Objective: To systematically analyze the revisions content and technological development trends of microbiological standards in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP) 2025 Edition, and explore its novel requirements in risk-based pharmaceutical product lifecycle management.
Methods: A comprehensive review was conducted on 26 microbiological-related standards to summarize the revision directions and scientific implications from perspectives including the revision overview, international harmonization of microbiological standards, risk-based quality management system, and novel tools and methods with Chinese characteristics.
Results: The ChP 2025 edition demonstrates three prominent features in microbiological-related standards: enhanced international harmonization, introduced emerging molecular biological technologies, and established a risk-based microbiological quality control system.
Conclusion: The new edition of the Pharmacopoeia has systematically constructed a microbiological standard system, which significantly improves the scientificity, standardization and applicability of the standards, providing a crucial support for advancing the microbiological quality control in pharmaceutical industries of China.

Background: s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated. Methods: In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs. Results: Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment. Conclusions We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a significant risk factor for gallstone formation, but mechanisms underlying MASH-related gallstone formation remain unclear. Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) participates in hepatic cholesterol metabolism and is upregulated in MASH. Here, we aimed to explore the role of GOLM1 in MASH-related gallstone formation. Methods: The UK Biobank cohort was used for etiological analysis. GOLM1 knockout (GOLM1-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Livers were excised for histology and immunohistochemistry analysis. Gallbladders were collected to calculate incidence of cholesterol gallstones (CGSs). Biles were collected for biliary lipid analysis. HepG2 cells were used to explore underlying mechanisms. Human liver samples were used for clinical validation. Results: MASH patients had a greater risk of cholelithiasis. All HFD-fed mice developed MASH, and the incidence of gallstones was 16.7% and 75.0% in GOLM1-/- and WT mice, respectively. GOLM1-/- decreased biliary cholesterol concentration and output. In vivo and in vitro assays confirmed that GOLM1 facilitated cholesterol efflux through upregulating ATP binding cassette transporter subfamily G member 5 (ABCG5). Mechanistically, GOLM1 translocated into nucleus to promote osteopontin (OPN) transcription, thus stimulating ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux. Moreover, GOLM1 was upregulated by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we confirmed that IL-1β, GOLM1, OPN, and ABCG5 were enhanced in livers of MASH patients with CGSs. Conclusions In MASH livers, upregulation of GOLM1 by IL-1β increases ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux in an OPN-dependent manner, promoting CGS formation. GOLM1 has the potential to be a molecular hub interconnecting MASH and CGSs.

Most of the life forms on Earth have gradually evolved an endogenous biological clock under the long-term influence of periodic daily light-dark cycles. This biological clock system plays a crucial role in the orderly progression of life activities. In mammals, central circadian clock is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus and the function of the biological clock relies on a transcription-translation negative feedback loop. As a negative regulator in this loop, the function of CHRONO is less known. To deeply explore the role of the Chrono gene in rhythm entrainment and physiology, we constructed a Chrono gene knockout mouse strain using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology and analyzed its entrainment ability under different T cycles. Running wheel tests and glucose tolerance tests were also performed. The results showed that the period of the endogenous biological clock of Chrono knockout mice was prolonged, and the entrainment rate under the T21 cycle was decreased. In addition, metabolic abnormalities, including weight gain and impaired glucose tolerance, were observed in the non-entrained mice. Overall, this study reveals a crucial role of the Chrono gene in maintaining circadian rhythms and metabolic balance, providing a new perspective for understanding the relationship between the biological clock and metabolism. Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Animals ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice ; Circadian Rhythm/genetics* ; Metabolic Diseases/physiopathology* ; Photoperiod ; Male ; Period Circadian Proteins/physiology* ; Light ; Circadian Clocks/physiology*

This study aims to investigate the effects and mechanisms of the effective-compounds of Jinshui Huanxian formula (ECC-JHF) in improving pulmonary fibrosis. Animal experiments were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Animal Experiment Center of Henan University of Chinese Medicine (approval number: IACUC-202306012). The mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis was induced using bleomycin (BLM). Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining was used to detect the histopathological changes of lung tissues. Masson staining was used to assess the degree of fibrosis in lung tissues. Immunofluorescence (IF) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) were performed to measure the expression of collagen type I (COL I), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin (FN), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in lung tissues. Flow cytometry (FCM) was employed to detect the proportion of M1 and M2 macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice. IF and qPCR were also used to detect the expression of lipase family member N (LIPN) in lung tissues. Free fatty acid assay kit was used to detect the level of free fatty acids in lung tissue. Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were treated with interleukin-4 (IL-4) to induce M2 polarization. FCM was used to measure the proportion of CD206⁺ M2 macrophages. IF was utilized to detect LIPN expression and lipid droplet decomposition. The results showed that in BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis mice, ECC-JHF significantly attenuated BLM-induced alveolar inflammation and collagen deposition, inhibited fibroblast activation in lung tissues, and decreased the proportion of M2 macrophages in BALF. It also significantly suppressed LIPN expression and free fatty acid level in lung tissues. In the IL-4 induced BMDMs M2 polarization model, ECC-JHF significantly inhibited the proportion of CD206⁺ M2 macrophages, down-regulated the expression of LIPN, and blocked lipid droplet catabolism. These results suggest that ECC-JHF may alleviate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting lipid droplet decomposition and M2 macrophage polarization.

