ObjectiveTo characterize the quality differences among different germplasm and introduced varieties of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium roots（BSR）， and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms， providing a basis for high-quality production and quality control. MethodsWild BSR from Yulin（YLW） served as the quality reference， we conducted comparative analysis among YLW， locally domesticated wild germplasm in Yulin（YLC3）， Daqing germplasm introduced and cultivated in Yulin（YLDQC3）， and locally cultivated germplasm in Daqing（DQC3）. A combination of traditional pharmacognostic methods and modern multi-omics analyses was employed， including macroscopic traits（appearance， odor）， microscopic features（proportions of cork， phloem， xylem）， cell wall component contents（hemicellulose， cellulose， lignin）， carbohydrate contents（starch， water-soluble polysaccharides）， marker compound contents（ethanol-soluble extracts， total saponins， liposoluble extracts， and saikosaponins A， B₂， C， D）， metabolomics， and transcriptomics， in order to systematically characterize quality differences and investigate molecular mechanisms among these samples. ResultsMacroscopically， Yulin-produced BSR（YLW， YLC3， YLDQC3） exhibited significantly greater weight， length， and upper and middle diameters than Daqing-produced BSR（DQC3）. Odor-wise， YLW and YLC3 had a a fragrance taste， YLDQC3 had a rancid oil odor， and DQC3 had a sweet and fragrant taste. Microscopically， Yulin germplasm（YLW， YLC3） and Daqing germplasm（YLDQC3， DQC3） shared similar structural features， respectively. However， Yulin germplasm showed significantly higher proportions of cork and phloem， as well as stronger xylem vessel staining intensity compared to Daqing germplasm. Regarding various component contents， Yulin germplasm contained significantly higher levels of ethanol-soluble extracts， total saponins， and saikosaponins A， B₂， C， D， while Daqing germplasm had significantly higher levels of hemicellulose， starch， and liposoluble extracts. After introduction to Yulin， the Daqing germplasm（YLDQC3） showed increased starch， water-soluble polysaccharides and liposoluble extracts contents， decreased cell wall component content， but no significant difference in other component contents. Metabolomics revealed that saponins and terpenes accumulated significantly in Yulin germplasm， while alcohols and aldehydes accumulated predominantly in Daqing germplasm. Transcriptomics indicated similar gene expression patterns within the same germplasm but specificity between different germplasms. Integrative metabolomic-transcriptomic analysis identified 145 potential key genes associated with the saikosaponin biosynthesis pathway， including one acetyl-coenzyme A（CoA） acetyltransferase gene（ACAT）， one 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A synthase gene（HMGS）， two hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA（HMG-CoA） reductase genes（HMG）， one phosphomevalonate kinase gene（PMK）， one 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase gene（CLA）， one hydroxymethylbuten-1-aldol synthase gene（HDR）， two farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase genes（FPPS）， one squalene synthase gene（SQS）， one β-amyrin synthase gene（BAS）， 102 cytochrome P450（CYP450） gene family members， and 32 uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase（UGT） gene family members. ConclusionAmong the three cultivated types， YLC3 most closely resembles YLW in appearance， microscopic features， contents of major bioactive constituents， metabolomic and transcriptomic profiles. Yulin germplasm exhibits superior saponin synthesis capability compared to Daqing germplasm， and Yulin region is more suitable for the growth of B. scorzonerifolium. Based on these findings， it is recommended that artificial cultivation in northern Shaanxi and similar regions utilize the local Yulin germplasm source cultivated for at least three years.

Objective: Para-aortic lymph node dissection (PALND) is a widely used treatment that causes many complications. This study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nerve-sparing para-aortic lymph node dissection (NSPALND) by comparing it with conventional PALND in gynecological malignancies and to prove whether locating the superior hypogastric plexus (SHP) can help reveal the para-aortic nerves. Methods: This is a retrospective study of the patients who underwent para-aortic lymphadenectomy from January 2020 to December 2022 at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital. All of them were divided into NSPALND and PALND groups according to whether or not nervesparing was performed. The surgical, functional and oncological outcomes were evaluated. Results: There were 43 patients enrolled, of which, 20 patients underwent NSPALND and 23 patients underwent PALND. The para-aortic nerves were successfully revealed by locating the SHP in all 20 cases of NSPALND. The post-operative anal exhaust time in the NSPALND group was significantly shorter than that in the PALND group (2.5 vs. 4 days, p=0.006), and the incidence of acute intestinal obstruction in the NSPALND group was significantly lower than that in the PALND group (10% vs. 39%, p=0.029). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of catheterization duration, urinary retention, dysuria, as well as the number of lymph nodes removed and the para-aortic recurrence rate. Conclusion NSPALND can significantly reduce the rate of acute intestinal obstruction and improve post-operative intestinal function. Locating the SHP and using it as an anatomical landmark to reveal the para-aortic nerves is feasible. Its exact clinical value needs to be further studied.

