This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name， origin， quality evaluation， harvesting， processing and other aspects of Picrorhizae Rhizoma by referring to the medical books， prescription books， and other documents of the past dynasties， combined with relevant modern research materials， in order to provide a basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this medicinal herb. The research results indicate that Picrorhizae Rhizoma was first recorded in New Revised Materia Medica from the Tang dynasty. Throughout history， Huhuanglian has been used as its official name， and there are also aliases such as Gehu Luze， Jiahuanglian and Hulian. The main source of past dynasties is the the rhizomes of Picrorhiza kurrooa and P. scrophulariiflora. In ancient times， Picrorhizae Rhizoma was mainly imported by foreign traders via Guangzhou and other regions， and also produced in China， mainly in Xizang. In ancient times， it was harvested and dried in early August of the lunar calendar， while in modern times， it is mostly harvested from July to September， with the best quality being those with thick and crispy rhizomes without impurities， and bitter taste. Throughout history， Picrorhizae Rhizoma was collected， washed， sliced， and dried before being used as a raw material for medicine， it has a bitter and cold taste， mainly used to treat bone steaming， hot flashes， infantile chancre fever， and dysentery. There is no significant difference in taste and efficacy between ancient and modern times. Based on the research results， it is recommended that the rhizomes of P. scrophulariiflora in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia， or the rhizomes of P. kurrooa， can be used in famous classical formulas containing this medicinal herb， which can be processed according to the processing requirements marked by the original formula. For those without clear processing requirements， the dried raw products are used as medicine.

Background High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a sensitive biomarker for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and can independently predict the risk of cardiovascular events. Although the association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and CVD risk has been widely reported, studies on the association between hs-CRP and PFAS remain limited. Objective To investigate the association between PFAS and hs-CRP levels, to provide a scientific basis for early identification and prevention of environment-related cardiovascular events. Methods This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (2015–2018). Based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 3219 participants were included for subsequent analysis. Five PFAS with detection rates exceeding 90% were selected as exposure factors and log-transformed (lnPFAS) for subsequent analysis, including perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA). After selecting potential confounders through a change-in-estimate approach, logistic regression was employed to examine the effects of individual PFAS on serum hs-CRP level. Additionally, quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were applied to assess the combined effects of PFAS mixtures on hs-CRP. Results The study included 3219 participants with a mean age of (50.4±17.6) years, of whom 1554 (48.28%) were male. The median concentrations of the five PFAS compounds were: 1.20 ng·mL⁻¹ (PFHxS), 0.50 ng·mL⁻¹ (PFNA), 1.50 ng·mL⁻¹ (PFOA), 5.20 ng·mL⁻¹ (PFOS), and 0.20 ng·mL⁻¹ (PFDA). The Wilcoxon rank-sum tests revealed statistically significant differences between the elevated serum hs-CRP (≥2 mg·L⁻¹) and normal (<2 mg·L⁻¹) groups for all five PFAS compounds (PFHxS: P=0.005; PFNA: P=0.009; PFOA: P<0.001; PFOS: P<0.001; PFDA: P<0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, the analysis of individual PFAS exposure demonstrated significant negative associations between serum hs-CRP levels and both ln-PFOS (OR: 0.87; 95%CI: 0.79, 0.96; P=0.0036) and lnPFDA (OR: 0.78; 95%CI: 0.71, 0.86; P < 0.001). The joint effect analysis using quantile g-computation revealed an overall inverse association between PFAS mixtures and hs-CRP, with lnPFDA emerging as a primary contributor; an similar association was observed in males, but not significant in females. Further evaluation through BKMR showed that when PFAS mixture concentrations reached or exceeded P₇₀, their combined effect on hs-CRP became significantly lower than when all PFAS concentrations were at P₅₀, establishing a clear negative dose-response relationship. Conclusion The mixed exposure to PFAS showed a significant negative joint effect on serum hs-CRP levels, with PFDA being the key component contributing to this combined effect. Future prospective cohort studies are warranted to further validate these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved.

