ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Jingui Shenqiwan （JSW） and Liuwei Dihuangwan （LDW） on the reproductive ability and brain function of normal mice and compare the actions of the two medications. MethodsSeven groups of female and male mice were divided at a ratio of 2∶1. Except for the control group， the other six groups were as follows： a group of both males and females receiving JSW （3.0 g·kg^-1）， a group of both males and females receiving LDW （4.5 g·kg^-1）， a group of males receiving water and females receiving JSW， a group of males receiving water while females receiving LDW， a group of females receiving water while males receiving JSW， and a group of females receiving water while males receiving LDW. Each group was administered the drug for 14 days and then caged together at a 2∶1 （female∶male） ratio to detect the number of pregnant mice and calculate the pregnancy rate. Pregnant mice continued receiving the drug until they naturally gave birth， which was followed by the observation of newborn mice， calculation of their average number， and the measurement of the offspring's preference for sugar water and neonatal recognition index. At the end of the experiment， the weights of the thymus and spleen were measured to calculate the organ coefficients， and mRNA or protein expression was analyzed in the brain and testes or ovaries. A 1% sucrose solution was used to examine the euphoria of their brain reward systems， while novel object recognition test （NOR） was applied to assess their memory capabilities. mRNA expression was detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） assay， and protein expression was analyzed with Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group， oral administration of JSW to both male and female mice for 14 days significantly increased the pregnancy rate of female mice on day 2 after being caged together （P<0.05）， while LDW showed a trend but no statistical significance. Additionally， compared with the control group， JSW could upregulate the gene expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone （GnRH） in the thalamus， as well as reproductive stem cell factor （SCF） and tyrosine kinase receptor （c-Kit） in the testes and reproductive stem cell marker mouse vasa homologue （MVH） in the ovaries， upregulate the expression of proteins influencing neuronal functional activity， such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， in hippocampal neurons （P<0.05）， and enhance sucrose preference in male mice （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group， JSW significantly increased sucrose preference and novel object recognition index in offspring mice （P<0.05）， which was related to the upregulation of hippocampal dopamine D1 receptor （D1R） and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor （Nmdar） gene expression. Compared with the control group， both JSW and LDW could upregulate the protein expression of glucocorticoid receptor （GR）， BDNF， and tyrosine kinase receptor B （TrkB） in the hippocampus of offspring mice （P<0.05）. ConclusionJSW significantly enhances the reproductive ability of normal mice， which is not only related to the release of gonadotropin but also associated with its regulation of brain function. Additionally， JSW has a certain regulatory effect on the brain function of the offspring mice.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Jingmaiyan granules （composed of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos， Sedi Herba， Paeoniae Radix Rubra， Moutan Cortex， Rhei Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata， and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma） combined with external application of Jinhuang Ointment in treating acute-stage blood heat stasis type superficial thrombophlebitis （ST） of lower extremities， and to explore their effects on hemorheology and serum inflammatory factors. MethodsA randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted. A total of 124 patients with lower extremity ST were randomized into two groups（62 cases in each group）. The control group received external application of Jinhuang ointment and oral placebo treatment， while the observation group received external application of Jinhuang ointment and oral Jingmaiyan granules. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. The clinical symptom scores， therapeutic efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome， pain visual analog scale （VAS） scores， hemorheological indices ［including whole blood high-shear， medium-shear， and low-shear viscosity， as well as plasma viscosity （PV）］， and inflammatory factors ［C-reactive protein （CRP）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）］ were compared before and after treatment. ResultsAfter 2 weeks of treatment， the total effective rate in the observation group （98.3%， 60/62） was significantly higher than that in the control group （83.8%， 52/62）， with a statistically significant difference （Z=3.512 1， P<0.05）. Compared with pre-treatment scores， the scores for skin