ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the action mechanism by which Banxia Xiexintang （BXT） inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） in chronic atrophic gastritis （CAG） rats by regulating the interleukin-17（IL-17）/extracellular regulated protein kinases（ERK）/CCAAT enhancer binding protein β（C/EBPβ）signaling pathway， thereby providing new theoretical evidence for the treatment of CAG with classic traditional Chinese medicine formulas. MethodsA CAG rat model was established by using the combined factor method. After successful modeling， the rats were randomly divided into the model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （0.549， 1.098， 2.196 g·kg^-1， respectively） of BXT， and the positive drug group （vitacoenzyme， 0.3 g·kg^-1）. A normal control group was also set up. After 8 weeks of intervention， the pathological changes of gastric tissue were evaluated. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the contents of IL-17， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2）， and C/EBPβ in serum， as well as the contents of EMT markers in gastric mucosal tissue including E-cadherin， N-cadherin， and vimentin. The immunohistochemistry method was employed to determine the localization and protein expression levels of IL-17， p-ERK， and C/EBPβ in gastric mucosal tissue. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and its phosphorylated form （p）-ERK in gastric mucosa. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was applied to measure the mRNA expression levels of ERK， COX-2， and C/EBPβ in gastric mucosa. ResultsCompared with those in the normal control group， the rats in the model group showed gastric mucosal glandular atrophy and inflammatory cell infiltration. The protein and their related mRNA expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and p-ERK in gastric mucosa were significantly increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IL-17， TNF-α， COX-2， and C/EBPβ in serum were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The contents of N-cadherin and vimentin in gastric mucosal tissue were significantly increased， while the content of E-cadherin was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， after intervention with different doses of BXT， the pathological damage of the gastric mucosa was improved to varying degrees. The protein and mRNA expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and p-ERK in gastric mucosa were significantly reduced （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IL-17， TNF-α， COX-2， and C/EBP β in serum were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The contents of N-cadherin and vimentin in gastric mucosa tissue were decreased， while the content of E-cadherin was increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionBXT can effectively improve the pathological damage of gastric mucosal tissue in CAG rats. Its action mechanism may be related to reducing the levels of IL-17 and TNF-α in serum， regulating the IL-17/ERK/C/EBPβ signaling pathway and inhibiting the EMT process.

Abstract Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) exposure is a pressing and severe global public health issue. Children and adolescents exposed to multiple ACEs are highly susceptible to toxic stress and impaired physiological functioning, which significantly jeopardize their physical and mental health. Effective prevention and intervention strategies can reduce the prevalence of ACEs and mitigate their severe impacts, thereby minimizing the long term detrimental consequences on future outcomes. The review provides a comprehensive review of intervention strategies across four dimensions: individual, family, school, and public services/policy, so as to establish a theoretical foundation for implementing effective interventions for children and adolescents exposed to adverse childhood experiences.

Objective To investigate the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and analyze its correlation with immune cell infiltration and patient prognosis. Methods Three ESCC datasets (GSE161533, GSE26886, and GSE23400) from the GEO database were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes. CEACAM6 was identified as a key gene through survival analysis. Its expression, prognostic value, and relationship with immune cell infiltration were further explored using databases, such as TIMER. Tissue samples were collected from 162 patients with ESCC. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of CEACAM6, immune cell markers (CD4, CD8, CD20, and CD56), and immune checkpoint molecules (HHLA2 and CD40LG). Correlations between CEACAM6 expression and clinicopathological features, immune cell infiltration, and immune checkpoints were analyzed. Results Bioinformatic analysis and clinical sample validation confirmed that CEACAM6 expression was significantly upregulated in ESCC tissues compared with adjacent nontumor tissues (P<0.05). High CEACAM6 expression was closely associated with advanced clinical stage (AJCC Ⅲ-Ⅳ), high T stage (T3-T4), lymph node metastasis, nonulcerative type, and poor prognosis. Furthermore, CEACAM6 expression levels were positively correlated with the infiltration density of CD8⁺ T cells, CD4⁺ T cells, and CD20⁺ B cells within the tumor microenvironment and with the expression of the immune checkpoint molecules HHLA2 and CD40LG (all P<0.05). Conclusion CEACAM6 serves as an independent poor prognostic factor for ESCC. Its high expression is implicated in the modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment by correlating with specific immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint molecules, suggesting its potential as a novel prognostic biomarker and immunotherapeutic target for ESCC.

