Curcumae Rhizoma, derived from the rhizome of Curcuma phaeocaulis, Curcuma kwangsiensis and Curcuma wenyujin, was called Ezhu in China. In the past, Curcumae Rhizoma extracts were obtained through water decoction or alternative methods, which showed significant anti-cancer effects. However, the mixed extracts contain various compound components of Curcumae Rhizoma, leading to an ambiguous mechanism of action for Curcumae Rhizoma extracts anti-cancer. Contemporary researchers have extracted the chemical components of Curcumae Rhizoma separately for experimental verification of its active ingredients in the anti-cancer field. Numerous studies demonstrated that curcumol, germacrone, β-elemene, and curcumin in Curcumae Rhizoma extracts have significant governing effects in anti-cancer activities. Pharmacological studies have shown that Curcumae Rhizoma suppresses cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, triggering apoptosis and regulating cellular autophagy to achieve anticancer effects. Here, we summarized the research progress of Curcumae Rhizoma on anti-cancer effects from 2013 to 2022, aiming to explore the deeper molecular mechanisms of Curcumae Rhizoma's active components in cancer treatment.

OBJECTIVE To explore the clinical characteristics of the nontuberculous Mycobacteria pulmonary dis-ease(NTMPD)patients with previous pulmonary tuberculosis(PPTB)and analyze the clinical difference from the recurrence of pulmonary tuberculosis.METHODS By means of retrospective survey,the patients who were diag-nosed with NTMPD and recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis in Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital from Mar.2021 to Oct.2023 were recruited as the research subjects,a total of 395 patients with NTMPD were enrolled in the study and were divided into the PPTB-NTMPD group with 92 cases and the NPPTB-NTMPD group with 303 cases according to the history of PPTB.The baseline data,clinical symptoms,imaging findings,underlying diseases,pulmonary diseases,and species of nontuberculous Mycobacteria(NTM)were observed and compared.Totally 92 patients with recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis were randomly screened and assigned as the recurrent pulmonary tuberculo-sis group in a 1:1 ratio by matching the PPTB-NTMPD group with the gender and age.The major clinical charac-teristics were compared between the two groups.The 92 patients with PPTB-NTMPD were divided into the 1-10 years group with 40 cases,the 10-30 years group with 37 cases,and the more than 30 years group with 15 cases according to the interval between the initial diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and the diagnosis of NTMPD.The major clinical characteristics were compared among the groups.RESULTS The age was(64.21±10.71)years old in the PPTB-NTMPD group,(60.26±11.83)years old in the NPPTB-NTMPD group(t=3.020,P=0.003).The proportion of patients with body mass index less than 18.5 kg/m2 was 59.78％in the PPTB-NTMPD group,41.25％in the NPPTB-NTMPD group(x2=6.155,P=0.013);the proportion of patients with cough was 77.17％in the PPTB-NTMPD group,65.68％in the NPPTB-NTMPD group(x2=4.313,P=0.038);the inci-dence of cavitary shadow was 50.00％in the PPTB-NTMPD group,35.31％in the NPPTB-NTMPD group(x2=6.414,P=0.011);the incidence of emphysema and pulmonary bullae was 29.35％in the PPTB-NTMPD group,12.87％in the NPPTB-NTMPD group(x2=13.766,P＜0.001);the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)was 22.83％in the PPTB-NTMPD group,14.19％in the NPPTB-NTMPD group(x2=3.875,P=0.049);the incidence of damaged lung was 9.78％in the PPTB-NTMPD group,2.97％in the NPPTB-NT-MPD group(x2=7.530,P=0.014);there were significant differences.Mycobacterium intracellulare and Myco-bacterium abscessus were the predominant species of NTM in both the PPTB-NTMPD group and the NPPTB-NT-MPD group,there was no significant difference in the distribution of NTM species between the two groups of pa-tients.The incidence of patch shadow of the PPTB-NTMPD group was lower than that of the recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis group(P＜0.05),the incidence of bronchiectatic shadow of the PPTB-NTMPD group was higher than that of the recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis group(P＜0.05).There were significant differences in the age,incidence of pleural thickening and incidence of COPD among the patients with different time intervals between ini-tial diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and the diagnosis of NTMPD in the PPTB-NTMPD group(P＜0.05).CONCLUSIONS The previous pulmonary tuberculosis mainly affect the body mass index less than 18.5 kg/m2 and the post-tuberculosis pulmonary diseases such as cough,pulmonary cavity,emphysema,pulmonary bullae,COPD and damaged lung of the NTMPD patients.The NTMPD patients with previous pulmonary tuberculosis are more likely to have bronchiectasia than the patients with recurrent tuberculosis.It is necessary for the clinicians to attach great importance.