Objective: Para-aortic lymph node dissection (PALND) is a widely used treatment that causes many complications. This study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nerve-sparing para-aortic lymph node dissection (NSPALND) by comparing it with conventional PALND in gynecological malignancies and to prove whether locating the superior hypogastric plexus (SHP) can help reveal the para-aortic nerves. Methods: This is a retrospective study of the patients who underwent para-aortic lymphadenectomy from January 2020 to December 2022 at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital. All of them were divided into NSPALND and PALND groups according to whether or not nervesparing was performed. The surgical, functional and oncological outcomes were evaluated. Results: There were 43 patients enrolled, of which, 20 patients underwent NSPALND and 23 patients underwent PALND. The para-aortic nerves were successfully revealed by locating the SHP in all 20 cases of NSPALND. The post-operative anal exhaust time in the NSPALND group was significantly shorter than that in the PALND group (2.5 vs. 4 days, p=0.006), and the incidence of acute intestinal obstruction in the NSPALND group was significantly lower than that in the PALND group (10% vs. 39%, p=0.029). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of catheterization duration, urinary retention, dysuria, as well as the number of lymph nodes removed and the para-aortic recurrence rate. Conclusion NSPALND can significantly reduce the rate of acute intestinal obstruction and improve post-operative intestinal function. Locating the SHP and using it as an anatomical landmark to reveal the para-aortic nerves is feasible. Its exact clinical value needs to be further studied.

Objective: Para-aortic lymph node dissection (PALND) is a widely used treatment that causes many complications. This study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nerve-sparing para-aortic lymph node dissection (NSPALND) by comparing it with conventional PALND in gynecological malignancies and to prove whether locating the superior hypogastric plexus (SHP) can help reveal the para-aortic nerves. Methods: This is a retrospective study of the patients who underwent para-aortic lymphadenectomy from January 2020 to December 2022 at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital. All of them were divided into NSPALND and PALND groups according to whether or not nervesparing was performed. The surgical, functional and oncological outcomes were evaluated. Results: There were 43 patients enrolled, of which, 20 patients underwent NSPALND and 23 patients underwent PALND. The para-aortic nerves were successfully revealed by locating the SHP in all 20 cases of NSPALND. The post-operative anal exhaust time in the NSPALND group was significantly shorter than that in the PALND group (2.5 vs. 4 days, p=0.006), and the incidence of acute intestinal obstruction in the NSPALND group was significantly lower than that in the PALND group (10% vs. 39%, p=0.029). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of catheterization duration, urinary retention, dysuria, as well as the number of lymph nodes removed and the para-aortic recurrence rate. Conclusion NSPALND can significantly reduce the rate of acute intestinal obstruction and improve post-operative intestinal function. Locating the SHP and using it as an anatomical landmark to reveal the para-aortic nerves is feasible. Its exact clinical value needs to be further studied.

Objective To investigate whether miR-15b-5p can alleviate airway inflammation in asthma by negatively regulating ubiquitin specific peptidase 9X (USP9X) to down-regulate the expression of phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-diphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit α/AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (PIK3CA/AKT1) pathway. Methods USP9X was predicted to be a direct target of miR-15b-5p by using an online database (miRWalk), and the luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to verify it. Co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP) was used to verify the direct binding between USP9X and PIK3CA and the role of USP9X and its small molecule inhibitor WP1130 in the deubiquitination of PIK3CA. C57 mice were randomly divided into Control group, OVA group, OVA combined with NC group and miR-15b-5p agomir group, with 10 mice in each group. BEAS-2B cells were induced with interleukin 13 (IL-13) and treated with miR-15b-5p mimic. HE, Masson, PAS, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR) were performed. Results It was found that the administration of miR-15b-5p agomir and mimic could reduce peribronchial inflammatory cells and improve airway inflammation, and miR-15b-5p could target negative regulation of USP9X. USP9X could directly bind to PIK3CA and regulate PIK3CA level in a proteasome-dependent manner, and USP9X could deubiquitinate K29-linked PIK3CA protein. Down-regulation of USP9X could increase PIK3CA ubiquitination level. WP1130, a small molecule inhibitor of USP9X, has the same effect as knockdown of USP9X, both of which could increase the ubiquitination level of PIK3CA and reduce the protein level of PIK3CA. Conclusion The miR-15b-5p/USP9X/PIK3CA/AKT1 signaling pathway may provide potential therapeutic targets for asthma.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Asthma/pathology* ; Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Inflammation/genetics* ; Cell Line ; Female ; Male