Objective To investigate the temporal changes in pathological damage and macrophage polarization in liver and spleen tissues of mice infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis, and to preliminarily unravel the peripheral immune responses during the early stage of A. cantonensis infection. Methods Forty female BALB/c mice at ages of 6 to 8 weeks were randomly divided into four groups, including the control group and 7-, 14-, and 21-day infection groups, with 10 mice in each group. Each mouse in the infection groups was inoculated with 30 third-stage (L3) larvae of A. cantonensis by oral gavage, and five mice were randomly selected from each infection group on days 7, 14, and 21 post-infection, while mice in the control group were given the same volume of physiological saline and five mice were randomly selected from the control group on the day of oral gavage. Mouse liver and spleen tissues were sampled. The histopathological changes of mouse liver and spleen tissues were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and the percentage of positive staining area and the co-localization positive rates of the macrophage surface antigens F4/80, CD86, and CD206 were quantified in mouse liver and spleen tissues using immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining. In addition, five mice were collected from each infection group on days 7, 14, and 21 post-infection, and five mice were collected from the control group on the day of oral gavage. Mouse liver and spleen tissues were sampled for detection of macrophage markers CD86 and CD206 and macrophage phenotyping using flow cytometry, and the expression of M1 macrophage markers, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (Nos2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and M2 markers, including arginase 1 (Arg1), mannose receptor C-type 1 (Mrc1) and chitinase-like protein 3 (Chil3) was quantified in mouse liver and spleen tissues using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay. Results Proliferative lesions of the hepatocyte were observed in mouse liver tissues and the follicular structures of the mouse spleen white pulp were disrupted 21 days post-infection with A. cantonensis. Immunohistochemical staining showed that there were significant differences in the percentages of F4/80, CD86 and CD206 positive staining areas in the liver and spleen tissues among the four groups of mice (F = 242.40, 197.14, 183.19, 157.65, 242.35 and 146.24; all P values < 0.001), and the percentages of positive staining in the liver and spleen tissues of mice in the 14-day infection group [(4.45 ± 0.51)%, (3.74 ± 0.67)%, (8.32 ± 0.72)%, (16.56 ± 1.14)%, (11.62 ± 0.52)%, and (8.29 ± 0.72)%, respectively] and the 21-day infection group [(3.70 ± 0.11)%, (3.22 ± 0.43)%, (11.53 ± 1.03)%, (12.59 ± 1.05)%, (9.02 ± 0.83)%, and (11.67 ± 1.10)%, respectively] were higher than in the control group [(0.35 ± 0.16)%, (0.40 ± 0.02)%, (0.93 ± 0.05)%, (2.78 ± 0.26)%, (2.33 ± 0.20)%, and (1.85 ± 0.20)%, respectively] (all P values < 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed significant differences in the positive rates of F4/80 co-localization with CD86 and CD206 in mouse liver and spleen tissues among the four groups (F = 24.42, 25.28, 54.51 and 130.55; all P values < 0.001). Flow cytometry detected significant differences in the proportions of CD86⁺ and CD206⁺ macrophages in mouse liver and spleen tissues among the four groups (F = 67.98, 18.41, 29.77, 172.80; all P values < 0.001), and the proportions of CD206⁺ macrophages in the liver and spleen of the 21-day infection group were significantly higher than those in the control group [(9.25 ± 2.55)% vs (3.83 ± 0.72)%, and (4.22 ± 0.56)% vs (0.47 ± 0.18)%, respectively] (both P values < 0.05). In addition, RT-qPCR assay quantified significant differences in the relative mRNA expression of M1 macrophage markers (IL-1β, TNF-α and Nos2) and M2 macrophage markers (Arg1, Chil3 and Mrc1) in mouse liver and spleen tissues among the four groups (F = 41.30, 31.82, 199.33, 19.96, 62.01, 119.76, 23.67, 95.90, 72.27, 82.59, 123.41 and 29.75; all P values < 0.05). Conclusions A. cantonensis infection may cause progressive pathological damage in mouse liver and spleen tissues, accompanied by dynamic temporal changes in macrophage polarization. M1 macrophage polarization predominates at the early stage of A. cantonensis infection and shifts towards M2 polarization at the later stages, suggesting that M2 polarization may participate in immune regulation at late stages of A. cantonensis infection by suppressing excessive inflammatory responses and promoting tissue repair.