OBJECTIVE To explore the clinical characteristics of the nontuberculous Mycobacteria pulmonary dis-ease(NTMPD)patients with previous pulmonary tuberculosis(PPTB)and analyze the clinical difference from the recurrence of pulmonary tuberculosis.METHODS By means of retrospective survey,the patients who were diag-nosed with NTMPD and recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis in Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital from Mar.2021 to Oct.2023 were recruited as the research subjects,a total of 395 patients with NTMPD were enrolled in the study and were divided into the PPTB-NTMPD group with 92 cases and the NPPTB-NTMPD group with 303 cases according to the history of PPTB.The baseline data,clinical symptoms,imaging findings,underlying diseases,pulmonary diseases,and species of nontuberculous Mycobacteria(NTM)were observed and compared.Totally 92 patients with recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis were randomly screened and assigned as the recurrent pulmonary tuberculo-sis group in a 1:1 ratio by matching the PPTB-NTMPD group with the gender and age.The major clinical charac-teristics were compared between the two groups.The 92 patients with PPTB-NTMPD were divided into the 1-10 years group with 40 cases,the 10-30 years group with 37 cases,and the more than 30 years group with 15 cases according to the interval between the initial diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and the diagnosis of NTMPD.The major clinical characteristics were compared among the groups.RESULTS The age was(64.21±10.71)years old in the PPTB-NTMPD group,(60.26±11.83)years old in the NPPTB-NTMPD group(t=3.020,P=0.003).The proportion of patients with body mass index less than 18.5 kg/m2 was 59.78％in the PPTB-NTMPD group,41.25％in the NPPTB-NTMPD group(x2=6.155,P=0.013);the proportion of patients with cough was 77.17％in the PPTB-NTMPD group,65.68％in the NPPTB-NTMPD group(x2=4.313,P=0.038);the inci-dence of cavitary shadow was 50.00％in the PPTB-NTMPD group,35.31％in the NPPTB-NTMPD group(x2=6.414,P=0.011);the incidence of emphysema and pulmonary bullae was 29.35％in the PPTB-NTMPD group,12.87％in the NPPTB-NTMPD group(x2=13.766,P＜0.001);the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)was 22.83％in the PPTB-NTMPD group,14.19％in the NPPTB-NTMPD group(x2=3.875,P=0.049);the incidence of damaged lung was 9.78％in the PPTB-NTMPD group,2.97％in the NPPTB-NT-MPD group(x2=7.530,P=0.014);there were significant differences.Mycobacterium intracellulare and Myco-bacterium abscessus were the predominant species of NTM in both the PPTB-NTMPD group and the NPPTB-NT-MPD group,there was no significant difference in the distribution of NTM species between the two groups of pa-tients.The incidence of patch shadow of the PPTB-NTMPD group was lower than that of the recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis group(P＜0.05),the incidence of bronchiectatic shadow of the PPTB-NTMPD group was higher than that of the recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis group(P＜0.05).There were significant differences in the age,incidence of pleural thickening and incidence of COPD among the patients with different time intervals between ini-tial diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and the diagnosis of NTMPD in the PPTB-NTMPD group(P＜0.05).CONCLUSIONS The previous pulmonary tuberculosis mainly affect the body mass index less than 18.5 kg/m2 and the post-tuberculosis pulmonary diseases such as cough,pulmonary cavity,emphysema,pulmonary bullae,COPD and damaged lung of the NTMPD patients.The NTMPD patients with previous pulmonary tuberculosis are more likely to have bronchiectasia than the patients with recurrent tuberculosis.It is necessary for the clinicians to attach great importance.

Background and aims Cancer cachexia is prevalent in various cancers and is associated with chemotherapy toxicity. However, limited data exist on the relationship between cachexia and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The aim of this study is to explore the correlation between cancer cachexia and irAEs and its possible mechanism. Methods A murine model of orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cachexia was developed to evaluate the impact of T-cell infiltration into multiple tumor-free organs on the occurrence of irAEs. Single-cell RNA sequencing of thymic stromal cells was performed. Additionally, patients with advanced cancers receiving anti-programmed cell death protein 1/ligand 1 (PD-1/L1) antibody treatment were followed to investigate the relationship between cachexia and irAEs. Results Inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in multiple tumor-free organs of cachexic HCC mice but not in non-cachexic controls. Immunofluorescence confirmed that the infiltrating cells included CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Morphological assessment and hematoxylin–eosin staining revealed thymic atrophy in cachexic HCC mice. Single-cell RNA sequencing of thymic stromal cells showed a reduction in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) II and III in cachexic mice. Autoimmune regulator (Aire) downregulation was accompanied by decreased expression of tissue-restricted antigens in mTECs. T cells from cachexic HCC mice induced organ-specific inflammation and T-cell infiltration in multiple organs of tumor-free mice. Following anti-mouse PD-1 antibody treatment, the incidence of inflammation in multiple organs markedly increased in cachexic HCC mice and in tumor-free mice that had received T cells from the cachexic HCC mice. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence analyses revealed enrichment of thymic monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs) in cachexic HCC mice. M-MDSCs infiltrated the thymus in cachexic mice with cancer, and they induced apoptosis of mTECs from tumor-free mice in vitro via nitric oxide production. Transfer of M-MDSCs led to inflammatory cell infiltration in multiple organs and thymic involution in tumor-free mice without affecting body weight. Sixty-four patients with advanced cancer receiving anti-PD-1/L1 therapy were enrolled. Patients who developed irAEs had higher levels of circulating M-MDSCs than those who did not. Moreover, patients with cachexia (body mass index (BMI) < 20 kg/m2 or ≥5% weight loss over the past 6 months) had elevated M-MDSC levels. Patients with both high M-MDSC levels and low BMI or weight loss ≥5% experienced more irAEs (hazard ratio: 2.333; 95% confidence interval: 1.231–4.423). Conclusions M-MDSCs in cachexic mice induced mTEC apoptosis through nitric oxide production, impairing T-cell negative selection and promoting autoimmune T-cell infiltration into tumor-free organs. Cancer cachexia-related M-MDSCs may serve as predictive biomarkers for irAEs in patients with advanced cancer. Graphical abstract

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and prognosis of male with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) autoantibody.Methods:The clinical data of 246 patients with DM and anti-MDA5 autoantibodies hospitalized by Jiangsu Myositis Cooperation Group from 2017 to 2020 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Chi-square test was performed to compared between counting data groups; Quantitative data were expressed by M ( Q1, Q3), and rank sum test was used for comparison between groups; Single factor survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test; Cox regression analysis were used for multivariate survival analysis. Results:①The male group had a higher proportion of rash at the sun exposure area [67.1%(47/70) vs 52.8%(93/176), χ2=4.18, P=0.041] and V-sign [50.0%(35/70) vs 30.7%(54/176), χ2=8.09, P=0.004] than the female group. The male group had higher levels of creatine kinase [112(18, 981)U/L vs 57 (13.6, 1 433)U/L, Z=-3.50, P<0.001] and ferritin [1 500 (166, 32 716)ng/ml vs 569 (18, 14 839)ng/ml, Z=-5.85, P<0.001] than the female group. The proportion of ILD [40.0%(28/70) vs 59.7%(105/176), χ2=7.82, P=0.020] patients and the red blood cell sedimentation rate[31.0(4.0, 101.5)mm/1 h vs 43.4(5.0, 126.5)mm/1 h, Z=-2.22, P=0.026] in the male group was lower than that of the female group, but the proportion of rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (PR-ILD) [47.1%(33/70) vs 31.3%(55/176), χ2=5.51, P=0.019] was higher than that of the female group. ②In male patients with positive anti-MDA5 antibodies,the death group had a shorter course of disease[1.0(1.0, 3.0) month vs 2.5(0.5,84) month, Z=-3.07, P=0.002], the incidence of arthritis [16.7%(4/24) vs 42.2%(19/45), χ2=4.60, P=0.032] were low than those in survival group,while aspartate aminotransferase (AST)[64(22.1, 565)U/L vs 51(14,601)U/L, Z=-2.42, P=0.016], lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) [485(24,1 