Background The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is a vast area with a wide array of ecological environments, resulting in considerable regional variations in air pollution characteristics. Current research is limited by a scarcity of systematic, region-wide studies and risk assessments. Objective To assess the health risks associated with inhalation exposure to nine heavy metal and metalloid elements in atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) for the population of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Methods From the 10th to the 16th of each month throughout 2023, atmospheric PM_2.5 samples were collected at designated monitoring sites in 12 leagues (cities) across the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to analyze the characteristics and trends in concentration. The health risk assessment model developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency was employed to evaluate both the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with the heavy metal elements beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), hydrargyrum (Hg), plumbum (Pb), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni) and the metalloid elements stibium (Sb) and arsenic (As). Results In 2023, a total of 1206 valid PM_2.5 samples were analyzed from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The annual average PM_2.5 concentrations in Inner Mongolia, as well as in the cities of Ordos, Wuhai, and the Alxa League, all exceeded the national limit of 35 μg·m⁻³. The PM_2.5 concentrations across the leagues (cities) exhibited a clear seasonal variation, peaking in winter, followed by spring, and reaching a minimum in summer and autumn. The median PM_2.5 concentration in Ordos throughout the year was higher than that in the other leagues (cities) of the region. Concerning health risks, the non-carcinogenic risks associated with the 9 elements detected in each league (city) were all below 1, indicating acceptable levels. However, the non-carcinogenic risk values for Mn, Cr, and As were relatively high; specifically, Ordos City displayed the highest non-carcinogenic risk values for Mn (7.74×10⁻¹) and Cr (2.97×10⁻²), while Chifeng City recorded the highest value for As (2.34×10⁻³). The carcinogenic risk values for As, Cd, Cr, and Ni fell within the range of 1×10⁻⁹ to 1×10⁻⁵, representing an acceptable level. The health risks varied with age, and the elderly residents faced the highest non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks. Conclusion While the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks from heavy metals and metalloids within atmospheric PM_2.5 in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are generally within acceptable limits, the potential risks that Mn, As, and Cr pose to the health of elderly people warrants particular attention, and Ordos and Chifeng cities exhibit notably higher health risks among other areas. It is recommended that regular, long-term monitoring be conducted, taking into account the specific conditions at monitoring sites across each league (city), and that targeted air quality management strategies be implemented to protect public health.

Background At present, the practice of pulmonary rehabilitation for pneumoconiosis in China is in a primary stage. The basis for formulating an individualized comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation plan is still insufficient, which is one of the factors limiting the development of community-level rehabilitation work. Objective To formulate an exercise prescription based on maximum heart rate measured by cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), conduct an individualized comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program with the exercise prescription for patients with stable pneumoconiosis, and evaluate its role in improving exercise endurance and quality of life, thus provide a basis for the application and promotion of pulmonary rehabilitation. Methods A total of 68 patients were recruited from the Occupational Disease Prevention Hospital of Jinneng Holding Coal Industry Group Co., Ltd. from April to August 2022 , and were divided into an intervention group and a control group by random number table method, with 34 cases in each group. All the pneumoconiosis patients participated in a baseline test. The control group was given routine drug treatment, while the intervention group received multidisciplinary comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation treatment on the basis of routine drug treatment, including health education, breathing training, exercise training, nutrition guidance, psychological intervention, and sleep management, whose exercise intensity was determined according to the maximum heart rate provided by CPET. The rehabilitation training lasted for 24 weeks. Patients were evaluated at registration and the end of study respectively. CPET was used to measure peak oxygen uptake per kilogram (pVO₂/kg), anaerobic threshold (AT), carbon dioxide equivalent of ventilation (EqCO₂), maximum metabolic equivalent (METs), and maximum work (W_max). The modified British Medical Research Council Dyspnea Questionnaire (mMRC), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (CAT), and Short Form of Health Survey (SF-36) were used to evaluate the potential effect of the comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program. Results Among the included 68 patients, 63 patients were having complete data, then 31 cases were assigned in the control group and 32 cases in the interventional group. Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in pVO₂/kg, AT, EqCO₂, METs, or W_max between the two groups (P>0.05). At the end of the trail, the indicators like pVO₂/kg [(19.81±2.38) mL·(min·kg)⁻¹], AT [(14.48±2.33) mL·(min·kg)⁻¹], METs (5.64±0.69), and W_max [(85.25±14) W] of patients in the intervention group were all higher than those [(13.90±2.37) mL·(min·kg)⁻¹, (11.70±1.94) mL·(min kg)⁻¹, (3.97±0.70), and (61.77±14.72) W, respectively] in the control group (P<0.001); there was no significant difference in EqCO₂ between the two groups (P=0.083). Before the trial, there was no significant difference in mMRC, SAS, SDS, PSQI, or CAT scores between the two groups (P>0.05). At the end of the trail, the mMRC score (1.16±0.57), SAS score (27.93±2.12), SDS score (26.48±1.44), PSQI score (1.08±0.88), and CAT score (4.34±3.28) of patients in the intervention group were lower than those [(2.03±0.83), (35.87±6.91), (34.23±6.65), (5.37±3.03), and (13.87±7.53), respectively] in the control group (P<0.001). The SF-36 scores of bodily pain (94.13±10.72), general health (87.50±5.68), vitality (95.31±5.53), mental health (99.88±0.71), and health changes (74.22±4.42) in the intervention group were higher than those [(71.87±32.72), (65.81±15.55), (74.52±16.45), (86.97±16.56), and (29.84±13.50), respectively] in the control group (P<0.001), and no significant difference was found in social functioning and role emotional scores (P>0.05). Conclusion Comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation can increase the oxygen intake and exercise endurance of pneumoconiosis patients, ameliorate dyspnea symptoms, elevate psychological state and sleep quality, and improve the quality of life.

OBJECTIVE To study the efficacy evaluation of triptolide(TP) in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) injury and its mechanism. METHODS Rat brain I/R injury model was copied by middle cerebral artery wire embolism surgery, and TP (0.1, 0.2 mg·kg−1) was given to the treatment group, and set the sham surgery group. The Longa score method was used to measure the neural function of rats, and Niselferi staining was used to show the morphology of neurons in the ischemic side brain tissue of rats, immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression levels of MAP2 and Syn in ischemic lateral brain tissue. The expression levels of cAMP, PKA, BDNF, Syn and PSD-95 were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS Compared with the model group, the neurological scores of TP treatment group decreased significantly(P<0.01 or P<0.001), it had a protective effect on damaged neurons. Compared with the model group, cAMP, PKA, BDNF, Syn and PSD-95 in TP treatment group were significantly up-regulated. CONCLUSION TP treatment can significantly improve I/R injury, and the mechanism may be related to the activation of the cAMP/PKA/BDNF signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the improvement effect and mechanism of triptolide （TP） on sciatica rats. METHODS Sciatica rat model was prepared and then randomly divided into model group （normal saline）， indomethacin group （positive control， 7.5 mg/kg）， TP low-dose and high-dose groups （TP-L group and TP-H group， 50， 100 μg/kg TP）， and high-dose TP+ stimulator of interferon gene （STING） activator group （TP-H+DMXAA group， 100 μg/kg TP+25 mg/kg DMXAA）， with 12 rats in each group. Another 12 unligated rats were selected as sham operation group （normal saline）. After 14 days of intraperitoneal administration， the paw mechanical withdrawal threshold （PWT） and paw withdrawal thermal latency （PWL） were detected； the pathological changes， morphology of sciatic nerve and the number of microglia in sciatic nerve were observed. The levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， mRNA and protein expression levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate- adenosine monophosphate synthase （cGAS） and STING in sciatic nerve were detected. RESULTS Compared with sham operation group， PWT and PWL of rats in model group were obviously reduced and shortened， the number of Nissl bodies was obviously decreased， while the number of microglia， sciatic neuropathology score， the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α， mRNA and protein expressions of cGAS and STING were obviously increased （P＜0.05）， and sciatic nerve injury was serious. Compared with model group， the changes of various indexes in indomethacin group， TP-L group and TP-H group were opposite to the above （P＜0.05）， and sciatic nerve injury was reduced. STING activator DMXAA weakened the inhibitory effect of TP on the activity of microglia and inflammatory response in sciatica rats （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS TP may reduce the activity of microglia and inflammatory response by down-regulating the cGAS/STING signaling pathway， thus alleviating sciatica in rats.

Objective To investigate the effects of hypothyroidism and drug intervention on the cognitive function of rat offspring through the establishment of a rat model of experimental hypothyroidism in pregnancy.Methods A to-tal of 20 SD female rats were randomly divided into control group(CON group)and hypothyroid group(PTU group).The hypothyroid model was established by propylthiouracil(PTU),the thyroid hormone levels of female mice were detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay,and the differences between the two groups were compared.After successful modeling,the male mice were mated in cages,and the hypothyroid group was randomly divided into no intervention group(group Ⅰ),first trimester intervention group(group Ⅱ)and second and third tri-mester intervention group(group Ⅲ).The Morris water maze(MWM)experiment was used to test the learning and memory ability of the rats.The morphological structure of hippocampal neurons,the expression of nucleoprotein(NeuN)and synapse-associated protein(SYN)in mature neurons were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining(HE),Nissl staining and immunohistochemistry.Results ① Compared with the CON group,the female mice in the PTU group had a significant increase in TSH and a significant decrease in FT4(P＜0.05).② In the positio-ning navigation test,the evasion latency of the pups in each group was gradually shortened.On the 5th day,the in-cubation period of group Ⅰ was significantly longer than that of groups CON,Ⅱ,Ⅲ(P＜0.05).There was little change between groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ and CON groups(P＞0.05).③ The residence time of group Ⅱ was significantly different from that in group Ⅰ during the space exploration stage(P＜0.05).There was a significant difference be-tween the number of pups crossing the platform in group Ⅰ and groups CON,Ⅱ and Ⅲ(P＜0.05).④ There was no significant difference between HE staining and Nissl staining in hippocampal tissues of rats in each group.How-ever,compared with the CON group,the average absorbance of NeuN and SYN proteins in the hippocampus of mice in groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ was significantly reduced(P＜0.05).Conclusion Hypothyroidism will have adverse effects on the cognitive function and hippocampal neuron development of pregnant rats,and the effects of interven-tion on the cognitive function of offspring at different stages of pregnancy are different,the earlier the intervention,the smaller the damage to cognitive function.

Purpose::To explore the effect of green channel for stroke patients on the treatment of severe aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.Methods::This is a retrospective case-control study. The clinical data of patients with severe aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage admitted to the emergency department of our hospital from January 2015 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage, confirmed intracranial aneurysm by preoperative CT angiography or digital subtraction, graded Hunt-Hess grade III, IV, and V, < 72 h from the onset to the time of consultation received surgical treatment in our hospital were included in this study. Patients with serious underlying diseases, such as heart, liver, kidney diseases, or malignant tumors, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, previous history of cerebral hemorrhage, and incomplete data were excluded. The control group included patients with severe aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage admitted from January 2015 to December 2018 before the establishment of the green channel for stroke patients, and the observation group included patients with severe aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage admitted from January 2019 to June 2022 after the establishment of the green channel. The control group received routine treatment in the emergency department; the observation group received improved treatment of green channel for stroke patients. Gender, age, Hunt-Hess grade on admission, modified Rankin scale (mRS) on admission, aneurysm location, aneurysm size and whether accompanied by intracerebral hemorrhage, the time from onset to emergency department, the time from emergency department to vascular diagnostic examination, the time from onset to surgery, the time from emergency department to surgery, the time from hospital admission to surgery, length of hospital stay, complications, treatment effect were analyzed and compared between the 2 groups. SPSS 23.0 software was utilized to conduct