Breviscapine （Bre）， the effective flavonoid fraction extracted from Erigeron breviscapus ， contains more than 90% scutellarin. It exerts pharmacological effects including cardiovascular protection， neuroprotection， anti-tumor activity and immunomodulation. Nevertheless， Bre has several drawbacks such as low solubility， low permeability， poor stability and short half-life， which greatly restrict its clinical application. Novel drug delivery systems （NDDS） are carriers that integrate multi-dimensional technologies including solubilization， penetration enhancement， sustained/controlled release and targeted delivery to achieve efficient drug delivery. This paper systematically summarizes the research progress of Bre-NDDS， which mainly covers oral preparations （sustained/controlled-release drug delivery systems， immediate-release drug delivery systems）， injectable preparations （liposomes， solid lipid nanoparticles， lipid emulsions， polymeric nanoparticles， polymeric micelles）， mucosal delivery systems （nasal mucosal drug delivery systems， buccal mucosal drug delivery systems， pulmonary mucosal drug delivery systems） and transdermal delivery systems. The preparation routes as well as in vitro and in vivo performances of various Bre-NDDS are analyzed. The design principles for NDDS based on pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics are put forward， which can provide scientific evidence for the research， development and industrialization of high-efficiency and safe new Bre preparations.

Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.

Objective:This study aims to explore the ability of three assessment tools,namely mPG-SGA,PG-SGA,and GLIM,to evaluate malnutrition in patients with head/neck tumors undergoing radiotherapy.Additionally,it intends to investigate the correlation between mPG-SGA and calf circumference,grip strength,as well as traditional laboratory indicators in assessing malnutrition in this patient population.Methods:Prospectively,patients with head/neck tumors undergoing radiotherapy in West China Hospital,Sichuan University from January 1,2025 to March 20,2025 were selected as the research subjects.Baseline data and traditional nutritional indicators of the patients were collected,and malnutrition assessment was conducted using three tools:mPG-SGA,PG-SGA,and GLIM.Spearman correlation coefficient was used for analysis to explore the correlation between mPG-SGA scores and traditional nutritional indicators.Results:A total of 106 patients were initially included in this study,with 6 cases excluded,resulting in 100 eligible head and neck tumor patients.The average age of the enrolled patients was(51.62±11.97)years,among whom 74 were male(74%).The incidence rates of malnutrition assessed by mPG-SGA,PG-SGA,and GLIM were 41%,45%,and 23%,respectively.With PG-SGA as the gold standard reference,the sensitivity of mPG-SGA and GLIM in detecting malnutrition was 100.00%and 28.89%,respectively,and the specificity was 93.22%and 81.82%,respectively,with AUC values of 0.956 and 0.554.Results of correlation analysis showed that left calf circumference,right calf circumference,dominant hand grip strength,non-dominant hand grip strength,hemoglobin,and red blood cells were positively correlated with mPG-SGA[correlation coefficients were 0.307(P=0.002),0.294(P=0.003),0.395(P<0.001),0.360(P<0.001),0.226(P=0.028),and 0.267(P=0.009),respectively].Conclusion:mPG-SGA exhibited comparable diagnostic efficacy to PG-SGA and GLIM for malnutrition assessment in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy,while offering simplified operational procedures.This tool shows potential as a rapid nutritional evaluation alternative,though multicenter validation across various cancer types remains necessary.

Increasing evidence shows that the early lesions of Parkinson's disease (PD) originate from gut, and correction of microbiota dysbiosis is a promising therapy for PD. FLZ is a neuroprotective agent on PD, which has been validated capable of alleviating microbiota dysbiosis in PD mice. However, the detailed mechanisms still need elucidated. Through metabolomics and 16S rRNA analysis, we identified glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA) was the most affected differential microbial metabolite by FLZ treatment, which was specially and negatively regulated by Clostridium innocuum, a differential microbiota with the strongest correlation to GUDCA production, through inhibiting bile salt hydrolase (BSH) enzyme. The protection of GUDCA on colon and brain were also clarified in PD models, showing that it could activate Nrf2 pathway, further validating that FLZ protected dopaminergic neurons through promoting GUDCA production. Our study uncovered that FLZ improved PD through microbiota-gut-brain axis, and also gave insights into modulation of microbial metabolites may serve as an important strategy for treating PD.

Although enteric glial cell (EGC) abnormal activation is reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), and inhibition of EGC gliosis alleviated gut and dopaminergic neuronal dysfunction was verified in our previous study, the potential role of gut microbiota on EGC function in PD still need to be addressed. In the present study, fecal microbiota transplantation revealed that EGC function was regulated by gut microbiota. By employing 16S rRNA and metabolomic analysis, we identified that 3-indolepropionic acid (IPA) was the most affected differential microbial metabolite that regulated EGC gliosis. The protective effects of IPA on PD were validated in rotenone-stimulated EGCs and rotenone (30 mg/kg i.g. for 4 weeks)-induced PD mice, as indicated by decreased inflammation, improved intestinal and brain barrier as well as dopaminergic neuronal function. Mechanistic study showed that IPA targeted pregnane X receptor (PXR) in EGCs, and inhibition of IL-13Rα1 involved cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway, leading to inactivation of downstream JAK1-STAT6 pathway. Our data not only provided evidence that EGC gliosis was critical in spreading intestinal damage to brain, but also highlighted the potential role of microbial metabolite IPA in alleviating PD pathological damages through gut-brain axis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2025.02.029.].