As the number of patients with compromised immune function increases and fungal resistance develops, so does the risk of contracting deadly fungi in humans. Both fungi and humans are eukaryotes, so identifying unique targets for antifungal drug development is difficult. In addition, the existing antifungal drugs are limited by toxicity, drug interaction and drug resistance in practical application, which leads to the increasing incidence and fatal rate of fungal infections. Therefore, it is urgent to develop new antifungal drugs. The semi-synthetic technology using microbial fermentation products from natural sources as lead compounds has become the most used method in structural modification of antifungal drugs due to its advantages of few reaction steps and easy operation. This paper will introduce the current status of natural antifungal drugs in clinical use, as well as the latest progress in the research and development of new semi-synthetic antifungal drugs, and summarize their mechanism of action, structural modifications, advantages and disadvantages, so as to provide reference for the subsequent development of new antifungal drugs.

Objective To investigate the expression of arginase Ⅱ(ArgⅡ)in kidney tissue of rats with diabetic nephropathy(DN)and its significance in the development of DN.Methods A total of 10 male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group and the model group,with 5 rats in each group.An rat model of DN was developed by feeding with high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with intra-peritoneal injection of low-dose streptozotocin(45 mg/kg),and they were sacrificed after 11 weeks of continued feeding.The body weight,and biochemical indexes of blood and urine of rats were determined.The right kidney was weighed and histopathological examination was performed.The pathological changes of kidney tissues and protein expression of ArgⅡ and CD68+were observed,and the immunofluores-cence double staining was used to observe the distribution and expression of ArgⅡand a marker of renal macrophage activation CD68+;the protein expression of ArgⅡ,NF-κB,TNF-α and IL-6 in kidney tissues was determined by Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,the ratio of kidney weight to body weight,24-hour urine volume,24-hour urine protein,fasting blood glucose,urea nitrogen and insulin level in the model group were significantly increased(P<0.05).The renal histopathology showed that the mesangial cells of the renal glomerular were necrotic with vascular dilatation,and the renal tubular epithelial cells were steatosis and congestion.Compared with the control group,the protein expression of ArgⅡ,CD68+,NF-κB,TNF-α and IL-6 in the kidney tissues of the model group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Immunofluorescence double staining demonstrated the co-expression of ArgⅡ and CD68+in renal tissue,and the fluorescence intensities of both ArgⅡ and CD68+in the model group were significantly stronger than those in the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion The expression of ArgⅡ is increased in DN,which may be participated in the occurrence of inflammatory lesions in DN.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a novel reduction device in the treatment of A3N0/1 thoracolumbar fracture using navigation-assisted techniques.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 45 patients (29 males, 16 females; mean age 40.67±16.11 years, range 24-57) with thoracolumbar fractures who underwent fracture reduction and pedicle screw fixation via the Wiltse approach at Zhengzhou Orthopaedic Hospital between January 2022 and January 2023. Injury levels included: T 10 in 2 cases, T 11 in 5 cases, T 12 in 13 cases, L 1 in 20 cases, L 2 in 3 cases, L 3 in 2 cases. All patients underwent fracture reduction via the Wiltse approach using the spinal fracture reduction instrument for vertebral body reduction. Among them, 20 patients received O-arm navigation-assisted internal fixation and vertebral reduction (O-arm group), while 25 received C-arm fluoroscopy-guided internal fixation and vertebral reduction (C-arm group). Operative time, intraoperative blood loss, vertebral reduction time using the instrument, first-time screw placement success rate, screw placement accuracy, and complications were compared. Mid-vertebral body height ratio (MVBHr), local Cobb angle of the fractured vertebra, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were compared preoperatively, at 1 week postoperatively, 3 months postoperatively, and final follow-up. Results:All surgeries were successfully completed in both groups. Operative time was significantly shorter in the O-arm group (106.8±14.4 min) than in the C-arm group (119.1±16.4 min, P<0.05). All patients were followed up for a mean duration of 15.9±3.9 months (range 12-20 months). Vertebral reduction time was significantly shorter in the O-arm group (11.0±2.2 min) than in the C-arm group (20.4±5.7 min, P<0.05). The first-time screw placement success rate was significantly higher in the O-arm group (100%) than in the C-arm group (95.3%, P<0.05). Screw placement accuracy (Grade I) was significantly higher in the O-arm group (117 screws, 97.5%) than in the C-arm group (136 screws, 90.7%, P<0.05). No cases of wrong-level surgery, infection, or spinal cord/nerve injury occurred. Both groups showed significant improvements in MVBHr, Cobb angle, VAS, and ODI at all postoperative time points compared to preoperative values ( P<0.05). At final follow-up, the O-arm group demonstrated significantly better outcomes than the C-arm group in MVBHr (90.6%±4.5% vs. 86.4%±6.9%, P<0.05), Cobb angle (7.6°±1.8° vs. 10.1°±3.2°, P<0.05), VAS (1.3±0.4 vs. 1.7±0.6, P<0.05), and ODI (4.6%±1.9% vs. 7.7%±2.0%, P<0.01). Conclusion:O-arm navigation-assisted intrasegmental push reduction for A3N0/1 type thoracolumbar fractures demonstrates advantages including faster and more accurate screw placement, precise reduction with improved outcomes, and significant postoperative pain relief.