Objective To explore the association between meteorological factors and suicide in cancer patients. Methods Based on the Shandong Multicenter Healthcare Big Data Platform, data on suicide deaths of cancer patients were collected from January 2010 to December 2021. Meteorological data were extracted for the corresponding time. Conditional logistic regression models were constructed using case-crossover design to explore the association between meteorological factors and suicide risk. Results A total of 80 patients with cancer suicide deaths were included, including 48 males, 32 females, and 43 patients aged 60 and above. Suicide risk in cancer patients increased with increasing monthly average temperatures, with an OR of 1.20 (95% CI: 1.12 - 1.28). The ORs for monthly average maximum and minimum temperatures were 1.20 (95% CI: 1.13 - 1.29) and 1.19 (95% CI: 1.12 - 1.27), respectively. Monthly average sunshine duration and monthly average precipitation were negatively associated with the risk of suicide in cancer patients. However, no associations were observed on daily and weekly scales. In all subgroups, the increase in monthly mean temperature, monthly mean minimum temperature, and monthly mean maximum temperature was associated with the increased suicide risk of cancer patients. The risk of suicide among males, females and cancer patients ≥ 60 years were affected by monthly mean sunshine duration, while cancer patients < 60 years were more susceptible to the influence of monthly mean precipitation. Conclusion The meteorological factors are highly related to the risk of suicide in cancer patients, and psychological interventions for cancer patients during weather changes should be strengthened to reduce their suicide risk.

ObjectiveTo analyze the distribution characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） constitution and factors associated with hyperuricemia （HUA） in the HUA population， providing a reference for persona-lized prevention and management of HUA. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals who had completed both serum uric acid （SUA） testing and TCM constitution identification during health examinations. According to SUA levels， participants were divided into a hyperuricemia group and a normal SUA group； according to the constitution identification results， participants were classified into balanced constitution， single biased constitution， and mixed constitution. The distribution characteristics of TCM constitution were compared between the two groups； participants in the hyperuricemia group were stratified by sex and age （≥18 years and ＜40 years， ≥40 years）， and the distribution characteristics of TCM constitution were compared across different sex and age groups. Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with HUA， with further stratified analyses by sex and age. ResultsA total of 10 920 participants were included， comprising 4170 cases （38.19%） in the hyperuricemia group and 6750 cases （61.81%） in the normal serum uric acid group. According to TCM constitution， there were 420 cases （3.85%） with balanced constitution， 6108 cases （55.93%） with single biased constitution， and 4392 cases （40.22%） with mixed constitution. In the hyperuricemia group， there were 80 cases （19.05%） with balanced constitution； 2275 cases （37.25%） with single biased constitution， among which damp-heat constitution （1205 cases， 52.97%）， phlegm-dampness constitution （500 cases， 21.98%）， and qi-stagnation constitution （181 cases， 7.96%） accounted for relatively high proportions； and 1815 cases （41.33%） with mixed constitution， among which mixed constitution involving phlegm-dampness （51.35%， 932 cases）， mixed constitution involving blood stasis （47.00%， 853 cases）， and mixed constitution involving damp-heat （41.21%， 748 cases） accounted for relatively high proportions. Logistic regression showed that qi-stagnation constitution （OR=1.68）， mixed constitution involving qi-stagnation （OR=1.53）， mixed constitution involving phlegm-dampness （OR=1.55）， and mixed constitution involving blood stasis （OR=1.50） were independently associated with HUA （P＜0.05）. Sex-stratified analysis showed that mixed constitution involving phlegm-dampness was positively associated with HUA risk in females； age-stratified analysis showed that， among individuals aged ≥18 and ＜40 years， qi-stagnation constitution， mixed constitution involving qi stagnation， and mixed constitution involving phlegm-dampness were positively associated with HUA risk （all P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe prevalence of HUA differs markedly by sex and age. Mixed constitution accounts for a higher proportion of HUA patients. Qi-stagnation constitution， mixed constitution involving qi stagnation， mixed constitution involving phlegm-dampness， and mixed constitution involving blood stasis are associated with HUA. Notably， the specific association of mixed constitution involving phlegm-dampness in females and qi-stagnation constitution in young adults is particularly prominent.