Perimenopause raises the risk and incidence of depression, whereas the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Disturbed glucose regulation has been widely documented in depressive disorders, which renders the brain susceptible to various stresses such as estrogen depletion. However, whether and how glucose dysfunction regulates depression-like behaviors and neuronal damage in perimenopausal transition remains unexplored. Here, a prominent depressive phenotype was found in perimenopausal mice induced by the ovarian toxin 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD). The VCD depression susceptible group (VCD^SS) and the VCD depression resilient group (VCD^RES) were determined using a ROC-based behavioral screening approach. We found that the hippocampus, a crucial region linked to depression, had hyperglycemia and mitochondrial abnormalities. Interestingly, oral administration of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin (EMPA) and intrahippocampal glucose infusion suggest a close relationship between hyperglycemia in the hippocampus and the susceptibility to depression. We verified that cytochrome c oxidase 7c (COX7C) downregulation is a potential cause of the high glucose-induced neuronal injury using proteomic screening and biochemical validations. High glucose causes COX7C to be ubiquitinated in a S-phase kinase associated protein 1 (SKP1)-dependent manner. According to these results, SKP1/COX7C represents a unique therapeutic target and a novel molecular route for treating perimenopausal depression.

OBJECTIVE: Microcirculatory disturbance is pathologically critical to acute pancreatitis (AP), which can be effectively alleviated by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas that activate blood flow. However, there has been no evidence-based research to date. Therefore, a well-designed systematic review and meta-analysis is necessary to elucidate the therapeutic transformative benefit of improving microcirculation during AP. This study aims to confirm the therapeutic efficacy of TCM formulas and explore the potential mechanisms underlying their effects on AP treatment. METHODS: Studies from eight databases including Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, Wanfang, and Chinese VIP, were screened for the eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The APACHE II score and effectiveness rate were set as primary outcomes, while mortality rate, complications, total hospital stays, serum amylase recovery time, the time until the disappearance of abdominal pain, microcirculation indicators, and inflammation indicators were chosen as secondary outcomes. A systematic review and meta-analysis were subsequently conducted. Network pharmacology analysis was performed to analyze potential bioactive components with relevant targets of the core herbs included in the TCM formulas for activating blood flow. RESULTS: A total of 51 RCTs (n = 3 721) were included. Compared with conventional western medical treatments alone, TCM groups were associated with lower APACHE II score (SMD =  - 1.36, 95% CI: -2.01 to - 0.71, P = 0.000) and higher effectiveness rate (RR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.26, P = 0.000). Furthermore, the formulas for activating blood flow demonstrated significant efficacy in improving both microcirculation and inflammation indicators. Additionally, six core Chinese herbal medicines including Rhei Radix et Rhizoma with the highest frequency, Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, Paeoniae Radix Rubra, Bupleuri Radix, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and Corydalis Rhizoma were filtered out from the adopted TCM formulas. Finally, 166 shared targets between the six herbs and AP were identified. KEGG analysis indicated that lipid and atherosclerosis pathway is highly related to microcirculation. CONCLUSION TCM formulas for activating blood flow significantly improve microcirculation and alleviate AP. Further high-quality, well-designed RCTs and deep mechanism exploration are required.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of combined telephone and WeChat follow-up for patients discharged with an indwelling closed thoracic drainage tube after surgery for stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema. Methods Patients with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema who were discharged with an indwelling drainage tube from the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu, between November 2021 and November 2022 were enrolled in this study. They were divided into an observation group (combined telephone and WeChat follow-up) and a control group (telephone-only follow-up). The quality of life (QoL), treatment adherence, and recovery outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 81 patients were included. The observation group consisted of 49 patients (31 males, 18 females) with a mean age of (38.63±15.86) years. The control group consisted of 32 patients (27 males, 5 females) with a mean age of (36.91±17.33) years. The observation group showed significantly better postoperative QoL outcomes in the domains of physical functioning, emotional functioning, physical symptoms, global health status, and overall QoL compared to the control group (all P<0.05). Regarding treatment adherence, the observation group demonstrated superior performance in daily activity duration, use of a respiratory trainer, and adherence to coughing exercises compared to the control group (all P<0.001). The duration of chest tube indwelling was significantly shorter in the observation group (P<0.001). Furthermore, the observation group showed better recovery in albumin and hemoglobin levels (both P<0.05). Conclusion A combined telephone and WeChat follow-up approach can significantly improve the QoL and treatment adherence for patients discharged with an indwelling drainage tube. This method effectively shortens the duration of postoperative tube drainage, promotes nutritional recovery, and accelerates overall postoperative rehabilitation.

Objective To understand the current situation and influencing factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in medical staff in Beijing City. Methods A total of 2 687 medical staff were selected as the research subjects using the multi-stage sampling method. The current situation of WMSDs and occupational stress, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and insomnia symptoms were investigated using the Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire, the Core Occupational Stress Scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale, and the Self-Sleep Management Questionnaire. The Max-Min Hill-Climbing algorithm was used to construct a Bayesian network model to analyze the influencing factors and internal relationships of WMSDs and to conduct reasoning and prediction of the model. Results The prevalence of WMSDs among the research subjects was 88.9%. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify age, educational level, personal monthly income, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, insomnia symptoms, prolonged forward-head desk work, and prolonged static posture work to construct the Bayesian network model. The model consisted of nine nodes and eleven directed edges. Prolonged static posture work, prolonged forward-head desk work, and anxiety symptoms were directly related to WMSDs. Age and educational level were indirectly related to WMSDs through their influence on prolonged forward-head desk work. Depression symptoms were indirectly associated with WMSDs through their influence on anxiety symptoms. The model's prediction accuracy was 90.5%. Conclusion The prevalence of WMSDs among medical staff in Beijing City is relatively high. Prolonged static posture work, prolonged forward-head desk work, and anxiety symptoms may directly increase the risk of developing WMSDs.