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic value of the vesical imaging-reporting and data system（VI-RADS）for determining muscle invasion in variant histology urothelial carcinoma（VUC）of the bladder.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the pathological and imaging data of 518 bladder cancer patients admitted to Jiangsu Province Hospital between January 2013 and January 2023. Patients were stratified into pure urothelial carcinoma（PUC）group（ n = 457）and variant urothelial carcinoma（VUC）group（ n = 61）based on the presence of histological variants. In the PUC group，there were 390 males（85.3%）and 67 females（14.7%），with a mean age of（66.9 ± 11.2）years. Tumor characteristics included maximum diameter ≥ 30 mm in 149（32.6%），< 30 mm in 308（67.4%），multiple tumors in 147（32.2%），solitary in 310（67.8%），pedunculated morphology in 143（31.3%）and non-pedunculated in 314（68.7%）. Histological grading identified high-grade tumors in 319 patients（69.8%）and low-grade tumors in 138（30.2%）. Pathological stage distribution included 191 of T a（41.8%），127 of T 1（27.8%），76 of T 2（16.6%），47 of T 3（10.3%），and 16 of T 4（3.5%）patients. The VUC group included 61 patients，comprising 51 males（83.6%）and 10 females（16.4%），with a mean age of（65.8 ± 11.4）years. Tumor characteristics were maximum diameter ≥ 30 mm in 38（62.3%），< 30 mm in 23（37.7%），multiple tumors in 16（26.2%），solitary in 45（73.8%），pedunculated morphology in 11（18.0%）and non-pedunculated in 50（82.0%）. Histological grading identified high-grade tumors in 59 patients（96.7%）and low-grade tumors in 2（3.3%）. Pathological stage distribution included 3 of T a（4.9%），15 of T 1（24.6%），15 of T 2（24.6%），20 of T 3（32.8%），and 8 of T 4（13.1%）patients. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in gender，age，or tumor multiplicity（ P > 0.05）. Statistically significant differences were found in pathological grade，pathological stage，maximum tumor diameter，and pedunculated morphology（ P < 0.05）. Furthermore，an external validation cohort of 278 bladder cancer patients treated between February 2023 and February 2024 from multiple centers（Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital，The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University，Union Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology，Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Suzhou Municipal Hospital，Huaian First People’s Hospital，Yixing People’s Hospital）was retrospectively analyzed to externally validate the performance of VI-RADS scoring in predicting muscle invasion of VUC. This cohort included a PUC subgroup of 241 patients，comprising 196 males（81.3%）and 45 females（18.7%），with a mean age of（68.0 ± 10.7）years. Tumor characteristics were maximum diameter ≥ 30 mm in 85（35.3%），< 30 mm in 156（64.7%），multiple tumors in 65（27.0%），solitary in 176（73.0%），pedunculated morphology in 76（31.5%）and non-pedunculated in 165（68.5%）. Histological grading identified high-grade tumors in 175 patients（72.6%）and low-grade tumors in 66（27.4%）. Pathological staging comprised 107 patients of T a（44.4%），78 of T 1（32.4%），22 of T 2（9.1%），22 of T 3（9.1%），and 12 of T 4（5.0%）. The VUC subgroup consisted of 37 patients，comprising 29 males（78.4%）and 8 females（21.6%），with a mean age of（70.5 ± 9.5）years. Tumor characteristics were maximum diameter ≥ 30 mm in 23（62.2%），< 30 mm in 14（37.8%），multiple tumors in 9（24.3%），solitary in 28（75.7%），pedunculated morphology in 7（18.9%）and non-pedunculated in 30（81.1%）. Histological grading identified high-grade tumors in 36 patients（97.3%）and low-grade tumors in 1（2.7%）. Pathological staging comprised 1 patient of T a（2.7%），9 of T 1（24.3%），7 of T 2（18.9%），19 of T 3（51.4%），and 1 of T 4（2.7%）. In this validation cohort，no significant differences were found in gender，age，tumor multiplicity，or pedunculated morphology between the PUC and VUC subgroups（ P > 0.05）. Significant differences were observed in pathological grade，pathological stage，and maximum tumor diameter（ P < 0.05）. Three radiologists independently reviewed and scored the multiparametric MRI（mp-MRI）in a blinded manner. Inter-reader agreement was assessed using the weighted kappa statistic. Differences in variables between the two groups were compared using