Hygroscopicity research has long been a key focus and hot topic in Chinese materia medica（CMM）. Elucidating hygroscopic mechanisms plays a vital role in formulation design， process optimization， and storage condition selection. Hygroscopic models serve as essential tools for characterizing CMM hygroscopic mechanisms， with various types available. The double exponential model is a kinetic mathematical model constructed based on the law of conservation of energy and Fick's first law of diffusion， tailored to the physical properties of CMM extracts. In recent years， this model has been extensively applied to simulate the dynamic moisture absorption behavior of CMM extracts and solid dosage forms under varying humidity conditions. It has revealed the correlation between moisture absorption kinetic parameters and material properties， offering a new perspective for characterizing the moisture uptake behavior of CMM. This paper systematically reviews the application progress of this model in the field of CMM， analyzes its advantages， disadvantages， and challenges in this domain， and explores its potential application trends in other fields. It aims to provide references for elucidating the moisture absorption mechanisms of CMM and researching moisture-proofing technologies， while also offering insights for its broader application in food and polymer materials.

ObjectiveTo elucidate the underlying mechanism through which Zhuluan decoction suppresses excessive autophagy in human ovarian granulosa cells （KGN） and ameliorates premature ovarian insufficiency （POI） via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） signaling pathway. MethodsThe optimal concentration of cyclophosphamide for inducing a POI model in KGN cells was identified via the cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay. Subsequently， the impacts of varying concentrations of Zhuluan decoction-containing serum on the viability of the KGN cell model were assessed. After the optimal drug concentration was determined， KGN cells were categorized into the following groups： blank control （20% blank serum）， model （20% blank serum + 5 μmol·L^-1 cyclophosphamide）， Zhuluan decoction-containing serum （20% Zhuluan decoction-containing serum + 5 μmol·L^-1 cyclophosphamide）， autophagy inhibitor （20% blank serum + 5 μmol·L^-1 cyclophosphamide + 20 μmol·L^-1 chloroquine phosphate）， autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum （20% Zhuluan decoction-containing serum + 5 μmol·L^-1 cyclophosphamide + 20 μmol·L^-1 chloroquine phosphate）， and estradiol valerate （20% estradiol valerate-containing serum + 5 μmol·L^-1 cyclophosphamide）. Following 48 hours of incubation， flow cytometry was utilized to measure the apoptosis rate of KGN cells in each group. Western blotting was employed to quantify the protein levels of PI3K， phosphorylated （p）-Akt， Akt， p-mTOR， and mTOR， along with the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins such as Beclin1， autophagy-related 5 homolog （ATG5）， and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）， in each group. Additionally， monodansylcadaverine （MDC） staining was performed to evaluate the extent of autophagy in each group. ResultsIncubation of KGN cells with 5 μmol·L^-1 cyclophosphamide for 48 h successfully established a POI model， marked by a significant inhibition of KGN cell proliferation. Notably， the inhibitory effect of cyclophosphamide on KGN cell proliferation exhibited a positive correlation with its concentration. Zhuluan decoction-containing serum at 20% and 30% promoted cell proliferation and mitigated the inhibitory effect of cyclophosphamide on KGN cell proliferation， with comparable therapeutic efficacy observed at both concentrations. Compared with the blank control group， the model group displayed an elevated apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， reduced protein levels of PI3K， p-Akt， and p-mTOR （P<0.01）， increased protein levels of Beclin1， LC3， and ATG5 （P<0.01）， no significant alterations in the protein levels of Akt and mTOR， and an enhanced MDC autophagy fluorescence intensity （P<0.01）. In comparison to that the model group， the apoptosis rates in the blank control group， model group， Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group， autophagy inhibitor group， autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group， and estradiol valerate group all reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with the most pronounced reduction observed in the autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group. The protein levels of PI3K， p-Akt， and p-mTOR were higher in other groups than in the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）， being the highest in the autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoctio-containing serum group （P<0.01）. The protein levels of Beclin1 and ATG5 were lower in other groups than in the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expression level of LC3 declined in the Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group and the estradiol valerate group （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while it decreased without statistical significance in the autophagy inhibitor group and the autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group. ConclusionZhuluan decoction may activate the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway to inhibit excessive autophagy and counteract the detrimental effects of cyclophosphamide on the KGN cell model， thus managing POI.

