The transformation of traditional biomedical model into the bio-psycho-social medical model means that the purpose of clinical diagnosis and treatment not only focuses on the disease itself， but also emphasizes the quality of life and happiness index of patients. Since chronic hepatitis B （CHB） is infectious and has high rates of recurrence and progression， patients have to bear many pressures in terms of physiology， psychology， economy， and society， which seriously affects their quality of life. Therefore， it is very important to perform health-related quality of life （HRQoL） assessments for patients with CHB. This article reviews the clinical significance and measurement tools of HRQoL assessments in patients with CHB and summarizes the influencing factors for HRQoL in CHB patients and the measures to improve their HRQoL. This article will provide theoretical support for dynamic monitoring of HRQoL in CHB patients and practical guidance for optimizing the clinical diagnosis and treatment regimens for CHB and improving the quality of life of patients.

Objective To establish a chronic rejection (CR) model of mouse heart transplantation and analyze its characteristics. Methods Allogeneic BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were used as donor and recipient for heart transplantation, and intraperitoneal injection of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4-immunoglobulin (CTLA4-Ig) was given 1 and 2 days after surgery. Graft survival time, donor specific antibody (DSA) level, graft pathology and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed. Results In allogeneic transplantation model, graft survival time was prolonged after CTLA4-Ig treatment [(28.2±4.1) d vs. (7.0±0.7) d, P < 0.01]. The level of serum DSA-IgG increased at 2, 3 and 4 weeks after surgery, while the level of DSA-IgM remained unchanged. Myocardial cell injury, inflammatory cell infiltration, interstitial fibrosis and C4d deposition in capillaries were aggravated 3 weeks after operation and worsened 4 weeks after operation. The infiltrated immune cells were mainly macrophages, T cells and plasma cells. Conclusions Mouse allogeneic heart transplantation combined with CTLA4-Ig successfully establishes a CR model, which provides a basis for subsequent studies on the pathogenesis and intervention of CR.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Estradiol tablet/Estradiol and dydrogesterone tablet combined with Dan’e fukang decoction on postoperative recovery， sex hormone levels， uterine artery blood flow， and endometrium in patients with high risk of endometrial basal layer injury after induced abortion， and evaluate the safety of drug use. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 244 patients with high risk of endometrial basal layer injury who underwent artificial abortions in our hospital between January 2022 and December 2023. They were divided into control group （120 cases） and observation group （124 cases） according to postoperative medication plan. All patients received anti-infective treatment after induced abortion. Based on it， control group was given Estradiol tablet/Estradiol and dydrogesterone tablet， and observation group was given Estradiol tablet/Estradiol and dydrogesterone tablet+Dan’e fukang decoction， for consecutive 28 d. The time of vaginal bleeding， abdominal pain， return of menstruation， and vaginal bleeding volume were observed in 2 groups； serum sex hormone levels [serum follicle stimulating hormone （FSH）， luteinizing hormone （LH）， estradiol， and progesterone]， uterine artery blood flow parameters [peak systolic blood flow velocity （PSV）， pulsatility index （PI）， and resistance index （RI）] and endometrial thickness were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. The occurrence of complications and adverse reactions in patients were recorded. RESULTS After treatment， the duration of vaginal bleeding， vaginal bleeding volume， duration of abdominal pain， and menstrual cycle recovery time in observation group were significantly shorter or less than the control group （P＜0.05）. After treatment， both groups exhibited a significant increase in endometrial thickness， serum FSH and LH levels， and PSV， compared to before treatment， and the observation group was significantly thicker/higher than the control group （P＜0.05）； the levels of estradiol and progesterone， as well as the values of PI and RI， were significantly lower than those before treatment， and the observation group was significantly lower than the control group （P＜0.05）. The total incidence of postoperative complications in observation group was significantly lower than control group （P＜0.05）， but there was no significant difference in the total incidence of adverse reactions between the 2 groups （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Estradiol tablet/Estradiol and dydrogesterone tablet combined with Dan’e fukang decoction can accelerate the postoperative recovery of patients with high risk of endometrial basal layer injury after induced abortion， promote endometrial growth， regulate serum sex hormone levels， improve uterine artery blood flow， reduce postoperative complications， and have good safety.