color， skin temperature， swelling， pain， and cord or nodules were significantly reduced in both groups （P<0.05）， with more pronounced improvement in the observation group （P<0.05）. Additionally， compared with pre-treatment levels， the whole blood viscosity （low-， medium-， and high-shear） significantly improved in both groups after treatment （P<0.05）， with more marked improvement in the observation group （P<0.05）. Furthermore， the plasma viscosity， CRP， IL-6， and TNF-α levels were significantly reduced in both groups after treatment （P<0.05）， with more pronounced improvement observed in the observation group （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe combination of external application of Jinhuang ointment and oral Jingmaiyan granules effectively improves clinical symptoms， hemorheological abnormalities， and inflammatory responses in patients with acute stage blood heat stasis type ST of lower extremities. The treatment is safe and holds clinical promotion value.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Yishen Juanbi pills （YSJB）-containing bone marrow fluid on the migration and differentiation phenotypes of CD4⁺T lymphocytes based on the stromal cell-derived factor-1/chemokine receptor 4 （SDF-1/CXCR4） signaling pathway. MethodsPrimary CD4⁺T lymphocytes were isolated from mice using magnetic bead separation and identified for purity by flow cytometry. A CD4⁺T lymphocyte culture system was then established to observe the effects of SDF-1 on CD4⁺T-cell migration and differentiation. On this basis， the experimental groups included the Sham group， the ovariectomy （OVX） group， the Sham+collagen-induced arthritis （CIA） group， the OVX+CIA group， the Sham+CIA+YSJB group （2.16 g·kg^-1）， the OVX+CIA+YSJB group （2.16 g·kg^-1）， and the OVX+CIA+methotrexate （MTX） group （1.5 mg·kg^-1）. Bone marrow fluid from each group was prepared according to previous methods and added to the CD4⁺ T-cell culture system at 5% （v/v）. Transwell assays were used to examine CD4⁺T-cell migration in each group. Real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of interleukin （IL）-17， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， retinoic-acid-related orphan receptor γt （RORγt）， IL-10， transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）， forkhead box P3 （FoxP3）， CXCR4， phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）， and protein kinase B （Akt）. Western blot was used to detect the expression of helper T （Th）17/regulatory T （Treg） cell signature factors （RORγt， FoxP3）， CXCR4， PI3K， phosphorylated （p）-PI3K， Akt， and p-Akt. In a separate set of experiments， cells were divided into the Sham group， OVX+CIA group， OVX+CIA+CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 group， and OVX+CIA+YSJB+AMD3100 group to observe changes in the above indicators following AMD3100 intervention. ResultsCompared with the Sham group， the number of migrated cells in the lower chamber was significantly increased in the Sham+CIA and OVX+CIA groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of RORγt， IL-17， TNF-α， CXCR4， PI3K， and Akt was significantly upregulated， whereas FoxP3， IL-10， and TGF-β mRNA expression was significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Protein expression of RORγt， CXCR4， p-PI3K/PI3K， and p-Akt/Akt was significantly increased， while FoxP3 protein expression was markedly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the OVX+CIA group， the OVX+CIA+YSJB group and OVX+CIA+MTX group showed significantly reduced migration （P<0.05）， mRNA expression of RORγt， IL-17， TNF-α， CXCR4， PI3K， and Akt was also significantly decreased， while FoxP3， IL-10， and TGF-β mRNA expression was significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. RORγt protein expression was significantly downregulated， and FoxP3 protein expression markedly upregulated （P<0.05）. In the OVX+CIA+YSJB group， CXCR4， p-PI3K/PI3K， and p-Akt/Akt protein expression was significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with the OVX+CIA group， RORγt， CXCR4， PI3K， and Akt mRNA expression in CD4⁺T cells was significantly decreased in the OVX+CIA+AMD3100 group and the OVX+CIA+YSJB+AMD3100 group， while FoxP3 mRNA and protein expression was significantly upregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. RORγt， CXCR4， p-PI3K/PI3K， and p-Akt/Akt protein expression was also markedly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the OVX+CIA+AMD3100 group， the OVX+CIA+YSJB+AMD3100 group showed significantly decreased RORγt and Akt mRNA expression （P<0.05） and significantly lower p-Akt/Akt protein expression （P<0.05）. ConclusionYSJB-containing bone marrow fluid suppresses CD4⁺T-cell migration and regulates Th17/Treg balance by downregulating Th17-associated signature factors and upregulating Treg-associated signature factors through inhibition of the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathway and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathway is one of the targets through which YSJB inhibits CD4⁺T-cell differentiation.

Contemporary bioethics （including medical ethics） encompasses three distinctly different theories： principlism， pluralistic casuistry， and ritual reconstruction. They differ in many respects， but the primary distinction lies in their respective starting points for ethical thinking： principlism begins with principles， pluralistic casuistry starts with cases， while ritual reconstruction is grounded in rituals. In fact， the first two theories have gained popularity worldwide， while the third theory requires us to construct it based on Confucian classical ethics. This paper explores how the characteristics of ritual guidance and the doctrine of the mean in Confucian classical ethics inspire us to propose this new theory， outlining its main points.

In recent years， hyperuricemia （HUA） has shown a rapidly increasing incidence and tends to occur in increasingly young people， with a wide range of cardiac， renal， joint， and cancerous hazards and all-cause mortality associations. Western medicine treatment has limitations such as large liver and kidney damage， medication restriction， and easy recurrence. The intestine is the major extra-renal excretion pathway for uric acid （UA）， and the intestinal microecology can be regulated to promote UA degradation. It offers great potential to develop UA-lowering strategies that target the intestinal microecology， which are promising to provide safer and more effective therapeutic approaches. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can treat HUA via multiple targets and multiple pathways from a holistic view， with low toxicity and side effects. Studies have shown that intestinal microecology is a crucial target for TCM in the treatment of HUA. However， its specific mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. Focusing on the key role of intestinal microecology in HUA， this review explores the relationship between intestinal microecology and HUA in terms of intestinal flora， intestinal metabolites， intestinal UA transporters， and intestinal barriers. Furthermore， we summarize the research progress in TCM treatment of HUA by targeting the intestinal microecology， with the aim of providing references for the development of TCM intervention strategies for HUA and the direction of future research.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Shenge Bushen Capsules （SBC） on sexual development in normal 3-week-old mice. MethodsThe experiment consisted of two parts. In the first part， mice were divided into four groups： The control group and the low， medium， and high-dose SBC groups （234.7， 469.4， 938.7 mg·kg^-1， respectively）. In the second part， mice were divided into four groups： Control group， Pseudostellariae Radix polysaccharide （PRP） group， total flavonoids group， and SBC group， all receiving a dose of 469.4 mg·kg^-1. After 7 days of administration， the vaginal opening of female mice and the descent of testes and scrotum in male mice， as well as the ovarian and testicular organ indices， were observed. After 4 weeks of administration， female and male mice were housed together for 2 days， and the pregnancy rate of females was monitored. After delivery， the pregnant female mice continued receiving the treatment for 4 weeks， and the sexual development of their offspring， including vaginal opening， testicular descent， and organ indices of ovaries and testes， was observed. Serum sex hormones were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone （GnRH） and growth hormone （GH） proteins in the hypothalamus was assessed by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group， there was no significant effect on the vaginal opening of female mice or the descent of testes in male mice after 7 days of SBC administration. After 4 weeks of administration， the pregnancy rate in the low-dose group was significantly reduced （P<0.05）， but no significant effects were observed in the other groups. The three doses of SBC did not significantly affect the ovarian or testicular organ indices， and there was no significant upregulation in the expression of GnRH or GH in the hypothalamus. The primary component of SBC， Pseudostellariae Radix polysaccharide， significantly reduced the vaginal opening in female mice after 7 days of administration （P<0.05）. After 4 weeks， the serum estradiol levels of non-pregnant female mice were decreased （P<0.05）， but there was no significant effect on the expression of GnRH or GH proteins in the hypothalamus of either male or female mice. Additionally， there were no significant effects on precocious puberty indicators， such as vaginal opening and testicular descent， in the offspring mice. ConclusionSBC does not significantly promote precocious puberty in young mice， and it does not have any noticeable effects on the pregnancy rate of adult mice or the sexual development of their offspring.