ObjectiveTo elucidate the underlying mechanism through which Zhuluan decoction suppresses excessive autophagy in human ovarian granulosa cells （KGN） and ameliorates premature ovarian insufficiency （POI） via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） signaling pathway. MethodsThe optimal concentration of cyclophosphamide for inducing a POI model in KGN cells was identified via the cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay. Subsequently， the impacts of varying concentrations of Zhuluan decoction-containing serum on the viability of the KGN cell model were assessed. After the optimal drug concentration was determined， KGN cells were categorized into the following groups： blank control （20% blank serum）， model （20% blank serum + 5 μmol·L^-1 cyclophosphamide）， Zhuluan decoction-containing serum （20% Zhuluan decoction-containing serum + 5 μmol·L^-1 cyclophosphamide）， autophagy inhibitor （20% blank serum + 5 μmol·L^-1 cyclophosphamide + 20 μmol·L^-1 chloroquine phosphate）， autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum （20% Zhuluan decoction-containing serum + 5 μmol·L^-1 cyclophosphamide + 20 μmol·L^-1 chloroquine phosphate）， and estradiol valerate （20% estradiol valerate-containing serum + 5 μmol·L^-1 cyclophosphamide）. Following 48 hours of incubation， flow cytometry was utilized to measure the apoptosis rate of KGN cells in each group. Western blotting was employed to quantify the protein levels of PI3K， phosphorylated （p）-Akt， Akt， p-mTOR， and mTOR， along with the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins such as Beclin1， autophagy-related 5 homolog （ATG5）， and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）， in each group. Additionally， monodansylcadaverine （MDC） staining was performed to evaluate the extent of autophagy in each group. ResultsIncubation of KGN cells with 5 μmol·L^-1 cyclophosphamide for 48 h successfully established a POI model， marked by a significant inhibition of KGN cell proliferation. Notably， the inhibitory effect of cyclophosphamide on KGN cell proliferation exhibited a positive correlation with its concentration. Zhuluan decoction-containing serum at 20% and 30% promoted cell proliferation and mitigated the inhibitory effect of cyclophosphamide on KGN cell proliferation， with comparable therapeutic efficacy observed at both concentrations. Compared with the blank control group， the model group displayed an elevated apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， reduced protein levels of PI3K， p-Akt， and p-mTOR （P<0.01）， increased protein levels of Beclin1， LC3， and ATG5 （P<0.01）， no significant alterations in the protein levels of Akt and mTOR， and an enhanced MDC autophagy fluorescence intensity （P<0.01）. In comparison to that the model group， the apoptosis rates in the blank control group， model group， Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group， autophagy inhibitor group， autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group， and estradiol valerate group all reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with the most pronounced reduction observed in the autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group. The protein levels of PI3K， p-Akt， and p-mTOR were higher in other groups than in the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）， being the highest in the autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoctio-containing serum group （P<0.01）. The protein levels of Beclin1 and ATG5 were lower in other groups than in the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expression level of LC3 declined in the Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group and the estradiol valerate group （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while it decreased without statistical significance in the autophagy inhibitor group and the autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group. ConclusionZhuluan decoction may activate the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway to inhibit excessive autophagy and counteract the detrimental effects of cyclophosphamide on the KGN cell model， thus managing POI.

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare neurodegenerative disease with complex clinical manifestations, presenting substantial challenges in clinical diagnosis and treatment. Its symptoms and the eight extraordinary meridians are potentially correlated; therefore, this article explores the association between MSA symptom clusters and the eight extraordinary meridians based on their circulation and physiological functions, as well as their treatment strategies. The progression from deficiency to damage in the eight extraordinary meridians aligns with the core pathogenesis of MSA, which is characterized by "the continuous accumulation of impacts from the vital qi deficiency leading to eventual damage". Liver and kidney deficiency and the emptiness of the eight extraordinary meridians are required for the onset of MSA; the stagnation of qi deficiency and the gradual damage to the eight extraordinary meridians are the key stages in the prolonged progression of MSA. The disease often begins with the involvement of the yin and yang qiao mai, governor vessel, thoroughfare vessel, and conception vessel before progressing to multiple meridian involvements, ultimately affecting all eight extraordinary meridians simultaneously. The treatment approach emphasizes that "the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect method will be needed in order to secure victory" and focuses on "eliminate pathogenic factors and reinforce healthy qi". Distinguishing the extraordinary meridians and focusing on the primary symptoms are pivotal to improving efficacy. Clinical treatment is aimed at the target, and tailored treatment based on careful clinical observation ensures precision in targeting the disease using the eight extraordinary meridians as the framework and core symptoms as the specific focus. Additionally, combining acupuncture, daoyin therapy, and other method may help prolong survival. This article classifies clinical manifestations based on the theory of the eight extraordinary meridians and explores treatment.

