Piper nigrum L. is an evergreen climbing vine, which belongs to the genus Piperia in the Piperaceae family. Piper nigrum L., which known as the “king of spices”, is used as both food and medicine. The main active substances in Piper nigrum L. are alkaloids mainly composed of amides, and essential oil, as well as phenolic compounds. In this paper, the chemical compositions, especially amide alkaloids, and their biological activities of Piper nigrum L. were summarized. These studies showed that Piper nigrum L., as a medicinal and food plant, had a wide range of biological activities and was deserved further research and in-depth utilization.

Glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） is a key selenoenzyme that protects the body from oxidative damage. A series of small molecular organic selenium compounds have been designed and synthesized as functional mimics of GPx, among which isoselenazolones are the most widely studied. Taking ebselen as a representative, the catalytic mechanism of isoselenazolones in mimicing GSH-Px activity in vivo, the therapeutic effects of isoselenazolones in stroke, sensorineurium deafness and tinnitus, treatmentresistant depression （TRD） and coronavirus disease 2019 （COVID-19）, and research on their chemical synthesis methods were summarized and discussed in this paper.

Objective:To investigate the effect of interaction between body mass index (BMI) and gender on the survival of advanced gastric cancer after immunotherapy.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 317 patients with advanced gastric cancer who were admitted to the Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University from November 2019 to October 2023 were collected. There were 205 males and 112 females, aged 56 (range, 21-79)years. All 317 patients were divided into three groups based on BMI of patients, including 58 cases with BMI <18.5 kg/m2 were classified as the low body mass group, 183 cases with BMI 18.5-24.0 kg/m2 were classified as the normal body mass group, and 76 cases with BMI >24.0 kg/m2 were classified as the overweight or obese group. Patients included in the study were treated with a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) based immunotherapy regimen for 3 cycles based on their specific conditions, and further decision was made whether to undergo radical surgery or continue comprehensive treatment after evaluating the efficacy. Observation indicators: (1) clinicopathological characteristics of patients; (2) follow-up and mortality status; (3) analysis of factors affecting survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer after immunotherapy. Comparison of measurement data with normal distribution among groups was conducted using the ANOVA. Comparison of measurement data with skewed distribution among groups was conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis H test. Comparison of count data among groups was conducted using the chi-square test. The Cox proportional hazard model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Nonlinear trend was analyzed using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) curve, and trend and correction graphs were created using the rcssci package (v1.0). Results:(1) Clinicopathological characteristics of patients. There was no significant difference in gender, age, Borrmann classification, Lauren classification, combined positive score of PD-L1, expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, Epstein-Barr virus infection, carcino-embryonic antigen, CA19-9, CA72-4, alpha-fetoprotein, conversion surgery among the 3 groups of patients ( P>0.05), and there was a significant difference in mismatch repair combined with micro-satellite stability among the 3 groups of patients ( P<0.05). (2) Follow-up and mortality status. Of the 317 patients, 316 cases completed follow-up and 1 case in the overweight or obese group was lost to follow-up. The follow-up time of the 316 cases was 13.8(range, 0.9-48.2)months. During the follow-up, the number of death in the low body mass group, normal body mass group and overweight or obese group were 27, 70 and 31, respectively. (3) Analysis of factors affecting survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer after immunotherapy. Results of multivariate analysis showed that gender and BMI were independent factors affecting survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer after immunotherapy ( hazard ratio=0.066, 0.922, 95% confidence interval as 0.005-0.846, 0.855-0.994, P<0.05). Results of further analysis showed that the interaction between BMI and gender was an independent factor affecting survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer after immuno-therapy ( hazard ratio=1.152, 95% confidence interval as 1.024-1.296, P<0.05). Results of Cox regre-ssion analysis based on different gender showed that took patients of the normal body mass group as a reference, the male patients of the low body mass group had a significantly increased risk of death, showing a significant statistically difference ( hazard ratio=1.809, 95% confidence interval as 1.037-3.155, P<0.05). Results of RCS curve analysis showed that there was a non-linear correlation between BMI and survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer after immunotherapy ( P<0.05). Results of corrected RCS curve analysis using the rcssci package showed that there was a U-shaped relationship between BMI and survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer after immuno-therapy ( P<0.05), with the optimal cut-off value of BMI as 22.2 kg/m 2. Results of RCS curve analysis based on different gender showed that there was a U-shaped relationship between BMI and survival of male patients with advanced gastric cancer after immunotherapy ( P<0.05), with the optimal cut-off value of BMI as 22.7 kg/m 2. Conclusions:Gender, BMI and the interaction between BMI and gender are independent factors affecting survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer after immuno-therapy. There is a U-shaped relationship between BMI and survival of patients, with the optimal cut-off value of BMI as 22.2 kg/m 2, and there is a U-shaped relationship between BMI and survival of male patients, with the optimal cut-off value of BMI as 22.7 kg/m 2.

Objective To investigate the key targets and pathways of Juhongtai formula granules in improving acute lung injury(ALI).Methods Juhongtai formula granules and their drug-containing serum components were analyzed by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS,and the active ingredients were screened based on the"Lipinski Rule of Five".The action targets of the above active ingredients were obtained through the TCMSP,Swiss Target Prediction and SuperPred databases,and the ALI-related targets were obtained from the GeneCards,OMIM,PharmGKB,CTD databases and GEO chip.The target protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the String database and Cytoscape to analyze the key targets.The DAVID database was used for GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis,and the CB-dock2 platform was used for molecular docking verification.After one week of adaptive feeding,the experimental SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group,the model group,the positive control group,the negative control group and the Juhongtai formula granules group,with 6 rats in each group.The rat model of ALI was replicated by tracheal infusion of lipopolysaccharide.The pathological morphology of lung tissues in each group of rats was observed by HE staining,and the mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-1 β(IL-1β)and nitric oxide were detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).Results In total,44 components of the Juhongtai formula granules were identified,including 26 drug-containing serum components,and 21 key compounds were screened.A total of 22 intersection targets were obtained.The pathway enrichment results indicated the action of these targets on the advanced glycation end product receptor(AGE-RAGE)and TNF signaling pathways.The docking results showed that limonin,kaempferol and naringenin could be matched with prostaglandin peroxidase 2,nitric oxide synthase 2 and TNF.Animal experiments confirmed that the Juhongtai formula granules can alleviate inflammatory infiltration in lung tissue and reduce the expressions of TNF-α,IL6,IL-1β mRNA and nitric oxide.Conclusion Juhongtai formula granules can inhibit ALI-related inflammatory targets through the synergistic effects of multiple components such as limonin and kaempferol,regulate signaling pathways such as AGE-RAGE and TNF,reduce the production of inflammatory factors and nitric oxide,and improve ALI.

Objective To investigate the key targets and pathways of Juhongtai formula granules in improving acute lung injury(ALI).Methods Juhongtai formula granules and their drug-containing serum components were analyzed by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS,and the active ingredients were screened based on the"Lipinski Rule of Five".The action targets of the above active ingredients were obtained through the TCMSP,Swiss Target Prediction and SuperPred databases,and the ALI-related targets were obtained from the GeneCards,OMIM,PharmGKB,CTD databases and GEO chip.The target protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the String database and Cytoscape to analyze the key targets.The DAVID database was used for GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis,and the CB-dock2 platform was used for molecular docking verification.After one week of adaptive feeding,the experimental SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group,the model group,the positive control group,the negative control group and the Juhongtai formula granules group,with 6 rats in each group.The rat model of ALI was replicated by tracheal infusion of lipopolysaccharide.The pathological morphology of lung tissues in each group of rats was observed by HE staining,and the mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-1 β(IL-1β)and nitric oxide were detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).Results In total,44 components of the Juhongtai formula granules were identified,including 26 drug-containing serum components,and 21 key compounds were screened.A total of 22 intersection targets were obtained.The pathway enrichment results indicated the action of these targets on the advanced glycation end product receptor(AGE-RAGE)and TNF signaling pathways.The docking results showed that limonin,kaempferol and naringenin could be matched with prostaglandin peroxidase 2,nitric oxide synthase 2 and TNF.Animal experiments confirmed that the Juhongtai formula granules can alleviate inflammatory infiltration in lung tissue and reduce the expressions of TNF-α,IL6,IL-1β mRNA and nitric oxide.Conclusion Juhongtai formula granules can inhibit ALI-related inflammatory targets through the synergistic effects of multiple components such as limonin and kaempferol,regulate signaling pathways such as AGE-RAGE and TNF,reduce the production of inflammatory factors and nitric oxide,and improve ALI.

Objective:To investigate the effect of interaction between body mass index (BMI) and gender on the survival of advanced gastric cancer after immunotherapy.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 317 patients with advanced gastric cancer who were admitted to the Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University from November 2019 to October 2023 were collected. There were 205 males and 112 females, aged 56 (range, 21-79)years. All 317 patients were divided into three groups based on BMI of patients, including 58 cases with BMI <18.5 kg/m2 were classified as the low body mass group, 183 cases with BMI 18.5-24.0 kg/m2 were classified as the normal body mass group, and 76 cases with BMI >24.0 kg/m2 were classified as the overweight or obese group. Patients included in the study were treated with a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) based immunotherapy regimen for 3 cycles based on their specific conditions, and further decision was made whether to undergo radical surgery or continue comprehensive treatment after evaluating the efficacy. Observation indicators: (1) clinicopathological characteristics of patients; (2) follow-up and mortality status; (3) analysis of factors affecting survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer after immunotherapy. Comparison of measurement data with normal distribution among groups was conducted using the ANOVA. Comparison of measurement data with skewed distribution among groups was conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis H test. Comparison of count data among groups was conducted using the chi-square test. The Cox proportional hazard model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Nonlinear trend was analyzed using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) curve, and trend and correction graphs were created using the rcssci package (v1.0). Results:(1) Clinicopathological characteristics of patients. There was no significant difference in gender, age, Borrmann classification, Lauren classification, combined positive score of PD-L1, expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, Epstein-Barr virus infection, carcino-embryonic antigen, CA19-9, CA72-4, alpha-fetoprotein, conversion surgery among the 3 groups of patients ( P>0.05), and there was a significant difference in mismatch repair combined with micro-satellite stability among the 3 groups of patients ( P<0.05). (2) Follow-up and mortality status. Of the 317 patients, 316 cases completed follow-up and 1 case in the overweight or obese group was lost to follow-up. The follow-up time of the 316 cases was 13.8(range, 0.9-48.2)months. During the follow-up, the number of death in the low body mass group, normal body mass group and overweight or obese group were 27, 70 and 31, respectively. (3) Analysis of factors affecting survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer after immunotherapy. Results of multivariate analysis showed that gender and BMI were independent factors affecting survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer after immunotherapy ( hazard ratio=0.066, 0.922, 95% confidence interval as 0.005-0.846, 0.855-0.994, P<0.05). Results of further analysis showed that the interaction between BMI and gender was an independent factor affecting survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer after immuno-therapy ( hazard ratio=1.152, 95% confidence interval as 1.024-1.296, P<0.05). Results of Cox regre-ssion analysis based on different gender showed that took patients of the normal body mass group as a reference, the male patients of the low body mass group had a significantly increased risk of death, showing a significant statistically difference ( hazard ratio=1.809, 95% confidence interval as 1.037-3.155, P<0.05). Results of RCS curve analysis showed that there was a non-linear correlation between BMI and survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer after immunotherapy ( P<0.05). Results of corrected RCS curve analysis using the rcssci package showed that there was a U-shaped relationship between BMI and survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer after immuno-therapy ( P<0.05), with the optimal cut-off value of BMI as 22.2 kg/m 2. Results of RCS curve analysis based on different gender showed that there was a U-shaped relationship between BMI and survival of male patients with advanced gastric cancer after immunotherapy ( P<0.05), with the optimal cut-off value of BMI as 22.7 kg/m 2. Conclusions:Gender, BMI and the interaction between BMI and gender are independent factors affecting survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer after immuno-therapy. There is a U-shaped relationship between BMI and survival of patients, with the optimal cut-off value of BMI as 22.2 kg/m 2, and there is a U-shaped relationship between BMI and survival of male patients, with the optimal cut-off value of BMI as 22.7 kg/m 2.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is one of important factors against from the damage under oxidative stress in human body. A high proportion of East Asians carry ALDH2 inactive mutation gene. There are many diseases closely related to ALDH2, such as cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and liver diseases. Recent studies also have found that ALDH2 is associated with ferroptosis. Therefore, ALDH2 has becoming a potential target for the treatment of the above related diseases. Several types of small molecule activators with potential value of clinical application have been reported. The research progress on the structure and function of ALDH2 , the relationship with human diseases and its activators were summarized in this paper.