Building on the theory of "state-target differentiation and treatment" proposed by Academician TONG Xiaolin， diabetic foot ulcers （DFUs） are considered to belong to the "collateral injury" stage， characterized by the interplay of five states，i.e. dampness， heat， stasis， deficiency， and impairment. The dynamic biological process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） is closely associated with the healing process of DFUs. The treatment of DFUs through staged differentiation under the "state-target differentiation and treatment" theory not only provides a basis for precise clinical treatment， but also offers insights into the regulatory roles of EMT in different states and potential intervention targets. The dampness state typically exits during the inflammatory phase， local inflammation and fluid metabolism disorders inducing EMT. Treatment focuses on draining dampness and alleviating edema， promoting local microcirculation， and improving tissue hypoxia. The heat state often reflects acute local inflammatory responses. Treatment emphasizes clearing heat and resolving toxins， regulating the EMT process to reduce inflammation， control infection， and alleviate redness， swollen， heat， and pain in the affected area. The stasis state mainly occurs during the proliferation phase. Treatment centers on invigorating blood and dissolving stasis， and unblocking the channels and quickening the collaterals. EMT plays a role in remodeling the extracellular matrix， promoting tissue repair and angiogenesis. The deficiency state is common in chronic phase， where treatment prioritizes tonifying qi and nourishing blood while reinforcing healthy qi and dispelling pathogens. EMT regulation focuses on restoring local tissue metabolism and improving the micro-environment to enhance tissue repair capacity. The impairment state represents the progression of disease deterioration. Treatment should focus on supplementing qi， blood， yin， and yang， and also promoting muscle growth and strengthening bones， supplementing by resolving toxins and stasis. EMT plays a role by regulating the activity of extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes to prevent excessive tissue repair and scarring， thereby facilitating the reconstruction of normal tissue structures.

Diabetes is a very complex endocrine disease whose common feature is the increase in blood glucose concentration. Persistent hyperglycemia can lead to blindness, kidney and heart disease, neurodegeneration, and many other serious complications that have a significant impact on human health and quality of life. The number of people with diabetes is increasing yearly. The global diabetes prevalence in 20-79 year olds in 2021 was estimated to be 10.5% (536.6 million), and it will rise to 12.2% (783.2 million) in 2045. The main modes of intervention for diabetes include medication, dietary management, and exercise conditioning. Medication is the mainstay of treatment. Marketed diabetes drugs such as metformin and insulin, as well as GLP-1 receptor agonists, are effective in controlling blood sugar levels to some extent, but the preventive and therapeutic effects are still unsatisfactory. Peptide drugs have many advantages such as low toxicity, high target specificity, and good biocompatibility, which opens up new avenues for the treatment of diabetes and other diseases. Currently, insulin and its analogs are by far the main life-saving drugs in clinical diabetes treatment, enabling effective control of blood glucose levels, but the risk of hypoglycemia is relatively high and treatment is limited by the route of delivery. New and oral anti-diabetic drugs have always been a market demand and research hotspot. Inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) peptides are a class of multifunctional cyclic peptides. In structure, they contain three conserved disulfide bonds (C3-C20, C7-C22, and C15-C32) form a compact “knot” structure, which can resist degradation of digestive protease. Recent studies have shown that ICK peptides derived from legume, such as PA1b, Aglycin, Vglycin, Iglycin, Dglycin, and aM₁, exhibit excellent regulatory activities on glucose and lipid metabolism at the cellular and animal levels. Mechanistically, ICK peptides promote glucose utilization by muscle and liver through activation of IR/AKT signaling pathway, which also improves insulin resistance. They can repair the damaged pancrease through activation of PI3K/AKT/Erk signaling pathway, thus lowering blood glucose. The biostability and hypoglycemic efficacy of the ICK peptides meet the requirements for commercialization of oral drugs, and in theory, they can be developed into natural oral anti-diabetes peptide drugs. In this review, the structural properties, activity and mechanism of ICK pattern peptides in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism were summaried, which provided a reference for the development of new oral peptides for diabetes.

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.