comparisons between the 2 groups. The t-test, Chi-square test, or Mann-Whitney U test was chosen based on the data type. Statistical significance was established when p < 0.05. Results::A total of 71 patients were included in this study, of whom 37 were in the control group and 34 were in the observation group. There were no statistical differences in age, gender, Hunt-Hess grade, mRS scores, aneurysm location, aneurysm size, intracerebral hemorrhage, the time from onset to emergency department, length of hospital stay, complications between the observation group and the control group (all p > 0.05). The time (min) from visit to vascular diagnostic test (60.50 vs. 120.00, p =0.027), the time (min) from onset to surgery (1792.00 vs. 2868.00, p =0.023), the time (min) from emergency department to surgery (1568.50 vs. 2778.00, p =0.016), the time (min) from hospital admission to surgery (1188.50 vs. 2708.00, p =0.043), all of them were shorter in the observation group than those in the control group. The relative values of admission and 7-day postoperative mRS scores and the relative values of admission and discharge mRS scores ≥ 2 were used as the criteria for determining better efficacy, and the treatment effect was better than that in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (admission to 7 days postoperative mRS score ≥ 2, 17 (50.0 %) vs. 8 (21.6 %), p =0.012; admission to discharge mRS score ≥ 2, 19 (55.9 %) vs. 11 (29.7 %), p =0.026). Conclusion::The green channel for stroke patients with severe aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage can effectively shorten the time from arrival at the emergency department to vascular diagnostic examination and the time from the emergency department to surgery, and achieve a better therapeutic effect, which is worth popularizing and applying.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects and its possible mechanism of Wuzi Yanzong Pill (WYP) on Parkinson's disease (PD) model mice. METHODS: Thirty-six C57BL/6 male mice were randomly assigned to 3 groups including normal, PD, and PD+WYP groups, 12 mice in each group. One week of intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was used to establish the classical PD model in mice. Meanwhile, mice in the PD+WYP group were administrated with 16 g/kg WYP, twice daily by gavage. After 14 days of administration, gait test, open field test and pole test were measured to evaluate the movement function. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) neurons in substantia nigra of midbrain and binding immunoglobulin heavy chain protein (GRP78) in striatum and cortex were observed by immunohistochemistry. The levels of TH, GRP78, p-PERK, p-eIF2α, ATF4, p-IRE1α, XBP1, ATF6, CHOP, ASK1, p-JNK, Caspase-12, -9 and -3 in brain were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the PD group, WYP treatment ameliorated gait balance ability in PD mice (P<0.05). Similarly, WYP increased the total distance and average speed (P<0.05 or P<0.01), reduced rest time and pole time (P<0.05). Moreover, WYP significantly increased TH positive cells (P<0.01). Immunofluorescence showed WYP attenuated the levels of GRP78 in striatum and cortex. Meanwhile, WYP treatment significantly decreased the protein expressions of GRP78, p-PERK, p-eIF2α, ATF4, p-IRE1 α, XBP1, CHOP, Caspase-12 and Caspase-9 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS WYP ameliorated motor symptoms and pathological lesion of PD mice, which may be related to the regulation of unfolded protein response-mediated signaling pathway and inhibiting the endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated neuronal apoptosis pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents from the roots of Curcuma longa. METHODS: The structures of the compounds were elucidated based on extensive spectral analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR, MS, UV, and CD analysis. RESULTS: Two new sesquiterpene compounds (1S,2R,5R,7S,8R)-2,8-epoxy-5-hydroxybisabola-3,10-dioen-9-one ( 1), (1R,2R,5R,7S,8R)-2,8-epoxy-5-hydroxybisabola-3,10-dioen-9-one ( 2), and a new natural product 6-(4-Hydroxymethylphenyl)-2-methyl-hept-2-ene-4-one ( 3) together with three known compounds ar-turmerone ( 4), 2-methyl-6-(4-hydroxyphenyl-3-methyl)-2-hepten-4-one ( 5) and 2-methyl-6-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hepten-4-one ( 6) were isolated from C. longa root extract with 95% ethanol. CONCLUSION In the study, three new compounds were isolated from C. longa, and their absolute configurations were determined.