harmonizing， unblocking， and descending are applied， using modified Wuzhuyu Decoction （吴茱萸汤）. For blood deficiency with cold congelation， unblocking and nourishing are undertaken together， using modified Danggui Sini Decoction （当归四逆汤）. The ultimate goal is to restore the dynamic balance of yin， yang， qi， and blood in the body， thereby allevia-ting pain by restoring clarity and function to the head orifices.

Objective: To explore a simple, effective, and safe method for excluding false positives and identifying infections by comprehensively evaluating blood donors with reactive HIV screening results, thereby providing a basis for developing management strategies for such donors. Methods: HIV testing data of blood donors from our laboratory from January 2022 to December 2024 were collected. The results of ELISA and nucleic acid testing (NAT) were combined with confirmatory results from the CDC and analyzed. Results: A total of 605 929 samples were tested for HIV over the three-year period, with 682 reactive samples (reactive rate: 11.25 per 10 000). All were sent to the CDC for Western blot (WB) confirmation, resulting in 53 confirmed positives ((confirmed positive rate: 7.77%). Among these, 619 samples showed isolated HIV Ag&Ab reactivity with non-reactive NAT (HIV Ag&Ab+-&HIV RNA or NAT NR), with a confirmed infection rate of 0%; 9 samples showed dual HIV Ag&Ab reactivity with non-reactive NAT (HIV Ag&Ab++&HIV RNA NR or NAT NR), also with 0% confirmed infection; 52 samples showed dual HIV Ag&Ab reactivity and reactive NAT (HIV Ag&Ab++&HIV RNA R or NAT R), all confirmed as positive (100% infection rate); and 2 HIV Ag&Ab dual-reactive samples without NAT detection were also confirmed infected (100%). For all four HIV Ag&Ab assays, the S/CO values in the true positive group with dual reactivity were significantly higher than those in the false-positive groups (P<0.05). The S/CO distributions for both single-reactive false positives and dual-reactive false positives were narrow, with the upper box (Q3, 75th percentile) below optimal cutoff values in all cases (The optimal cutoff values for the four reagents were 5.00, 11.67, 8.50, and 20.90, respectively). Conclusion: Blood donors with positive NAT results in HIV blood screening are permanently deferred. Donors with dual positive HIV Ag&Ab but negative NAT results are classified and managed based on the S/CO values of HIV Ag&Ab and the optimal screening thresholds. Donors with single positive HIV Ag&Ab but negative NAT results are placed under evaluation status and retain their eligibility to donate blood. Optimizing the management measures for blood donors and establishing a scientific stratified management and assessment mechanism can effectively maintain the stability of the blood donor team.

ObjectiveTo screen suitable packaging and storage conditions for small packaged Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces， laying the foundation for developing standardized storage， maintenance techniques and determining shelf life. MethodsUsing the accelerated stability test method， the small packaged decoction pieces of Alismatis Rhizoma were placed in polyethylene plastic bags， aluminum foil polyethylene composite bags， and cowhide coated paper bags under temperature of （40±2） ℃ and relative humidity of （75±5）% conditions， the quality testing was conducted at the end of the 0^th， 1^st， 2^nd， 3^rd， and 6^th month， respectively. Using long-term stability test method， an orthogonal experiment was designed to investigate storage conditions， packaging materials， and packaging methods. At the end of the 0^th， 1^st， 3^rd， 6^th， 9^th， 12^th， 18^th， and 24^th month， the quality of small packaged Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces was tested under different packaging and storage conditions（including 2 packaging methods：vacuum packaging and sealed packaging， 3 storage conditions：room temperature， cool， and modified atmosphere， 3 packaging materials：cowhide coated paper bag， aluminum foil polyethylene composite bag， and polyethylene plastic bag）. Then， the G1-entropy weight method combined with orthogonal experiment was used to analyze the quality changes of the decoction pieces under different packaging and storage conditions to identify optimal packaging and storage conditions. The quality testing indicators for Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces were expanded beyond those specified in the 2020 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. In addition to the existing indicators（characteristics， moisture content， extractives， and the total content of 23-acetyl alisol B and 23-acetyl alisol C）， new indicators including color value， water activity， total triterpenoid content， and alisol B content have been added. ResultsThe accelerated stability test results indicated that the quality of small packaged Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces was more stable when packaged in aluminum foil-polyethylene composite materials compared to cowhide-coated paper bags and polyethylene plastic bags. Analysis of the long-term stability test results using the G1-entropy weight method combined with orthogonal experiment revealed that storage conditions had the greatest impact on both raw and salt-processed products， followed by packaging materials， while the packaging method had the least influence. For both types of small packaged Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces， modified atmosphere storage demonstrated superior efficacy compared to cool storage or room temperature storage. Storage in aluminum foil-polyethylene composite bags was superior to polyethylene plastic bags or cowhide-coated paper bags. However， the stability of sealed raw products was better than vacuum-packed ones， whereas vacuum-packed salt-processed products exhibited greater stability than their sealed counterparts. ConclusionBased on the results of the quality changes of small packaged Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces under different storage conditions， it is recommended that the suitable storage packaging conditions for small packaged raw products are sealed packaging with aluminum foil polyethylene composite bags and controlled atmosphere storage， and the suitable storage and packaging conditions for small packaged salt-processed products are vacuum packaging with aluminum foil polyethylene composite bags and controlled atmosphere storage.

ObjectiveTo address the challenges of unstructured classical Chinese expressions， nested entity relationships， and limited annotated data in famous traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） case records， this study proposes a joint relation extraction framework that integrates data augmentation and entity mapping， aiming to support the construction of TCM diagnostic knowledge graphs and clinical pattern mining. MethodsWe developed an annotation structure for entities and their relationships in TCM case texts and applied a data augmentation strategy by incorporating multiple ancient texts to expand the relation extraction dataset. A cascade binary tagging framework for relation triple extraction（CasRel） model for TCM semantics was designed， integrating a pre-trained bidirectional encoder representations from transformers（BERT） layer for classical TCM texts to enhance semantic representation， and using a head entity-relation-tail entity mapping mechanism to address entity nesting and relation overlapping issues. ResultsExperimental results showed that the CasRel model， combining data augmentation and entity mapping， outperformed the pipeline-based Bert-Radical-Lexicon（BRL）-bidirectional long short-term memory（BiLSTM）-Attention model. The overall precision， recall， and F₁-score across 12 relation types reached 65.73%， 64.03%， and 64.87%， which represent improvements of 14.26%， 7.98%， and 11.21% compared to the BRL-BiLSTM-Attention model， respectively. Notably， the F₁-score for tongue syndrome relations increased by 22.68%（69.32%）， and the prescription-syndrome relations performed the best with the F₁-score of 70.10%. ConclusionThe proposed framework significantly improves the semantic representation and complex dependencies in TCM texts， offering a reusable technical framework for structured mining of TCM case records. The constructed knowledge graph can support clinical syndrome differentiation， prescription optimization， and drug compatibility， providing a methodological reference for TCM artificial intelligence research.

As one of the most common malignant tumors， digestive system tumors exhibit an increase in the incidence and mortality year by year. Its pathogenesis is complex， making it difficult to carry out early prevention. Autophagy is a process in which cells use lysosomes to degrade their organelles and macromolecules to maintain cellular homeostasis under the regulation of autophagy-related genes. Cellular autophagy has a dual regulatory effect on the tumor microenvironment， which always affects the occurrence and development of digestive system tumors. Therefore， the effect and mechanism of action of cellular autophagy on digestive system tumors have become a hot topic in tumor therapy in recent years. Meanwhile， the remarkable research results of targeted autophagy drugs indicate that cellular autophagy may become an important target for anti-digestive system tumors. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has been widely used in the comprehensive treatment of digestive system tumors with good efficacy. A variety of active ingredients in TCM， such as flavonoids， glycosides， terpenoids， quinones， and alkaloids， can increase the expression of autophagy-associated proteins microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）Ⅱ/Ⅰ， autophagy-related gene （ATG）5， ATG7， inhibit the expression of autophagy-related protein p62 ， and induce autophagy in digestive system tumor cells， thereby exerting the anti-digestive system tumor effect. By summarizing the research results in recent years on the modulation of cell autophagy by active ingredients in TCM to fight against digestive system tumors， this paper analyzed the relevant signaling pathways， regulatory factors， and functional characteristics of cell autophagy modulation， so as to elucidate the mechanism by which active ingredients of TCM induce autophagy and to provide ideas and references for clinical application.

As one of the most common malignant tumors， digestive system tumors exhibit an increase in the incidence and mortality year by year. Its pathogenesis is complex， making it difficult to carry out early prevention. Autophagy is a process in which cells use lysosomes to degrade their organelles and macromolecules to maintain cellular homeostasis under the regulation of autophagy-related genes. Cellular autophagy has a dual regulatory effect on the tumor microenvironment， which always affects the occurrence and development of digestive system tumors. Therefore， the effect and mechanism of action of cellular autophagy on digestive system tumors have become a hot topic in tumor therapy in recent years. Meanwhile， the remarkable research results of targeted autophagy drugs indicate that cellular autophagy may become an important target for anti-digestive system tumors. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has been widely used in the comprehensive treatment of digestive system tumors with good efficacy. A variety of active ingredients in TCM， such as flavonoids， glycosides， terpenoids， quinones， and alkaloids， can increase the expression of autophagy-associated proteins microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）Ⅱ/Ⅰ， autophagy-related gene （ATG）5， ATG7， inhibit the expression of autophagy-related protein p62 ， and induce autophagy in digestive system tumor cells， thereby exerting the anti-digestive system tumor effect. By summarizing the research results in recent years on the modulation of cell autophagy by active ingredients in TCM to fight against digestive system tumors， this paper analyzed the relevant signaling pathways， regulatory factors， and functional characteristics of cell autophagy modulation， so as to elucidate the mechanism by which active ingredients of TCM induce autophagy and to provide ideas and references for clinical application.