t-tests，chi-square tests，or Fisher’s exact test. The diagnostic performance of VI-RADS for muscle invasion in VUC and PUC was comprehensively evaluated using receiver operating characteristic（ROC）curves，the area under the curve（AUC），and cut-off values determined by the Youden’s index. The DeLong test was used to assess whether the diagnostic performance of VI-RADS differed between VUC and PUC. Results:In the retrospective single-center cohort，the AUC of VI-RADS for assessing muscle invasion was 0.895（95% CI 0.864?0.922）in the PUC group，with a cut-off value of > 3，and the AUC was 0.896（95% CI 0.791-0.960）in the VUC group，with a cut-off value of > 3. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant（ P = 0.986）. Using a VI-RADS score > 3 as the cut-off value，the accuracy，sensitivity，specificity，positive predictive value（PPV），and negative predictive value（NPV）for diagnosing muscle invasion status in the PUC group were 85.8%（392/457），70.5%（98/139），92.5%（294/318），80.3%（98/122），and 87.8%（294/335），respectively. The corresponding values for the VUC group were 82.0%（50/61），76.7%（33/43），94.4%（17/18），97.1%（33/34），and 63.0%（17/27）.In the retrospective multicenter cohort，the AUC of VI-RADS for assessing muscle invasion was 0.891（95% CI 0.845?0.927）in the PUC group，with a cut-off value of > 2，and the AUC was 0.898（95% CI 0.754?0.973）in the VUC group，with a cut-off value of > 3. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant（ P = 0.897）. Using a VI-RADS score > 3 as the cut-off value，the accuracy，sensitivity，specificity，PPV，and NPV for diagnosing muscle invasion status in the PUC group were 85.9%（207/241），58.9%（33/56），94.1%（174/185），75.0%（33/44），and 88.3%（174/197），respectively. The corresponding values for the VUC group were 81.1%（30/37），77.8%（21/27），90.0%（9/10），95.5%（21/22），and 60.0%（9/15）.In the single-center cohort，the Kappa values for inter-reader agreement in assessing muscle invasion status using VI-RADS were 0.881（ P < 0.01）for the PUC group and 0.941（ P < 0.01）for the VUC group among the three readers. In the multicenter cohort，the Kappa values were 0.858（ P < 0.01）for the PUC group and 0.838（ P < 0.01）for the VUC group. Conclusions:VI-RADS demonstrates similarly high diagnostic performance for assessing muscle invasion in both PUC and VUC，which is applicable for diagnosing muscle invasion status in VUC，and shows good inter-reader agreement.

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) resources are the essential material foundation for the development of TCM. The national survey of TCM resources serves as a periodic summary of these resources, ensuring the continuity, prosperity, and development of TCM in China. Since 1949, four national surveys of TCM resources have been conducted. The fourth survey incorporated an investigation into traditional knowledge related to TCM resources, including the traditional medicinal knowledge of Chinese ethnic minorities, with the goal of systematically exploring, preserving, and inheriting this knowledge. This manuscript provides an overview of the basic findings from the first three national surveys of TCM resources, while also clarifying the concepts, categories, forms, carriers, and acquisition pathways of traditional knowledge related to TCM resources. A preliminary summary of the findings from traditional knowledge investigations reported in current literature is also presented. Based on the fourth survey, this manuscript emphasizes the urgency of developing public medical knowledge through empirically-based investigations, the excavation, and compilation of traditional knowledge. It also outlines the potential for conducting "precise" investigations based on first-hand data obtained from the survey, as well as facilitating the discovery and evaluation of new medicines using traditional knowledge related to ethnic minority medicinal practices. This manuscript is expected to provide valuable insights for promoting the health and industrial development of ethnic minority populations in the post-"survey" phase.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; China/ethnology* ; Minority Groups ; Ethnicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/ethnology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires