In today's society， depression is a kind of highly prevalent chronic mental illness. It leads to a high disability rate and a heavy economic burden. Depression is defined by fundamental symptoms of low mood and diminished pleasure. Its causes and mechanisms remain unclear， and it presents a broad spectrum of symptoms and a persistent nature that significantly impacts both physical and mental well-being. Treatment in Western medicine primarily focuses on alleviating symptoms， yet it entails numerous adverse effects and contraindications. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） treatment is based on resolving depression， which is often accompanied by soothing liver， and the key medicine is Bupleuri Radix. Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions refer to a class of prescriptions using Bupleuri Radix as the sovereign medicinal or having a high dose of Bupleuri Radix， which are widely used in the field of anti-depression. Previous studies from animal experiments， clinical research， and modern pharmacological research have confirmed that Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions have precise anti-depression efficacy in multiple ways and at multiple levels， but lack a comprehensive and systematic summarization. This paper summarized and analyzed the literature related to the clinical application and mechanism of action of Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions in anti-depression treatment. The results showed that the anti-depression mechanism of the Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions （such as Xiaochaihu Tang， Xiaoyao San， Sini San， Chaihu Shugan San， and Chaihu jia Longgu Muli San） was associated with the effects of regulating monoamine neurotransmitters， the brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， intestinal flora， and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis， inhibiting inflammatory responses， and modulating related signaling pathways. Applying them in clinical practice can effectively alleviate patient symptoms， lower the TCM syndrome score and the severity of depression， and also reduce adverse reactions. This underscores advantages of TCM in depression treatment， which offers patients a secure， effective， and more individualized alternative treatment regimen. On this basis， the shortcomings of current studies and the future trend were analyzed. This study aimed to provide an evidence-based medicine basis for the research and development of novel antidepressant medications.

Astrocytes(AS)are the most abundant glial cells in the central nervous system and are involved in many physiological and pathological processes in the nervous system.Alterations in their phenotype are particularly important for the health of the CNS.Epigenetic mechanisms,including DNA methylation,histone modification,non-coding RNA regulation,and chromatin remodeling,are closely linked to alterations in AS proliferation,differentiation,inflammation,and other phenotypic features,but how these mechanisms function needs to be explored and summarized.By reviewing the recent advances in the role of epigenetic mechanisms in AS under various physiological and pathological states,we aim to provide new ideas for the understanding and treatment of related diseases.

Fracture is a disease caused by violence or bone disease in which the continuity of bone structure is completely or partially broken. The healing of fracture mainly includes three processes: hematoma mechanization stage, callus formation stage and callus remodeling stage. At different stages, various cells and molecules are important factors regulating fracture healing. There is growing evidence that miRNA plays an important role in various bone diseases, such as osteosarcoma, osteoarthritis, osteonecrosis, and fractures. Recent studies have shown that miRNA can regulate the process of fracture healing and may be potential biomarkers of fracture healing. This article reviews the expression, function and mechanism of miRNA in the process of fracture healing.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of internal fixation using cannulated screw combined with fibular allograft and internal fixation using cannulated screw alone in the treatment of femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 75 young and middle-aged patients with femoral neck fracture admitted to the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2020 to December 2022, including 44 males and 31 females, aged 34-56 years [(46.1±12.7)years]. According to Garden classification, 26 patients were classified as type II, 35 type III and 14 type IV. According to the Pauwels classification, 9 patients were classified as type I, 31 type II and 35 type III. Forty-nine patients were treated with internal fixation using three cannulated screws alone (cannulated screw group) and 26 with internal fixation using three cannulated screws combined with double-barrel fibular allograft (cannulated screw combined with bone grafting group). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, and quality of fracture reduction were compared between the two groups. At 4, 8 months after operation and at the last follow-up, grading of femoral neck shortening, number of patients walking with crutches, Barthel index, and Harris hip function score were evaluated. The incidence of complications was measured at the last follow-up.Results:All the patients were followed up for 16-37 months [(23.2±4.5)months]. The operation time of the cannulated screw combined with bone grafting group was (86.3±16.1)minutes, longer than (76.9±20.8)minutes of the cannulated screw group ( P<0.05). The intraoperative blood loss was 100.0(50.0, 200.0)ml in the cannulated screw combined with bone grafting group, more than 50.0(50.0, 100.0)ml in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the length of hospital stay or the quality of fracture reduction between the two groups ( P>0.05). At 4 months after operation, grading of the femoral neck shortening in the cannulated screw combined with bone grafting group [24 patients (92.3%) with grade 1, 2(7.7%) with grade 2, and 0(0.0%) with grade 3] was better than that in the cannulated screw group [18 patients (36.7%) with grade 1, 28(57.1%) with grade 2, and 3(6.2%) with grade 3] ( P<0.01). At 8 months after operation, grading of femoral neck shortening in the cannulated screw combined with bone grafting group [22 patients (84.6%) with grade 1, 3(11.5%) with grade 2, and 1(3.8%) with grade 3] was better than that in the cannulated screw group [13 patients (26.5%) with grade 1, 27(55.1%) with grade 2, and 9(18.4%) with grade 3] ( P<0.01). At the last follow-up, grading of femoral neck shortening in the cannulated screw combined with bone grafting group [19 patients (73.0%) with grade 1, 5(19.2%) with grade 2, and 2(7.6%) with grade 3] was better than that in the cannulated screw group [8 patients (16.3%) with grade 1, 31(63.2%) with grade 2, and 10(20.4%) with grade 3] ( P<0.01). At 4, 8 months after operation and at the last follow-up, 12(46.2%), 8(30.8%) and 5(19.2%) patients in the cannulated screw combined with bone grafting group and 38(77.6%), 27(55.1%) and 20(40.8%) patients in the cannulated screw group had to walk with crutches, respectively, showing significant difference between the two groups at the other two time points ( P<0.05 or 0.01) except for at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). The Barthel index values were 85.3±3.2, 90.3±4.3, and 95.3±3.9 in the cannulated screw combined with bone grafting group at 4, 8 months after operation and at the last follow-up, significantly higher than 80.8±7.3, 85.4±7.4, and 90.9±7.8 in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.05 or 0.01). The Harris hip scores were (87.0±2.9)points, (92.0±2.9)points and (91.3±2.4)points in the cannulated screw combined with bone grafting group at 4, 8 months after operation and at the last follow-up, significantly higher than (81.0±6.1)points, (85.7±5.8)points, and (89.6±2.0)points in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.01). At the last follow-up, the complication rate was 3.8%(1/26) in the cannulated screw combined with bone grafting group, significantly lower than 22.4%(11/49) in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:For femoral neck fractures in young and middle-aged patients, compared with internal fixation using cannulated screw alone, internal fixation using cannulated screw combined with fibular allograft has more advantages in correcting femoral neck shortening, restoring independent living activities and hip joint function, and reducing the incidence of complications despite its longer operation time and more intraoperative blood loss.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

The glymphatic system is a unique network of the central nervous system that facilitates the removal of metabolic waste from the brain and maintains homeostasis.The glymphatic system is relatively active during sleep,and its physiological function is affected by many factors.The application of non-invasive imaging techniques to evaluate the function of the glymphatic system has promoted the development of clinical studies.More and more studies have demonstrated the association between the function of glymphatic system and the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases,cerebrovascular diseases and other central nervous system diseases.The glymphatic system is expected to become a novel target for predicting prognosis of central nervous system diseases and clinical effects.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are immature endothelial cells that can proliferate and differentiate into mature endothelial cells. After vascular injury, EPCs migrate from the bone marrow to the ischemic area, participating in damaged endothelial repair and neovascularization, providing a new potential therapeutic approach for vascular diseases including ischemic stroke. This article reviews the feasibility and limitations of EPCs as potential therapeutic targets for ischemic stroke.

Carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) is closely associated with the decline of cognitive function in the elderly, which can lead to persistent or progressive cognitive function and neurological dysfunction. Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is considered to be an intervenable disease. Studies have shown that CAS is one of the main causes of VCI. Further study on the relationship between CAS and VCI will help to better prevention and treatment of VCI.

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer's disease. As the pathway between the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, brain-gut axis has become one of the research hotspots in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Intestinal flora imbalance may mediate or affect vascular risk factors such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, metabolic diseases, and ischemic stroke, and finally accelerate the occurrence and development of VCI. This article reviews the literature on intestinal flora and VCI as well as its main risk factors, in order to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of VCI.

Objective:To explore the correlation between middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility index (PI) and total magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) burden in elderly patients with cerebral small vessel diseases (CSVD).Methods:A total of 203 CSVD inpatients aged 60 years and above who were hospitalized in the Department of Neurology of Hebei General Hospital from March 2017 to December 2020 were enrolled. The clinical data, transcranial Doppler ultrasound parameters and brain MRI data were collected. According to the total burden score, the patients were divided into low burden group (0-1 point) and high burden group (2-4 points). Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the correlation between MCA PI and total MRI burden in the elderly patients with CSVD. Subsequently, the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the value of MCA PI for predicting the high MRI burden of CSVD in the elderly.Results:Hypertension ( OR=2.569, 95% CI 1.068-6.182, P=0.035), systolic blood pressure ( OR=1.033, 95% CI 1.006-1.061, P=0.016), creatinine ( OR=1.044, 95% CI 1.009-1.079, P=0.013) and MCA PI ( OR=1.125, 95% CI 1.087-1.166, P<0.001) were independently correlated with the increasing total MRI burden in the elderly patients with CSVD. Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed that there was strong and positive correlation between MCA PI and high MRI burden in the elderly patients with CSVD ( r=0.65, P<0.001). The analysis showed that when the cut-off for MCA PI was 1.11, it could identify high MRI burden of CSVD in the elderly. The area under the curve was 0.908 (95% CI 0.864-0.953, P<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity were 0.852 and 0.880, respectively. The positive predictive value was 92.38%, and the negative predictive value was 77.70%. Conclusion:The MCA PI is positively correlated with total MRI burden in the elderly patients with CSVD, and has a higher value in predicting the total MRI burden in the elderly CSVD patients, which probably bring brighter prospects for its clinical application.