ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy and mechanisms of Sini San in the treatment of depression and liver injury based on gut microbiota. MethodsThirty-two male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a normal group， model group （M）， Sini San group （MS， 2.5 g·kg^-1）， and fluoxetine group （MF， 2 mg·kg^-1）. Except for the normal group， rats in the other three groups were subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS）. After 8 weeks， the open-field test and sucrose preference test were conducted. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect serum corticosterone （CORT）， adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH）， corticotropin-releasing factor （CRF）， lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， Zonulin， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA） levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex， and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） levels in the hippocampus. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect hippocampal BDNF mRNA expression. Serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） levels were measured using the ultraviolet lactate dehydrogenase method. The ultrastructure of the intestinal epithelium was observed by electron microscopy， and gut microbiota in rat feces were analyzed using 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the sucrose preference of rats in the model group was significantly reduced （P0.01）， whereas it was significantly increased in the Sini San group compared with the model group （P0.05）. Compared with the normal group， hippocampal GABA protein levels and BDNF mRNA expression in the model group were significantly decreased （P0.05）， and compared with the model group， both were significantly increased in the Sini San group （P0.05， P0.01）. Compared with the normal group， serum LPS and Zonulin levels in the model group were significantly increased （P0.05， P0.01）， and compared with the model group， Zonulin levels in the Sini San group were significantly decreased （P0.05）. No obvious changes were observed in the ultrastructure of the jejunal mucosa among groups. Compared with the normal group， widened and blurred tight junctions， sparse and shortened microvilli， and mitochondrial swelling with cristae disruption in epithelial cells were observed in the ileal and colonic mucosa of the model group， which were markedly improved in the Sini San and fluoxetine groups. The results of 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing showed that Sini San improved CUMS-induced dysbiosis of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Correlation analysis indicated that Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were significantly correlated with depression-related indicators， liver function， and intestinal mucosal permeability. ConclusionSini San exerts antidepressant and hepatoprotective effects by improving Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria and inhibiting the increase in intestinal mucosal permeability in CUMS rats.

ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy and mechanisms of Sini San in the treatment of depression and liver injury based on gut microbiota. MethodsThirty-two male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a normal group， model group （M）， Sini San group （MS， 2.5 g·kg^-1）， and fluoxetine group （MF， 2 mg·kg^-1）. Except for the normal group， rats in the other three groups were subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS）. After 8 weeks， the open-field test and sucrose preference test were conducted. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect serum corticosterone （CORT）， adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH）， corticotropin-releasing factor （CRF）， lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， Zonulin， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA） levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex， and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） levels in the hippocampus. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect hippocampal BDNF mRNA expression. Serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） levels were measured using the ultraviolet lactate dehydrogenase method. The ultrastructure of the intestinal epithelium was observed by electron microscopy， and gut microbiota in rat feces were analyzed using 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the sucrose preference of rats in the model group was significantly reduced （P<0.01）， whereas it was significantly increased in the Sini San group compared with the model group （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， hippocampal GABA protein levels and BDNF mRNA expression in the model group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）， and compared with the model group， both were significantly increased in the Sini San group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the normal group， serum LPS and Zonulin levels in the model group were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and compared with the model group， Zonulin levels in the Sini San group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. No obvious changes were observed in the ultrastructure of the jejunal mucosa among groups. Compared with the normal group， widened and blurred tight junctions， sparse and shortened microvilli， and mitochondrial swelling with cristae disruption in epithelial cells were observed in the ileal and colonic mucosa of the model group， which were markedly improved in the Sini San and fluoxetine groups. The results of 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing showed that Sini San improved CUMS-induced dysbiosis of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Correlation analysis indicated that Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were significantly correlated with depression-related indicators， liver function， and intestinal mucosal permeability. ConclusionSini San exerts antidepressant and hepatoprotective effects by improving Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria and inhibiting the increase in intestinal mucosal permeability in CUMS rats.

This paper systematically reviews the core concepts and lines of theoretical inheritance of major spleen-stomach theories in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， including spleen deficiency theory， spleen-stomach damp-heat theory， and liver-spleen disharmony theory. It is found that these theories have all undergone a developmental trajectory characterized by classical foundation， refinement of therapeutic methods， systematization of pathogenesis， and modern innovation. The evolution of spleen-stomach theory has achieved a shift from a singular focus on tonifying the spleen to regulating dynamic middle-jiao （焦） balance， and from localized spleen-stomach regulation to the circular movement of qi involving all five zang organs. In terms of modern disease-syndrome integrative research， spleen deficiency syndrome is shown to be closely associated with impairment of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier， metabolic disorders， and gene polymorphisms related to Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric diseases. Spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome is closely linked to hyperactive energy metabolism， inflammatory cytokines， and abnormal expression of aquaporins. Liver-spleen disharmony syndrome is mainly associated with dysregulation of the brain-gut axis and microbiota-related metabolic disorders. It is proposed that future research on spleen-stomach diseases and syndromes should further elucidate their potential multidimensional differential biological characteristics， thereby promoting the modernization of the TCM discipline of spleen-stomach studies.

In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has achieved significant progress in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease （IBD）. A comprehensive literature search was conducted covering the period from January 1， 2010， to December 30， 2024， across Chinese databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）， Wanfang Data， VIP China Science and Technology Journal Database， and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System， as well as international databases such as PubMed， Web of Science， and Embase. The clinical applications and mechanistic studies of TCM in IBD were systematically reviewed. The current status of TCM research on the etiology and pathogenesis of IBD， innovative clinical practices， and multimodal therapeutic approaches， including Chinese herbal formulas， single herbs or active compounds， acupuncture， herbal retention enema， and acupoint application， were summarized， together with their synergistic effects when combined with western medical treatments. The development and application of Chinese patent medicines for IBD are undergoing a profound transition from efficacy validation to mechanistic exploration. Mechanistic studies on the effects of TCM in IBD mainly focus on regulating gut microbiota homeostasis， repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier， and modulating intestinal immune balance. Furthermore， future research directions for TCM-based IBD management are proposed， including the establishment of TCM diagnostic and treatment models， expanding integrated applications of external and internal TCM therapies， innovating personalized treatment strategies， and advancing drug development. These efforts aim to provide insights for the standardized and precision-oriented development of TCM in the diagnosis and treatment of IBD.

Chronic heart failure （CHF） is a group of complex clinical syndromes caused by abnormal changes in the structure and/or function of the heart due to various reasons， resulting in disorders of ventricular contraction and/or diastole. CHF is a condition where primary diseases such as coronary heart disease， hypertension and pulmonary heart disease recur frequently and persist for a long time， presenting blood stasis in meridians and collaterals， stagnation of water and dampness， and accumulation of Qi in collaterals. Its pathogenesis is complex and may involve myocardial energy metabolism disorders， oxidative stress responses， myocardial cell apoptosis， autophagy， inflammatory responses， etc. According to the theory of restraining hyperactivity to acquire harmony， we believe that under normal circumstances， the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK） signaling pathway functions normally， maintaining human physiological activities and energy metabolism. Under pathological conditions， the AMPK signaling pathway is abnormal， causing energy metabolism disorders， inflammatory responses， and myocardial fibrosis. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can regulate the AMPK signaling pathway through multiple mechanisms， targets， and effects， effectively curbing the occurrence and development of CHF. It has gradually become a research hotspot in the prevention and treatment of this disease. Guided by the theory of TCM， our research group， through literature review， summarized the relationship between the AMPK pathway and CHF and reviewed the research progress in the prevention and control of CHF with TCM active ingredients， TCM compound prescriptions， and Chinese patent medicines via regulating the AMPK pathway. The review aims to clarify the mechanism and targets of TCM in the treatment of CHF by regulating the AMPK pathway and guide the clinical treatment and drug development for CHF.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of icariin （ICA） on steroid-induced ferroptosis in bone microvascular endothelial cells （BMECs）. MethodsRat BMECs were selected and treated with 500 mg·L^-1 hydrocortisone for 1.5 h to establish a ferroptosis model of BMECs. The experimental cells were divided into a blank group， hormone group （500 mg·L^-1 hydrocortisone）， ICA group （500 mg·L^-1 hydrocortisone + 34 mg·L^-1 ICA）， and ferroptosis agonist group （500 mg·L^-1 hydrocortisone + 34 mg·L^-1 ICA + 2.7 mg·L^-1 erastin）. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8. The levels of ferrous ion， glutathione （GSH）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， and reactive oxygen species （ROS） were detected by related kit species. The ferroptosis-related proteins， such as glutathione peroxidase 4（GPX4）， ferritin light chain （FTL）， and transferrin receptor protein1 （sTfR） were detected by Western blot， as well as autophagy-related proteins including microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B （LC3B）， Beclin1， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， and Caspase-3. Results500 mg·L^-1 hydrocortisone intervention for 1.5 h could effectively induce ferroptosis in BMECs， and ferroptosis levels could reach a peak as the intervention continued. In terms of cellular antioxidant capacity， compared with those in the blank group， the cell vitality， GSH in the hormone group decreased significantly， and the levels of ROS， SOD， MDA， and ferrous ions were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the hormone group， the cell viability， GSH were significantly increased， and the levels of ROS， SOD， MDA， and ferrous ions were decreased in the ICA group （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the ICA group， the cell vitality， GSH in the ferroptosis agonist group decreased significantly， and the levels of ROS， SOD， MDA， and ferrous ions increased significantly （P<0.01）. In terms of the relationship between ferroptosis and autophagy， compared with the blank group， the hormone group had significantly increased expression levels of LC3B， sTfR， Beclin1， and FTL and significantly decreased expression levels of GPX4 （P<0.01）. Compared with the hormone group， The ICA group had significantly decreased expression levels of LC3B， sTfR， and FTL and significantly increased expression levels of Beclin 1 and GPX4 （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the ICA group， the expression levels of LC3B， sTfR， and FTL increased in the rapamycin group， and those of Beclin 1 and GPX4 decreased （P<0.01）. In terms of cell ferroptosis and apoptosis，compared with the blank group， the hormone group had significantly increased expression levels of FTL， sTfR and Caspase-3 and significantly decreased expression levels of GPX4， and Bcl-2 （P<0.01）. Compared with the hormone group， the ICA group had significantly decreased expression levels of FTL， sTfR and Caspase-3 and significantly increased expression levels of GPX4， and Bcl-2 （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the ICA group， the expression levels of FTL， sTfR and Caspase-3 in the ferroptosis agonist group were increased， and the expression levels of GPX4， and Bcl-2 were decreased （P<0.01）. In terms of cell function，compared with that in the blank group， the ability of cell migration and tube formation was significantly decreased in the hormone group （P<0.01）. Compared with that in the hormone group， the cell migration and tube formation ability in the ICA group were significantly increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionFerroptosis is involved in steroid-induced damage in BMECs. ICA can inhibit steroid-induced ferroptosis in BMECs， and the mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of ferroptosis by regulating autophagy.

Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head （SONFH） is a severe musculoskeletal disorder often induced by the prolonged or excessive use of glucocorticoids. Characterized by ischemia of bone cells， necrosis， and trabecular fractures， SONFH is accompanied by pain， femoral head collapse， and joint dysfunction， which can lead to disability in severe cases. The pathogenesis of SONFH involves hormone-induced osteoblast apoptosis， bone microvascular endothelial cell （BMEC） apoptosis， oxidative stress， and inflammatory responses. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt） signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in the development of the disease. Modulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway can promote Akt phosphorylation， thereby stimulating the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and osteoblasts， promoting angiogenesis in BMECs， and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis. The research on the treatment of SONFH with traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has gained increasing attention. Recent studies have shown that TCM monomers and compounds have potential therapeutic effect on SONFH by intervening in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. These studies not only provide a scientific basis for the application of TCM in the treatment of SONFH but also offer new ideas for the development of new therapeutic strategies. This review summarized the progress in Chinese and international research on the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in SONFH over the past five years. It involved the composition and transmission mechanisms of the signaling pathway， as well as its regulatory effects on osteoblasts， mesenchymal stem cells， osteoclasts， BMECs， and other cells. Additionally， the review explored the TCM understanding of SONFH and the application of TCM monomers and compounds in the intervention of the PI3K/Akt pathway. By systematically analyzing and organizing these research findings， this article aimed to provide references and point out directions for the clinical prevention and treatment of SONFH and promote further development of TCM in this field. With in-depth research on the PI3K/Akt pathway and the modern application of TCM， it is expected to bring safer and more effective treatment options for patients with SONFH.

Jiegengtang is a basic formula for treating sore throat and cough. By means of bibliometrics， this study conducted a textual research and analysis on the key information such as formula origin， decocting methods， and clinical application of Jiegengtang. After the research， it can be seen that Jiegengtang is firstly contained in Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Disease， which is also known as Ganjietang， and it has been inherited and innovated by medical practitioners of various dynasties in later times. The origins of Chinese medicines in this formula is basically clear， Jiegeng is the dried roots of Platycodon grandiflorum， Gancao is the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis， the two medicines are selected raw products. The dosage is 27.60 g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and 13.80 g of Platycodonis Radix， decocted with 600 mL of water to 200 mL， taken warmly after meals， twice a day， 100 mL for each time. In ancient times， Jiegengtang was mainly used for treating Shaoyin-heat invasion syndrome， with cough and sore throat as its core symptoms. In modern clinical practice， Jiegengtang is mainly used for respiratory diseases such as pharyngitis， esophagitis， tonsillitis and lung abscess， especially for pharyngitis and lung abscess with remarkable efficacy. This paper can provide literature reference basis for the modern clinical application and new drug development of Jiegengtang.

Jiegengtang is a basic formula for treating sore throat and cough. By means of bibliometrics， this study conducted a textual research and analysis on the key information such as formula origin， decocting methods， and clinical application of Jiegengtang. After the research， it can be seen that Jiegengtang is firstly contained in Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Disease， which is also known as Ganjietang， and it has been inherited and innovated by medical practitioners of various dynasties in later times. The origins of Chinese medicines in this formula is basically clear， Jiegeng is the dried roots of Platycodon grandiflorum， Gancao is the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis， the two medicines are selected raw products. The dosage is 27.60 g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and 13.80 g of Platycodonis Radix， decocted with 600 mL of water to 200 mL， taken warmly after meals， twice a day， 100 mL for each time. In ancient times， Jiegengtang was mainly used for treating Shaoyin-heat invasion syndrome， with cough and sore throat as its core symptoms. In modern clinical practice， Jiegengtang is mainly used for respiratory diseases such as pharyngitis， esophagitis， tonsillitis and lung abscess， especially for pharyngitis and lung abscess with remarkable efficacy. This paper can provide literature reference basis for the modern clinical application and new drug development of Jiegengtang.

Objective To explore the safety of Yttrium-90 resin microsphere selective internal radiation therapy (⁹⁰Y-SIRT) on malignant liver tumors. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 64 patients with malignant liver tumors who underwent ⁹⁰Y-SIRT from February 2023 to November 2024 at Weifang People’s Hospital. The clinical characteristics of the patients and the occurrence of adverse reactions after treatment were analyzed to assess the safety of ⁹⁰Y-SIRT. Results Among the 64 patients, there were 52 males (81.25%) and 12 females (18.75%); the average age was (56.29±11.08) years. Seven patients (10.94%) had tumors with maximum diameter of less than 5 cm, 38 patients (59.38%) had tumors with maximum diameter of 5-10 cm, and 19 patients (29.68%) had tumors with maximum diameter of greater than 10 cm. There were 47 cases (73.44%) of solitary lesions and 17 cases (26.56%) of multiple lesions; 53 cases (82.81%) were primary liver cancers and 11 cases (17.19%) were metastatic liver cancers. Of the 64 patients, 63 successfully completed the Technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin (^99mTc-MAA) perfusion test and received the ⁹⁰Y-SIRT; one patient received ⁹⁰Y-SIRT after the second ^99mTc-MAA perfusion test due to a work error. The most common adverse reactions included grade 1 alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation in 26 cases (40.62%) and grade 2 in 2 cases (9.37%), grade 1 aspartate aminotransferase (AST) elevation in 27 cases (42.18%) and grade 2 in 7 cases (10.93%); grade 1 nausea in 17 cases (26.56%) and grade 2 in 6 cases (9.37%); grade 1 abdominal pain in 12 cases (18.75%), grade 2 in 5 cases (7.81%), and grade 3 in 1 case (1.56%); grade 1 vomiting in 11 cases (17.18%), grade 2 in 5 cases (7.81%), and grade 3 in 1 case (1.56%). Conclusion The adverse reactions of ⁹⁰Y-SIRT for treating malignant liver tumors are mild, indicating good safety.