Autism spectrum disorder in children (hereinafter called "childhood autism") is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition; however, ancient Chinese medical texts did not provide detailed accounts of it. The concept of "the sovereign fire illuminates, while the ministerial fire occupies its position" was first introduced in the Plain Questions: The Great Treatise on the Origin of Heavenly Influences chapter. Subsequent medical practitioners have elaborated on this idea, identifying the sovereign fire as the master of the spirit and governing life activities, while the ministerial fire is the assisting minister that supports the functions of the zang-fu organs. When these two are in harmony, they complement each other, collectively sustaining the body′s normal physiological functions. In the context of this theory, the pathogenesis of childhood autism is attributed to the imbalance between the sovereign and ministerial fires. The root cause lies in the mutual antagonism of these two fires, resulting in the dysfunction of the spirit. Central to childhood autism onset is the dimming of the sovereign fire and a deficiency in the spirit, while the displacement of the ministerial fire and the impaired function of the five viscera contribute significantly to the progression of the condition. Effective treatment for childhood autism involves restoring these imbalances: dispelling yin-related obstructions to illuminate the sovereign fire, nourishing the spleen and kidney to nourish the ministerial fire, and regulating the liver and lung to harmonize the sovereign and ministerial fires. The ultimate goal is to integrate body and spirit, harmonize the sovereign and ministerial fires, and restore the interconnectedness between spirit and the function of the five zang viscera. This article, based on the "the sovereign fire illuminates, while the ministerial fire occupies its position" theory, provides a novel perspective and insights for understanding and treating childhood autism through the holistic principles of traditional Chinese medicine. Emphasizing the integration of body and spirit offers new insights and approaches for the clinical management of childhood autism in traditional Chinese medicine.

ObjectiveHepatocyte nuclear factor 4-alpha (HNF4A) is a critical transcription factor in the liver and pancreas. Dysfunctions of HNF4A lead to maturity onset diabetes of the young 1 (MODY1). Notably, MODY1 patients with HNF4A pathogenic mutations exhibit decreased responses to arginine and reduced plasma triglyceride levels, but the mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the potential target genes transcriptionally regulated by HNF4A and explore its role in these metabolic pathways. MethodsA stable 293T cell line expressing the HNF1A reporter was overexpressed with HNF4A. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to analyze transcriptional differences. Transcription factor binding site prediction was then conducted to identify HNF4A binding motifs in the promoter regions of relevant target genes. ResultsRNA-seq results revealed a significant upregulation of transmembrane 4 L six family member 5 (TM4SF5) mRNA in HNF4A-overexpressing cells. Transcription factor binding predictions suggested the presence of five potential HNF4A binding motifs in the TM4SF5 promoter. Finally, we confirmed that the DR1 site in the -57 to -48 region of the TM4SF5 promoter is the key binding motif for HNF4A. ConclusionThis study identified TM4SF5 as a target gene of HNF4A and determined the key binding motif involved in its regulation. Given the role of TM4SF5 as an arginine sensor in mTOR signaling activation and triglyceride secretion, which closely aligns with phenotypes observed in MODY1 patients, our findings provide novel insights into the possible mechanisms by which HNF4A regulates triglyceride secretion in the liver and arginine-stimulated insulin secretion in the pancreas.

Based on the regulation of mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation through the PGC1α/PPARα/CPT1A pathway, this study investigated the effect of Jianpi Qinghua Formula on the mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation pathway in the livers of mice with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD) induced by a high-fat diet. MAFLD mice were fed a high-fat diet to establish the model, and after successful modeling, the mice were divided into the model group, the Jianpi Qinghua Formula group, and the metformin group, with an additional control group. Each group was treated with the corresponding drug or an equivalent volume of saline via gavage. Body mass and food intake were measured regularly during the experiment. At the end of the experiment, blood lipid levels and liver function-related indices were measured, liver pathological changes were observed, and protein expression levels of PGC1α, PPARα, PPARγ, and CPT1A were detected by Western blot. The results showed that, with no difference in food intake, compared to the model group, the body mass of the Jianpi Qinghua Formula group and the metformin group was reduced, liver weight and liver index decreased, and levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) were lowered. Additionally, a decrease in alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) was observed. Hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining revealed reduced pathological damage to hepatocytes, while oil red O staining showed improvement in fatty infiltration. The liver disease activity score decreased, and transmission electron microscopy revealed improvement in mitochondrial swelling and restoration of internal cristae. Western blot analysis indicated that Jianpi Qinghua Formula significantly increased the expression of PGC1α, PPARα, and CPT1A proteins in the liver and reduced the expression of PPARγ. These results suggest that the Jianpi Qinghua Formula improves mitochondrial function, promotes fatty acid oxidation, and alleviates the pathological changes of MAFLD. In conclusion, Jianpi Qinghua Formula can improve MAFLD by mediating mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation through the PGC1α/PPARα/CPT1A pathway.
Animals ; PPAR alpha/genetics* ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase/genetics* ; Male ; Liver/metabolism* ; Fatty Liver/genetics* ; Humans ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects*