Heart failure （HF） is the end-stage of various cardiovascular diseases， with high morbidity and mortality. The existing “new quadruple” standard treatment can hardly reverse the core pathological process of myocardial remodeling， and long-term medication may pose risks of drug resistance and adverse reactions. Therefore， new therapeutic targets and strategies are urgently needed. Metabolic reprogramming is the upstream core mechanism regulating phenotypic polarization and functional activation of macrophages， which drives the occurrence and development of HF through the core axis of metabolic reprogramming-immune imbalance-ventricular remodeling and has become a cutting-edge potential target for the prevention and treatment of HF. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has a long history in the prevention and treatment of HF. A large number of studies in recent years have confirmed that different therapeutic methods of TCM can correct the polarization imbalance， restore the homeostasis of myocardial immune microenvironment， inhibit myocardial injury， and delay the pathological process of HF by targeting and regulating the metabolic reprogramming of glucose， lipids， mitochondria， and amino acids in macrophages. This paper systematically expounds the core pathological mechanism of metabolic reprogramming of macrophages in HF， sorts out the research progress of TCM in preventing and treating HF by intervening this target， analyzes the regulatory rules， summarizes the limitations of existing research， and puts forward future directions. This review aims to provide a systematic theoretical reference and new research ideas for TCM clinical diagnosis and treatment and new drug development of HF.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors associated with the comorbidity of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and depression. Methods A case-control study was conducted based on the ^“Healthcare Big Data Platform^” of a tertiary class-A comprehensive hospital in Shandong Province. IBD comorbid with depression was served as the case group and IBD without depression was served as the control group. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed by matching the case group with the control group in a ratio of 1:2 according to the age and gender of the patients. Conditional logistic regression model was used to explore the influencing factors associated with the comorbidity of IBD and depression. Results A total of 405 patients with IBD were enrolled in this study, including 270 patients without depression and 135 patients comorbid with depression. The results of conditional logistic regression showed that the use of immunosuppressants (OR=2.84, 95% CI: 1.00-8.07) and glucocorticoids (OR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.17-3.58), dementia (OR=5.20, 95% CI:1.59-17.05), cardiovascular disease (OR=3.58, 95% CI: 1.84-6.98) and cancer (OR=2.63, 95% CI: 1.16-5.95) were associated with the comorbidity of depression and IBD. Conclusion Attention should be paid to the use of immunosuppressants and glucocorticoids in the population of IBD comorbid with depression, and the coexistence of physical diseases such as dementia, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Early prevention and targeted treatment measures should be taken for high-risk populations to reduce their risk of depression and improve their quality of life and health.

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that ischemia-induced cellular autophagy dysfunction is a key factor in brain injury.Autophagy related genes 6(ATG6),microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain(LC3),p62,and other autophagy key proteins are involved in the processes such as neuronal axonal degeneration,death,and intracellular homeostasis maintenance,playing an important role in the recovery of neural function. OBJECTIVE:To review the research progress in the role of cellular autophagy in cerebral ischemic injury and the regulatory mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine. METHODS:The first author used"ischemic stroke,brain tissue injury,cellular autophagy,signaling pathways,traditional Chinese medicine compounds,terpenoids,alkaloids,flavonoids,saponins,lignans,phthalates"as Chinese and English keywords respectively to search for literature on autophagy,cerebral ischemic injury,and the regulatory mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine from China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)and PubMed databases from January 2016 to February 2024.Literature that is not highly relevant,repetitive,or outdated was excluded.A total of 1 746 relevant literature were retrieved,and 92 articles were ultimately included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Numerous studies have confirmed that autophagy plays an important role in cerebral ischemic injury.Moderate autophagy can promote cell survival,while excessive autophagy exacerbates brain injury.Traditional Chinese medicine can regulate the expression of autophagy related proteins,inhibit neuronal necrosis and apoptosis,and exert neuroprotective effects at different stages of cerebral ischemia by regulating signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR,AMPK-mTOR,and mitogen activated protein kinase.

Objective To explore the role and mechanism of HJT-sRNA-m7(M7)bencaosome in a silicosis mouse model.Methods C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups:blank,control,negative control(NC)oligonucleotide,and M7 treatment(HJT-sRNA-m7 bencaosome)groups.After three rounds of pretreatment with HJT-sRNA-m7 bencaosome,all groups except the blank one were modeled via a single intratracheal exposure.Each mouse received 50 μL of a silica suspension at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight via intratracheal instillation.From day 6 to day 26,the bencaosome was administered every other day via oral gavages.On day 28,pulmonary function tests were performed.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected for flow cytometry and cytokine analysis.The left lung was harvested for histopathological examination and Masson's trichrome staining to evaluate collagen fiber dep-osition.The right lung was used for hydroxyproline quantification to assess collagen accumulation.Results The re-sults of pulmonary function test,pathological analysis and hydroxyproline measurements all indicated that M7 ben-caosome treatment significantly alleviated silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis.Moreover,flow cytometry analysis of BALF confirmed that M7 bencaosome inhibited the silica-induced inflammatory response,that was supported by cy-tokine analysis.Conclusions HJT-sRNA-m7 bencaosome is quite effective to treat silicosis and inhibits mitigating pulmonary fibrosis progression in mouse models.