Inflammatory diseases (IDs) are a general term of diseases characterized by chronic inflammation as the primary pathogenetic mechanism, which seriously affect the quality of patient′s life and cause significant social and medical burden. Current drugs for IDs include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, biologics, and antioxidants, but these drugs may cause gastrointestinal side effects, induce or worsen infections, and cause non-response or intolerance. Given the outstanding performance of metal polyphenol network (MPN) in the fields of drug delivery, biomedical imaging, and catalytic therapy, its application in the diagnosis and treatment of IDs has attracted much attention and significant progress has been made. In this paper, we first provide an overview of the types of IDs and their generating mechanisms, then sort out and summarize the different forms of MPN in recent years, and finally discuss in detail the characteristics of MPN and their latest research progress in the diagnosis and treatment of IDs. This research may provide useful references for scientific research and clinical practice in the related fields.

Objective: To analyze the association of participation in non-sports extracurricular tutoring classes with the prevalence of screening myopia, axial length (AL) and axial length to corneal radius ratio (AL/CR) among primary school students, so as to provide evidences for formulating myopia prevention and control policies. Methods: In December 2024, combination of convenience and cluster sampling method was used to select 2 273 students from two primary schools in Hefei City, Anhui Province. Ophthalmic examinations and questionnaire surveys were conducted to obtain information on myopia, AL, AL/CR and participation in various types of extracurricular tutoring. A binary Logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between non-sports tutoring and screening myopia, and multiple linear regression models were used to examine the associations between non-sports tutoring and AL and AL/CR. Results: Among the surveyed students, the participation rate in non-sports extracurricular tutoring classes was 64.9% , and the overall prevalence of screening myopia was 39.1%. The average AL and AL/CR were (23.60± 1.01 ) mm and (3.00±0.12), respectively. Univariate analysis showed that students who attended non-sports, music, or academic tutoring classes for ≥2 h per week had higher risks of screening myopia and greater AL/CR values than non-participants (screening myopia: OR =1.38, 1.82, 1.55; AL/CR: β =0.01, 0.03, 0.03; all P <0.05). After adjusting for sex, grade, and participation in sports tutoring, multivariate analysis indicated that participation in non-sports and musical instrument tutoring classes for ≥2 h per week remained significantly associated with higher risks of screening myopia ( OR =1.26, 1.49, both P <0.05). Multiple linear regression showed that participation in musical instrument tutoring for ≥2 h per week was positively correlated with AL ( β=0.14, P < 0.05). Conclusions Participation in non-sports extracurricular tutoring is common among primary school students. Attending non-sports tutoring classes for ≥2 h per week increases the risk of screening myopia.

BACKGROUND: The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences. RESULTS: Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n  = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n  = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses. CONCLUSION This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; China ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

Obesity is a worldwide health problem. An imbalance in energy metabolism is an important cause of obesity and related metabolic diseases. Our previous studies showed that inhibition of miR-429 increased the protein level of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in beige adipocytes; however, whether local inhibition of miR-429 in subcutaneous adipose tissue affects diet-induced obesity and related metabolic disorders remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of local overexpression of miR-429 sponge in subcutaneous adipose tissue on obesity and related metabolic disorders. The control adeno-associated virus (AAV) or AAV expressing the miR-429 sponge was injected into mouse inguinal white adipose tissue. Seven days later, the mice were fed a high-fat diet for 10 weeks to induce obesity. The effects of the miR-429 sponge on body weight, adipose tissue weight, plasma glucose and lipid levels, and hepatic lipid content were explored. The results showed that the overexpression of miR-429 sponge in subcutaneous white adipose tissue reduced body weight and fat mass, decreased fasting blood glucose and plasma cholesterol levels, improved glucose tolerance, and alleviated hepatic lipid deposition in mice. Mechanistic investigation showed that the inhibition of miR-429 significantly upregulated the expression of UCP1 in adipocytes and adipose tissue. These results suggest that local inhibition of miR-429 in subcutaneous white adipose tissue ameliorates obesity and related metabolic disorders potentially by upregulating UCP1, and miR-429 is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/physiology* ; Obesity/metabolism* ; Mice ; Adipose Tissue, White/metabolism* ; Metabolic Diseases ; Subcutaneous Fat/metabolism* ; Male ; Uncoupling Protein 1/metabolism* ; Diet, High-Fat ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