Climate and land use changes may significantly impact the habitat distribution of Gastrodia elata, an endangered traditional medicinal plant. Accurately predicting its future potential suitable habitats is crucial for its conservation and sustainable development. This study integrates current distribution data of G. elata with 56 environmental variables and uses the MaxEnt model to predict changes in its suitable habitats under current climate conditions and four future climate scenarios(SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5). The results show that October precipitation and December minimum temperature are key environmental factors influencing its distribution. Under the current climate, optimal habitats for G. elata are concentrated in montane forest areas in Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Hubei, which meet the species' requirements for understory growth. Across all future scenarios, the suitable habitat of G. elata consistently shows a stable northward shift, with a steady increase in suitable areas, extending to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Huang-Huai region, and even expanding into Liaoning, Jilin, and southern Heilongjiang. Land use analysis, taking into account the protection of arable land and the utilization of forest resources, indicates that by 2100, under future climate conditions, arable land in medium-to high-suitability areas is expected to increase by 30%-124%. While the conversion of non-suitable forest land into suitable habitats is projected to increase by 5%-52%, the growth of medium-to high-suitability areas within forests is relatively modest, ranging from 1% to 24%. These findings highlight the need to balance agricultural expansion with forest resource conservation to ensure the long-term sustainability of G. elata and provide scientific guidance for future suitable habitat management.
Ecosystem ; China ; Climate Change ; Gastrodia/growth & development* ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Plants, Medicinal/growth & development*

Objective To develop an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-MS/MS） method to simultaneously determine 10 main components, including berberine, phellodendrine, specnuezhenide, mangiferin, loganin, paeoniflorin, geniposide, baicalin, and acteoside in Compound Dihuang oral solution. Methods An UPLC-MS/MS method was established with an ACQUITY UPLC BEH-C18 （2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 μm）column and mobile phase of 0.1% formic water（A）-methanol solution（B） in a gradient elution manner. The flow rate of mobile phase was 0.2 ml/min.The temperature of column was 30℃. The injection volume was 2 μl. The MS detection was in MRM mode. Results 10 components in Compound Dihuang oral solution had a good linear relationship within their concentration range,and the precision, repeatability, stability and recovery met the requirements. The contents of berberine, phellodendrine, specnuezhenide, mangiferin, loganin, paeoniflorin, geniposide, baicalin, and acteoside in 7 batches of samples were （89.7-95.6） μg/ml, （164.0-177.7） μg/ml, （540.0-610.0） μg/ml, （408.7-429.0） μg/ml, （726.0-825.0） μg/ml, （503.7-572.0） μg/ml, （1380.0-1540.0） μg/ml, （2596.7-2896.7) μg/ml, （4866.7-5520.0) μg/ml, （61.8-67.2) μg/ml, respectively. Conclusion The established method was easy to be repeated and operated. The contents of 10 components in Compound Dihuang oral solution could be determined quickly and accurately, which provided a reference for the quality control of hospital preparation.

Background/Aims: The purpose of this study was to develop a diagnostic model utilizing multimodal ultrasound parameters to aid in the detection of cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients. Methods: The study included 84 suspicious lymph nodes from 69 PTC patients, all of whom underwent fine needle aspiration with pathological results. Data from conventional grayscale ultrasound, shear wave elastography (SWE), and superb microvascular imaging were analyzed. Key ultrasound features were compared between benign and metastatic groups to create a diagnostic model using Fisher’s stepwise discriminant analysis. The model’s effectiveness was assessed with self-testing, cross-validation, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: Four features, namely lymphatic hilum (X1), cortical hyperechogenicity (X2), vascular pattern (X4), and SWEmean (X7), were integral to the discriminant analysis, resulting in the equation: Y1 = -3.461 + 2.423X1 + 0.321X2 + 1.620X4 + 0.109X7, Y2 = -8.053 + 0.414X1 + 2.600X2 + 2.504X4 + 0.192X7. If Y1 < Y2, the LN would be diagnosed as metastatic lymph nodes. The model demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.833, with a sensitivity of 83.33% and specificity of 83.33%. Conclusions The multimodal ultrasound diagnostic model, established through Fisher’s stepwise discriminant analysis, proved effective in identifying metastatic lymph nodes in PTC patients.

Background/Aims: The purpose of this study was to develop a diagnostic model utilizing multimodal ultrasound parameters to aid in the detection of cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients. Methods: The study included 84 suspicious lymph nodes from 69 PTC patients, all of whom underwent fine needle aspiration with pathological results. Data from conventional grayscale ultrasound, shear wave elastography (SWE), and superb microvascular imaging were analyzed. Key ultrasound features were compared between benign and metastatic groups to create a diagnostic model using Fisher’s stepwise discriminant analysis. The model’s effectiveness was assessed with self-testing, cross-validation, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: Four features, namely lymphatic hilum (X1), cortical hyperechogenicity (X2), vascular pattern (X4), and SWEmean (X7), were integral to the discriminant analysis, resulting in the equation: Y1 = -3.461 + 2.423X1 + 0.321X2 + 1.620X4 + 0.109X7, Y2 = -8.053 + 0.414X1 + 2.600X2 + 2.504X4 + 0.192X7. If Y1 < Y2, the LN would be diagnosed as metastatic lymph nodes. The model demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.833, with a sensitivity of 83.33% and specificity of 83.33%. Conclusions The multimodal ultrasound diagnostic model, established through Fisher’s stepwise discriminant analysis, proved effective in identifying metastatic lymph nodes in PTC patients.