Objective:To investigate the effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors on reducing residual lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.Methods:The cohort of this retrospective study comprised patients from Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University who had undergone systemic treatment prior to gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and had achieved Grade 1 primary tumor regression (TRG1) from January 2014 to December 2023. After exclusion of patients who had undergone preoperative radiotherapy, data of 58 patients (Nanfang Hospital: 46; First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University: 12) were analyzed. These patients were allocated to preoperative chemotherapy (Chemotherapy group, N=36 cases) and preoperative immunotherapy plus chemotherapy groups (Immunotherapy group, N=22 cases). There were no significant differences between these groups in sex, age, body mass index, diabetes, tumor location, pathological type, Lauren classification, tumor differentiation, pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, mismatch repair protein status, number of preoperative treatment cycles, or duration of preoperative treatment (all P>0.05). The primary outcome measure was postoperative lymph node downstaging. Secondary outcomes included postoperative depth of invasion by tumor, number of lymph nodes examined, and factors affecting residual lymph node metastasis status. Results:Lymph node downstaging was achieved significantly more often in the Immunotherapy group than the Chemotherapy group (pN0: 90.9% [20/22] vs. 61.1% [22/36]; pN1: 4.5% [1/22] vs. 36.1% [13/36]; pN2: 4.5% [1/22) vs. 0; pN3: 0 vs. 2.8% [1/36], Z=-2.315, P=0.021). There were no significant difference between the two groups in number of lymph nodes examined (40.5±16.3 vs. 40.8±17.5, t=0.076, P=0.940) or postoperative depth of invasion by primary tumor (pT1a: 50.0% [11/22] vs. 30.6% [11/36]; pT1b: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 19.4% [7/36]; pT2: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 13.9% [5/36]; pT3: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 25.0% [9/36]; pT4a: 9.1% [2/22] vs. 11.1% [4/36], Z=-1.331, P=0.183). Univariate analysis revealed that both preoperative treatment regimens were associated with residual lymph node metastasis status in patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (χ 2=6.070, P=0.014). Multivariate analysis incorporated the following factors: pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, number of preoperative treatment cycles, and preoperative treatment duration. We found that a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy administered preoperatively was an independent protective factor for reducing residual lymph node metastases in study patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (OR=0.147, 95%CI: 0.026–0.828, P=0.030). Conclusion:Compared with preoperative chemotherapy alone, a combination of preoperative immunotherapy and chemotherapy achieved greater reduction of residual lymph node metastases in the study patients who achieved TRG1 tumor regression in their primary lesions.

Objective:To investigate the effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors on reducing residual lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.Methods:The cohort of this retrospective study comprised patients from Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University who had undergone systemic treatment prior to gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and had achieved Grade 1 primary tumor regression (TRG1) from January 2014 to December 2023. After exclusion of patients who had undergone preoperative radiotherapy, data of 58 patients (Nanfang Hospital: 46; First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University: 12) were analyzed. These patients were allocated to preoperative chemotherapy (Chemotherapy group, N=36 cases) and preoperative immunotherapy plus chemotherapy groups (Immunotherapy group, N=22 cases). There were no significant differences between these groups in sex, age, body mass index, diabetes, tumor location, pathological type, Lauren classification, tumor differentiation, pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, mismatch repair protein status, number of preoperative treatment cycles, or duration of preoperative treatment (all P>0.05). The primary outcome measure was postoperative lymph node downstaging. Secondary outcomes included postoperative depth of invasion by tumor, number of lymph nodes examined, and factors affecting residual lymph node metastasis status. Results:Lymph node downstaging was achieved significantly more often in the Immunotherapy group than the Chemotherapy group (pN0: 90.9% [20/22] vs. 61.1% [22/36]; pN1: 4.5% [1/22] vs. 36.1% [13/36]; pN2: 4.5% [1/22) vs. 0; pN3: 0 vs. 2.8% [1/36], Z=-2.315, P=0.021). There were no significant difference between the two groups in number of lymph nodes examined (40.5±16.3 vs. 40.8±17.5, t=0.076, P=0.940) or postoperative depth of invasion by primary tumor (pT1a: 50.0% [11/22] vs. 30.6% [11/36]; pT1b: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 19.4% [7/36]; pT2: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 13.9% [5/36]; pT3: 13.6% [3/22] vs. 25.0% [9/36]; pT4a: 9.1% [2/22] vs. 11.1% [4/36], Z=-1.331, P=0.183). Univariate analysis revealed that both preoperative treatment regimens were associated with residual lymph node metastasis status in patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (χ 2=6.070, P=0.014). Multivariate analysis incorporated the following factors: pretreatment depth of invasion by primary tumor, pretreatment lymph node stage, pretreatment clinical stage, number of preoperative treatment cycles, and preoperative treatment duration. We found that a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy administered preoperatively was an independent protective factor for reducing residual lymph node metastases in study patients whose primary tumor regression was TRG1 (OR=0.147, 95%CI: 0.026–0.828, P=0.030). Conclusion:Compared with preoperative chemotherapy alone, a combination of preoperative immunotherapy and chemotherapy achieved greater reduction of residual lymph node metastases in the study patients who achieved TRG1 tumor regression in their primary lesions.

Over the years of exploration and development, the surgical techniques and prognosis of liver transplantation in China have been significantly improved, resulting in a notable decrease in the prevalence of postoperative complications. However, ischemic-type biliary lesion remain a non-negligible issue. The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University formulated and published the "Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ischemic-Type Biliary Lesions after Liver Transplantation in Mainland China" in 2015, which has now been updated into a guideline based on current conditions and literature reports. This guideline elaborates in detail on the definition, incidence, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention of high-risk factors, and treatment of ischemic-type biliary lesion, aiming to provide standardized and normative guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic-type biliary lesion after liver transplantation, thereby reducing the rate of re-transplantation and fatality, and to improve the overall quality of life of liver transplant recipients.