The biliary microbiota is an important component of the biliary system, the structure changes and dysbiosis of the biliary microbiota are closely related to the occurrence and development of biliary diseases. Recent studies have found that the dysbiosis of the biliary microbiota can lead to the occurrence of various biliary diseases such as cholelithiasis, cholangitis, and biliary tract cancer. However, the specific mechanisms of some of these diseases remain unclear. In addition, the alternation of biliary microbiota may also lead to the occurrence of postoperative complications of biliary diseases, such as the risk of infection increased after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Although some studies have begun to explore the connection between biliary microbiota and biliary diseases, most research have mainly focused on a single disease type or specific microorganisms. There has been no comprehensive and systematic review of the overall changes in biliary microbiota across different diseases and their association with post biliary surgery infection.Therefore, this article presents a systematic review of current advances linking the alternations of biliary microbiota to the development of biliary diseases and their postoperative infections, as well as the changes in the biliary microbiota before and after various biliary diseases and their surgeries, aiming to provide insightful methods for the early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of biliary diseases and management of postoperative infections.

ObjectiveBased on non-targeted metabolomics， to analyze the regulation of endogenous differential metabolites in serum of type 2 diabetes mellitus（T2DM） rats by Fuling Yunhua granules， and to clarify the metabolic pathways through which this granules exerted its effect on improving T2DM. MethodSeventy SD rats， half male and half female， were randomly divided into the control group， model group， and high， medium， low dose groups of Fuling Yunhua granules（20.70， 10.35， 5.18 g·kg^-1 in raw drug amount） and the positive drug group（pioglitazone hydrochloride tablets， 8.1 mg·kg^-1）. Except for the control group， other groups were fed with high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin（STZ） to establish a T2DM rat model. After successful modeling， the treatment groups were administered the corresponding drugs by gavage， and the control group and model group were treated with an equal volume of saline by gavage， once/d， for 28 d. Fasting blood glucose（FBG） and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c（GHbA1c） levels were measured in all groups of rats during the administration period， and hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was used to observe the pathomorphological changes in the pancreatic tissues of rats at the end of the administration period. The endogenous metabolite levels in rat serum were detected by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap-electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry（UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS）， and the data were processed using principal component analysis（PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA）. Differential metabolites were identified by the Human Metabolome Database（HMDB） and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes（KEGG）， and screened for differential metabolites with variable importance in the projection（VIP） value>1， P<0.05， and fold change（FC）<0.6 or FC>1. And the metabolic pathway enrichment analysis of the screened differential metabolites was performed by MetaboAnalyst 5.0， then the screened differential metabolites were diagnosed and evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic（ROC） curves. ResultCompared with the control group， the FBG level of rats in the model group increased significantly（P<0.01）， the GHbA1c content tended to increase， but the difference was not statistically significant， and the pancreatic tissue of rats was obviously damaged， the number of pancreatic islets decreased， and the pancreatic β-cells were obviously reduced， atrophied and enlarged. Compared with the model group， the FBG levels of rats in the high dose group of Fuling Yunhua granules and the positive drug group were significantly reduced after 2 weeks of administration（P<0.05， P<0.01）， the GHbA1c content of rats in the high dose group of Fuling Yunhua granules was significantly reduced（P<0.05）， and the pancreatic tissue lesions of rats in the different dose groups of Fuling Yunhua granules were reduced. The results of non-targeted metabolomics showed that 46 differential metabolites were significantly changed in the model group compared with the blank group. Pathway enrichment analysis found that T2DM mainly affected biological processes including biosynthesis of primary bile acid， D-amino acid metabolism， steroid hormone biosynthesis， and glycerophospholipid metabolism in rats. Compared with the model group， the levels of 8 differential metabolites in the high dose group of Fuling Yunhua granules were significantly adjusted， and the pathway enrichment analysis found that D-amino acid metabolism， retinol metabolism， glycine， serine and threonine metabolism， tryptophan metabolism and other metabolic pathways were mainly involved. ROC curves further analysis revealed that the four characteristic differential markers of 11-cis-retinol， D-piperidinic acid， D-serine， and p-cresol sulfate had high diagnostic value for the treatment of T2DM with Fuling Yunhua granules. ConclusionFuling Yunhua granules can improve the symptoms of T2DM rats by regulating the amino acid metabolic and retinol metabolic pathways through the modulation of endogenous differential metabolites.

Purpose To study the association between ultrasonography signs of midurethral sling(MUS)and postoperative bladder neck mobility,and urethral segmental mobility,to explore ultrasound parameters that measure the biomechanical effects of MUS and to analyze the relationship between them and the clinical outcomes.Materials and Methods This was a retrospective analysis of the clinical material and ultrasound imaging data of the patients who underwent MUS surgery and had postoperative clinic follow-up in the Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,from September 2017 to July 2022.According to the surgical outcome,all patients were divided into three groups:stress urinary incontinence(SUI)cure group,SUI recurrence group and postoperative voiding dysfunction(VD)group.Bladder neck mobility,urethral segmental mobility,MUS position,and sling-pubic gap(SPG)during maximal Valsalva manoeuvre were measured by pelvic floor ultrasound.Ultrasound results among the three groups were compared,respectively.The relationships between ultrasound signs of the sling(MUS position and SPG),bladder neck and urethral mobility,and the surgical outcomes were analyzed,respectively.Results A total of 117 women had valid data.The median follow-up interval was 10(6,18)months.On clinical examination and diagnosis,44 women(37.6％)had cured SUI,46(39.3％)had recurrence SUI,and 27(23.1％)had postoperative VD.The mean SPG of the 117 slings was(12.0±3.5)mm(range 4.7 to 23.0 mm),and the mean position of the MUS was the 53％(range 33％-75％).There was no significant difference in MUS position and SPG between the SUI cured group and the postoperative VD group(P＞0.05).The SUI recurrence group had farther MUS position[(56±11)％vs.(49±10)％,P=0.003]relative to the bladder neck and wider SPG[(13.9±3.7)mm vs.(11.2±2.7)mm,P＜0.001]than SUI cure group.No significant correlation was found between the ultrasound signs of MUS(MUS position and SPG)and bladder neck mobility(r=-0.138-0.205,all P≥0.05).MUS position and SPG were correlated with midurethral mobility(MUS position vs.point 2 and 3,r=0.322,0.322,both P＜0.01;SPG vss.point 3 to 6,r=0.288-0.434,all P＜0.01):the closer the MUS position was relative to the distal urethra,the higher the midurethral mobility.The wider the SPG,the higher the midurethral mobility.Logistic regression showed a positive correlation between SPG and SUI recurrence with an odds ratio(OR)of 1.401(95％CI 1.189-1.652,P＜0.001),and a negative correlation with postoperative VD with an OR of 0.755(95％CI 0.627-0.909,P=0.003).Conclusion SPG during the Valsalva manoeuvre can be used to measure the tightness of MUS.The larger the measured value of SPG,with the looser the MUS,the greater the likelihood of postoperative SUI recurrence,and the lower the risk of postoperative VD.

Gastroesophageal reflux related cough is located in the lung and stomach.The basic pathogenesis is the inversion of stomach qi and the lung loss propagating and descending.In view of the above,based on the theory of"relevance of lung and stomach",this article analyzed the modern mechanism of"relevance of lung and stomach"in gastroesophageal reflux related cough,which included"microinhalation"theory,"esophagus-bronchial reflex"theory,and"airway neurogenic inflammation"theory.This article also put forward the TCM disease name of"gastric cough",and the treatment methods of"simultaneous treatment of lung and stomach"and"treatment of cough from stomach",which would provide new ideas for the theoretical and mechanism research of TCM treatment of gastroesophageal reflux related cough.

Objective:To study the agreements between transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) and endoanal ultrasound in assessing obstetrics anal sphincter injury (OASI), and to analyse the diagnostic efficacy of OASI in predicting AI relationship between OASI and anal incontinence (AI).Methods:A total of 217 women were prospectively recruited from the clinic in the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2021 to May 2022. Symptoms of AI were determined using the St Mark′s Incontinence Score (SMIS). TPUS and EAUS were performed by the same operator with the same machine on every participant for detecting OASI: OASI grades 3a, 3b, 3c, and 4 were performed according to the extent of the injuries in the anal sphincter complex. The angle of the defect in the external anal sphincter (EAS) was measured. A "significant EAS defect" was diagnosed as a defect affecting at least 2/3 of the length of the EAS with a defect angle of ≥30° in each slice.Ultrasound findings were compared between the two methods. The diagnostic efficacy of "ultrasound OASI" in predicting AI was analysed by logistic regression.Results:Of 217 women, twenty-eight (12.9%) suffered from AI with SMIS ranging from 5~20(11.9±4.5). On TPUS, 79 (36.4%) cases were suspected of OASI, that was 50 OASI 3a, 13 OASI 3b, and 16 OASI 3c/4. On EAUS, 78 (35.9%) cases were suspected of OASI that was 23 OASI 3a, 22 OASI 3b, 15 OASI 3c, and 18 OASI 4. Twenty-four "significant EAS defects" were diagnosed by TPUS and twenty-eight by EAUS, TPUS had excellent agreement with EAUS (weighted Kappa=0.91, P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that "ultrasound OASI" was associated with AI symptoms. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.92, 0.87, 0.89, 0.92 for TPUS OASI 3b+ , EAUS OASI 3b+ , TPUS "Significant EAS defect" , and EAUS "Significant EAS defect" for predicting AI, respectively. Conclusions:TPUS has good agreement with EAUS in detecting OASI. OASI 3b+ and "significant EAS defect" on TPUS and EAUS had good performance in predicting AI symptoms.