464)U/L vs 352(170, 1 213)U/L, Z=-3.38, P=0.001], C-reactive protein (CRP) [11.6(2.9, 61.7) mg/L vs 4.95(0.6, 86.4) mg/L, Z=-1.96, P=0.050], and ferritin levels [2 000(681, 7 676) vs 1 125 (166, 32 716)ng/ml, Z=-3.18, P=0.001] were higher than those in the survival group, and RP-ILD [95.8%(23/24) vs 22.2%(10/45), χ2=33.99, P<0.001] occurred at a significantly higher rate. ③Cox regression analysis indicated that the course of disease LDH level, and RP-ILD were related factors for the prognosis of male anti-MDA5 antibodies [ HR (95% CI)=0.203(0.077, 0.534), P=0.001; HR (95% CI)=1.002(1.001, 1.004), P=0.003; HR (95% CI)=95.674 (10.872, 841.904), P<0.001]. Conclusion:The clinical manifestations of male anti-MDA5 antibody-positive patients are different from those of female. The incidence of ILD is low, but the proportion of PR-ILD is high. The course of disease, serum LDH level, and RP-ILD are prognostic factors of male anti-MDA5 antibody-positive patients.

Objective:To investigate the safety and therapeutic effect of split liver transplantation (SLT) in clinical application.Methods:This is a retrospective case-series study. The clinical data of 203 consecutive SLT, 79 living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and 1 298 whole liver transplantation (WLT) performed at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2014 to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Two hundred and three SLT liver grafts were obtained from 109 donors. One hundred and twenty-seven grafts were generated by in vitro splitting and 76 grafts were generated by in vivo splitting. There were 90 adult recipients and 113 pediatric recipients. According to time, SLT patients were divided into two groups: the early SLT group (40 cases, from July 2014 to December 2017) and the mature SLT technology group (163 cases, from January 2018 to July 2023). The survival of each group was analyzed and the main factors affecting the survival rate of SLT were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were used for survival analysis.Results:The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3-, and 5-year were 74.58%, 71.47%, and 71.47% in the early SLT group, and 88.03%, 87.23%, and 87.23% in the mature SLT group, respectively. Survival rates in the mature SLT group were significantly higher than those in the early SLT group ( χ2=5.560, P=0.018). The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3- and 5-year were 93.41%, 93.41%, 89.95% in the LDLT group and 87.38%, 81.98%, 77.04% in the WLT group, respectively. There was no significant difference among the mature SLT group, the LDLT group and the WLT group ( χ2=4.016, P=0.134). Abdominal hemorrhage, infection, primary liver graft nonfunction,and portal vein thrombosis were the main causes of early postoperative death. Conclusion:SLT can achieve results comparable to those of WLT and LDLT in mature technology liver transplant centers, but it needs to go through a certain time learning curve.

Objective:To investigate the safety and therapeutic effect of split liver transplantation (SLT) in clinical application.Methods:This is a retrospective case-series study. The clinical data of 203 consecutive SLT, 79 living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and 1 298 whole liver transplantation (WLT) performed at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2014 to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Two hundred and three SLT liver grafts were obtained from 109 donors. One hundred and twenty-seven grafts were generated by in vitro splitting and 76 grafts were generated by in vivo splitting. There were 90 adult recipients and 113 pediatric recipients. According to time, SLT patients were divided into two groups: the early SLT group (40 cases, from July 2014 to December 2017) and the mature SLT technology group (163 cases, from January 2018 to July 2023). The survival of each group was analyzed and the main factors affecting the survival rate of SLT were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were used for survival analysis.Results:The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3-, and 5-year were 74.58%, 71.47%, and 71.47% in the early SLT group, and 88.03%, 87.23%, and 87.23% in the mature SLT group, respectively. Survival rates in the mature SLT group were significantly higher than those in the early SLT group ( χ2=5.560, P=0.018). The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3- and 5-year were 93.41%, 93.41%, 89.95% in the LDLT group and 87.38%, 81.98%, 77.04% in the WLT group, respectively. There was no significant difference among the mature SLT group, the LDLT group and the WLT group ( χ2=4.016, P=0.134). Abdominal hemorrhage, infection, primary liver graft nonfunction,and portal vein thrombosis were the main causes of early postoperative death. Conclusion:SLT can achieve results comparable to those of WLT and LDLT in mature technology liver transplant centers, but it needs to go through a certain time learning curve.

Following the principles of evidence-based medicine,in accordance with the structure and drafting rules of standardized documents,based on literature research,according to the characteristics of chronic cough in children and issues that need to form a consensus,the TCM Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Cough in Children was formulated based on the Delphi method,expert discussion meetings,and public solicitation of opinions.The guideline includes scope of application,terms and definitions,eti-ology and diagnosis,auxiliary examination,treatment,prevention and care.The aim is to clarify the optimal treatment plan of Chinese medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease,and to provide guidance for improving the clinical diagnosis and treatment of chronic cough in children with Chinese medicine.

Objective:To investigate the association between sleep status and the risk for coronary heart disease in adults in Suzhou.Methods:Using the baseline and follow up information of 53 269 local residents aged 30-79 years in China Kadoorie Biobank conducted in Wuzhong District, Suzhou, 51 929 subjects were included in this study after excluding those reporting coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer at the baseline survey. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the association of healthy sleep score (0-3 points) and sleep factors (snoring, insomnia, long sleep duration and nap) with the risk for coronary heart disease.Results:The median follow-up time was 11.12 years, and 1 304 individuals were diagnosed with coronary heart disease during the follow-up. After adjusting for potential confounders, occasional snoring ( HR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.04-1.38), usual snoring ( HR=1.17, 95% CI: 1.02-1.33), insomnia disorder ( HR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.12-1.78), daytime dysfunction ( HR=1.56, 95% CI: 1.20-2.03) and perennial nap ( HR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.19-1.59) were associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. Compared with those with sleep score of 0 - 1 (low sleep quality), the people with sleep score of 3 had reduced risk of coronary heart disease by 26% ( HR=0.74, 95% CI: 0.63-0.87). Stratified analysis showed that the association of healthy sleep score 3 with risk of coronary heart disease was stronger in low physically active individuals (interaction P<0.05). Conclusions:Snoring, insomnia disorders, daytime dysfunction, and perennial napping were all associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease, and keep healthy sleep mode might reduce the risk for coronary heart disease in adults.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effect and mechanism of hydroxyl safflower yellow A (HSYA) from myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: HUVECs were treated with oxygen-glucose deprivation reperfusion (OGD/R) to simulate the ischemia reperfusion model, and cell counting kit-8 was used to detect the protective effect of different concentrations (1.25-160 µ mol/L) of HSYA on HUVECs after OGD/R. HSYA 80 µ mol/L was used for follow-up experiments. The contents of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-18, IL-1 β, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and IL-6 before and after administration were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protein expressions of toll-like receptor, NOD-like receptor containing pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3), gasdermin D (GSDMD) and GSDMD-N-terminal domain (GSDMD-N) before and after administration were detected by Western blot. NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor cytokine release inhibitory drug 3 sodium salt (CRID3 sodium salt, also known as MCC950) and agonist were added, and the changes of NLRP3, cysteine-aspartic acid protease 1 (Caspase-1), GSDMD and GSDMD-N protein expressions were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: HSYA inhibited OGD/R-induced inflammation and significantly decreased the contents of inflammatory cytokines IL-18, IL-1 β, MCP-1, TNF-α and IL-6 (P<0.01 or P<0.05). At the same time, by inhibiting NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway, HSYA can reduce the occurrence of pyroptosis after OGD/R and reduce the expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD and GSDMD-N proteins (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS The protective effect of HSYA on HUVECs after OGD/R is related to down-regulating the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and inhibiting pyroptosis.
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Humans ; Chalcone/analogs & derivatives* ; Quinones/pharmacology* ; Pyroptosis/drug effects* ; Caspase 1/metabolism* ; Glucose ; Phosphate-Binding Proteins/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism* ; Oxygen/metabolism* ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Gasdermins