This study explores the mechanism of Guben Jiannao Liquid on Alzheimer's disease(AD) by regulating autophagy based on the liver kinase B1(LKB1)/adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) pathway. Male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group, model group, low-dose and high-dose groups of Guben Jiannao Liquid, and rapamycin group, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, all other groups of rats were injected bilaterally in the hippocampus with β-amyloid(Aβ)_(1-42) to establish the AD model. The low-dose(6.21 g·kg~(-1)) and high-dose(12.42 g·kg~(-1)) groups of Guben Jiannao Liquid and rapamycin group(1 mg·kg~(-1)) were given the corresponding drugs by gavage, and the blank and model groups were given an equal volume of saline by gavage for four weeks. Morris water maze was used to test the learning and memory ability of rats in each group; hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological and quantitative changes of neurons and Nissl bodies in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus; immunohistochemistry was utilized to detect Aβ-positive cell expression in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus; transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe ultrastructural changes in rat hippocampal tissue, and Western blot was used to examine the protein expression levels of LKB1, p-AMPK/AMPK, p-mTOR/mTOR, Beclin1, p62, and LC3-Ⅱ in the hippocampal tissue of the rats. The results showed that compared with those in the blank group, rats in the model group had elevated evasion latency and decreased number of platform transversal and residence time in the platform quadrant. The number of neurons in the hippocampal area was reduced, and the morphology was impaired. The average integral optical density value of Aβ-positive cells was elevated; the expression levels of LKB1, p-AMPK/AMPK, Beclin1, and LC3-Ⅱ were decreased, and the expression levels of p-mTOR/mTOR and p62 were increased. Compared with those in the model group, rats in the low-dose and high-dose groups of Guben Jiannao Liquid had shorter evasion latency, higher number of platform transversal, longer residence time in the platform quadrant, increased number of neurons, decreased expression of Aβ-positive cells and average integral optical density values, and increased number of autophagic lysosomes in hippocampal tissue. The expression levels of LKB1, Beclin1, and LC3-Ⅱ were elevated in the hippocampus of rats in the low-dose group of Guben Jiannao Liquid. The expression levels of LKB1, p-AMPK/AMPK, Beclin1, and LC3-Ⅱ were elevated in the hippocampal tissue of rats in the high-dose group of Guben Jiannao Liquid, and the expression levels of p-mTOR/mTOR and p62 were decreased. The findings suggest that Guben Jiannao Liquid can improve cognitive impairment in AD rats, and its mechanism of action may be related to the activation of the LKB1/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway and the up-regulation of autophagy level.
Animals ; Alzheimer Disease/physiopathology* ; Male ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Rats ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; Humans ; Hippocampus/metabolism*

Premature ovarian insufficiency(POI) is a manifestation of ovarian aging, with a global incidence of 3.5%. If not addressed in time, POI can rapidly develop into premature ovarian failure(POF). The incidence of POI is mainly related to genetic factors, iatrogenic factors, autoimmunity, aging, infection, psychological factors, and other influences. POI not only causes menstrual disorders, amenorrhea, infertility, and dyspareunia but also tends to present with symptoms such as mood swings, insomnia, hot flashes, fatigue, as well as osteoporosis, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions, resulting in long-term psychological and physical health concerns for affected women. From traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)'s perspective, POI is primarily attributed to kidney Yin deficiency, with the main pathogenesis rooted in kidney deficiency, which affects the heart, liver, and spleen. It manifests in different syndrome types, including kidney deficiency with liver Qi stagnation, kidney deficiency with blood stasis, and spleen-kidney Yang deficiency. TCM employs a holistic view, utilizing multi-component TCM, multi-site acupuncture, and multi-target and multi-pathway interventions to treat POI. It offers unique advantages such as strong personalization, high safety, and good efficacy. In this paper, the animal and clinical research literature on the prevention and treatment of POI in the past 10 years was systematically summarized and reviewed. It is found that TCM mainly treats POI and alleviates POI-caused issues such as menstrual disorders, infertility, and emotional instability by regulating the neuroendocrine system(hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, HPOA) and related signaling pathways, improving ovarian function and antioxidant capacity, enhancing immune function, maintaining mitochondrial energy metabolism, inhibiting ferroptosis, and controlling endoplasmic reticulum stress.
Humans ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency/physiopathology* ; Female ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional