AIM:To elucidate the mechanism by which Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides(PSP)miti-gate high-sugar diet-induced neuroinflammation through the gut microbiota-serum metabolome axis.METHODS:Fifty male ICR mice were divided into 5 groups:control group,model group,low-dose(250 mg/kg)PSP group,high-dose(500 mg/kg)PSP group,and donepezil hydrochloride(3 mg/kg)group.The neuroinflammation model was established through administration of high-sugar chow and 10%sucrose water for 12 weeks.Cognitive function assessment was per-formed utilizing the Morris water maze.Hippocampal histopathology was examined by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,activated microglia were assessed via immunofluorescence,and neuronal apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL assay.Serum and hippocampal levels of interleukin-6(IL-6),IL-1β,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and nitric oxide(NO)were quantified using ELISA and Western blot.Gut microbiota diversity and serum untargeted metabolomics analyses were car-ried out employing 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS/GC-MS,respectively.Differential metabolites were screened,and key metabolic pathways were enriched using MetaboAnalyst 6.0.Spearman correlation analysis established relationships between gut microbiota,metabolites,and inflammatory factors.RESULTS:Model mice demonstrated increased escape latency(P<0.05 or P<0.01)and decreased platform crossings(P<0.01)compared with controls,which were reversed by PSP treatment(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Treatment with PSP substantially reduced IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α and NO levels in se-rum and hippocampus(P<0.05 or P<0.01),diminished inflammatory infiltration,inhibited microglial activation,and re-duced neuronal damage.Gut microbiota analysis demonstrated that PSP increased Lactobacillus and Bacteroides abun-dance while reducing Alistipes(P<0.05).Metabolomics identified 15 differential metabolites(including betaine,kyotor-phin and ε-caprolactam)and highlighted the significance of alanine,aspartate and glutamate metabolism pathways.Spear-man analysis revealed that abundance of Alistipes and Bacteroides were positively correlated with IL-1β(P<0.05),while abundance of Lactobacillus was negatively correlated with inflammatory factors(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Key metabolites(be-taine,kyotorphin,ε-caprolactam,trans-cinnamate,cis-zeatin and galactitol)showed strong associations with inflamma-tion factors(P<0.05 or P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Treatment with PSP attenuates neuroinflammation through modula-tion of gut microbiota(Lactobacillus,Bacteroides and Alistipes),regulation of metabolites(betaine,kyotorphin and so on),and targeting amino acid metabolism pathways.

People with AIDS are highly prone to opportunistic infections,among which pulmonary infections are the most common,with high incidence and fatality rates.How to effectively prevent or reduce the occurrence of HIV-related lung infections(HRLI)is of great practical significance.From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),HRLI and AIDS share common pathological mechanisms,including qi deficiency,spleen defi-ciency,phlegm-heat or phlegm-dampness obstructing the lungs.Based on the TCM theory of"preventing disease before it occurs",the three-level prevention approach includes:the first step"preventing disease before it occurs"emphasizes strengthening the body's defense mechanisms by tonifying the spleen and benefiting qi,and nourishing the lungs and kidneys to strengthen the exterior and protect the body;the second step"preventing the progression of disease once it occurs"emphasizes the removal of pathogenic factors while strengthening the body's defenses.Based on the principles of syndrome differentiation and treatment in TCM,focuses are kept on the spleen tonifying and phlegm resolving,pathogenic factors dispelling and dampness eliminating,while protecting the spleen and nourishing other organs.The third step"preventing relapse after recovery"emphasizes replenishing deficiencies and enhancing immunity.Adopting the three-level prevention approach and early intervention can reduce the inci-dence of HRLI,which is a new idea for the prevention and treatment of HRLI with TCM.

Sj?gren's syndrome(SS)is one of the common rheumatic diseases in clinical practice.Modern medicine commonly uses drugs such as artificial tears,saliva,glucocorticoids,immunosuppressants,and biologics to control the condition.Clinical practice has shown that in addition to modern medical basic treatment,the use of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)can help improve the clinical efficacy of SS.According to the symptoms and signs of Sj?gren's syndrome in TCM,it is classified as"dryness and obstruction",and the core pathogenesis of the disease is spleen deficiency and deficiency of body fluids.Subsequently,toxic and pathogenic factors gather,leading to the decline of internal organs.The initial causes are spleen damage,unstable barrier,and invasion of pathogenic factors.The core link is spleen dysfunction,insufficient body fluid,and dryness arising from it.Spleen deficiency generates evil,obstruction of qi,and lack of body fluids are the root causes of illness.The main treatment method is the"spleen strengthening method",which treats spleen deficiency,dampness and stagnation,and the body fluid is not distributed.The treatment focuses on strengthening the spleen and qi,supplementing the lungs and generating fluids.Spleen deficiency leads to loss of vitality,blood stasis obstructs blood vessels,and the treatment is to strengthen the spleen,soothe the liver,remove blood stasis,and unblock the orifices.The spleen yang is not vigorous,and qi transformation is impaired.The treatment is to invigorate the spleen and warm the stomach,promote yang circulation,and promote diuresis.

Sj?gren's syndrome(SS)is one of the common rheumatic diseases in clinical practice.Modern medicine commonly uses drugs such as artificial tears,saliva,glucocorticoids,immunosuppressants,and biologics to control the condition.Clinical practice has shown that in addition to modern medical basic treatment,the use of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)can help improve the clinical efficacy of SS.According to the symptoms and signs of Sj?gren's syndrome in TCM,it is classified as"dryness and obstruction",and the core pathogenesis of the disease is spleen deficiency and deficiency of body fluids.Subsequently,toxic and pathogenic factors gather,leading to the decline of internal organs.The initial causes are spleen damage,unstable barrier,and invasion of pathogenic factors.The core link is spleen dysfunction,insufficient body fluid,and dryness arising from it.Spleen deficiency generates evil,obstruction of qi,and lack of body fluids are the root causes of illness.The main treatment method is the"spleen strengthening method",which treats spleen deficiency,dampness and stagnation,and the body fluid is not distributed.The treatment focuses on strengthening the spleen and qi,supplementing the lungs and generating fluids.Spleen deficiency leads to loss of vitality,blood stasis obstructs blood vessels,and the treatment is to strengthen the spleen,soothe the liver,remove blood stasis,and unblock the orifices.The spleen yang is not vigorous,and qi transformation is impaired.The treatment is to invigorate the spleen and warm the stomach,promote yang circulation,and promote diuresis.

AIM:To elucidate the mechanism by which Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides(PSP)miti-gate high-sugar diet-induced neuroinflammation through the gut microbiota-serum metabolome axis.METHODS:Fifty male ICR mice were divided into 5 groups:control group,model group,low-dose(250 mg/kg)PSP group,high-dose(500 mg/kg)PSP group,and donepezil hydrochloride(3 mg/kg)group.The neuroinflammation model was established through administration of high-sugar chow and 10%sucrose water for 12 weeks.Cognitive function assessment was per-formed utilizing the Morris water maze.Hippocampal histopathology was examined by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,activated microglia were assessed via immunofluorescence,and neuronal apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL assay.Serum and hippocampal levels of interleukin-6(IL-6),IL-1β,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and nitric oxide(NO)were quantified using ELISA and Western blot.Gut microbiota diversity and serum untargeted metabolomics analyses were car-ried out employing 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS/GC-MS,respectively.Differential metabolites were screened,and key metabolic pathways were enriched using MetaboAnalyst 6.0.Spearman correlation analysis established relationships between gut microbiota,metabolites,and inflammatory factors.RESULTS:Model mice demonstrated increased escape latency(P<0.05 or P<0.01)and decreased platform crossings(P<0.01)compared with controls,which were reversed by PSP treatment(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Treatment with PSP substantially reduced IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α and NO levels in se-rum and hippocampus(P<0.05 or P<0.01),diminished inflammatory infiltration,inhibited microglial activation,and re-duced neuronal damage.Gut microbiota analysis demonstrated that PSP increased Lactobacillus and Bacteroides abun-dance while reducing Alistipes(P<0.05).Metabolomics identified 15 differential metabolites(including betaine,kyotor-phin and ε-caprolactam)and highlighted the significance of alanine,aspartate and glutamate metabolism pathways.Spear-man analysis revealed that abundance of Alistipes and Bacteroides were positively correlated with IL-1β(P<0.05),while abundance of Lactobacillus was negatively correlated with inflammatory factors(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Key metabolites(be-taine,kyotorphin,ε-caprolactam,trans-cinnamate,cis-zeatin and galactitol)showed strong associations with inflamma-tion factors(P<0.05 or P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Treatment with PSP attenuates neuroinflammation through modula-tion of gut microbiota(Lactobacillus,Bacteroides and Alistipes),regulation of metabolites(betaine,kyotorphin and so on),and targeting amino acid metabolism pathways.

People with AIDS are highly prone to opportunistic infections,among which pulmonary infections are the most common,with high incidence and fatality rates.How to effectively prevent or reduce the occurrence of HIV-related lung infections(HRLI)is of great practical significance.From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),HRLI and AIDS share common pathological mechanisms,including qi deficiency,spleen defi-ciency,phlegm-heat or phlegm-dampness obstructing the lungs.Based on the TCM theory of"preventing disease before it occurs",the three-level prevention approach includes:the first step"preventing disease before it occurs"emphasizes strengthening the body's defense mechanisms by tonifying the spleen and benefiting qi,and nourishing the lungs and kidneys to strengthen the exterior and protect the body;the second step"preventing the progression of disease once it occurs"emphasizes the removal of pathogenic factors while strengthening the body's defenses.Based on the principles of syndrome differentiation and treatment in TCM,focuses are kept on the spleen tonifying and phlegm resolving,pathogenic factors dispelling and dampness eliminating,while protecting the spleen and nourishing other organs.The third step"preventing relapse after recovery"emphasizes replenishing deficiencies and enhancing immunity.Adopting the three-level prevention approach and early intervention can reduce the inci-dence of HRLI,which is a new idea for the prevention and treatment of HRLI with TCM.

Under the "patient-centered" drug regulation concept,the inclusion of patient dimensions in real-world evidence becomes increasingly important. Patient experience data can complement and interpret existing data,generate evidence directly from patients,and achieve patient participation in drug development. Data types include patient-reported outcomes and free-text data,which can be collected autonomously or obtained from databases. Application scenarios involve new drug registration,safety evaluation,and additional indications. In China,applying patient experience data to real-world study mainly faces the following challenges:lack of conditions,standards,and motivation to collect high-quality data,a single type of data,and the difficulty of balancing data security with freedom,etc. It is recommended to issue special guidelines,establish a measurement tool certification process,expand data collection channels,explore data source integration methods,optimize the informed consent mechanism,and establish an evidence synergy mechanism to promote the practical application of the "patient-centered" concept in real-world study of drugs.

Objective:The aim of this study was to examine the change of serum bone-derived hormones osteocalcin and lipocalin 2 (LCN2) level in patients with active acromegaly, and to further investigate the potential role of osteocalcin and LCN2 in glucose metabolism.Methods:Fifty consecutive patients diagnosed as acromegaly in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from December 2016 to August 2018 were recruited. Of those, 41 patients after operations with complete follow-up data were also included. 30 sex, age, and body mass index matched healthy persons as normal controls. Serum osteocalcin and LCN2 levels were compared between controls and patients with acromegaly, as well as at pre- and post- operation periods. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to investigate the correlation between bone-derived hormones and glucose metabolism indexes and to determine the independent associations between variables.Results:Compared with normal controls, serum osteocalcin increased [(55.45±34.02 vs 19.46±6.69)ng/ml, P<0.01] and LCN2 levels decreased [(34.15±9.95 vs 57.50±29.75)ng/ml, P<0.01] in patients with acromegaly. Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was also elevated ( P<0.01), but homeostasis model assessment for β cell function (HOMA-β) and area under curve of insulin during 0-120 min of the oral glucose tolerance test (AUC INS) changed non-significantly in acromegaly compared to normal controls ( P>0.05). After operation, with the decrease of serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), serum osteocalcin level decreased [24.79(18.39, 32.59) vs 43.51(26.73, 65.66)ng/ml, P<0.01] and LCN2 level increased [(45.15±15.33 vs 37.03±9.73)ng/ml, P<0.05] significantly compare to pre-operation levels. In a multivariate linear stepwise regression analysis, lean mass was shown to be the only positive predictor for LCN2 ( β=0.44, P=0.015) and elevated serum IGF-1 was a positive predictor for osteocalcin ( β=0.512, P<0.01). In the multivariate models, low LCN2 ( β=-0.398, P=0.017) and elevated serum osteocalcin ( β=0.553, P=0.001) were predictors for AUC INS, osteocalcin was a positive predictor of HOMA- β ( β=0.519, P=0.004). GH ( β=0.294, P=0.029) and IGF-1( β = 0.428, P=0.002) were all identified as positive predictors of HOMA-IR during multivariate testing in acromegaly patients. Conclusions:Acromegaly patients had increased osteocalcin and decreased LCN2 serum levels, and corresponding alteration was detected with the correction of biochemical abnormalities. Serum osteocalcin and LCN2 were predictors of β-cell function in acromegaly patients. This study adds new evidence for the role of bone in regulating glucose metabolism in acromegaly.

Objective To investigate the frequencies of the impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus in a large cohort of active acromegaly and to identify risk factors associated with the presence of diabetes at diagnosis in these patients.Methods This study included 88 patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly.Patients were further divided into normal glucose tolerance (NGT),impaired glucose regulation (IGR),and diabetes (DM) groups according to oral glucose tolerance test or previous history.Insulin sensitivity and β cell function were also evaluated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA).Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the independent risk factors for diabetes in patients with acromegaly.Results Impaired glucose regulation was found in 25 (28.4％),and DM in 37(42.0％) acromegaly patients.Compared to NGT and IGR patients,higher proportion of DM patients had family history of diabetes (P＜0.05).Compared to NGT group,higher post-OGTT growth hormone (GH) levels were detected in IGR and DM groups.Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels were higher in IGR group while lower in DM group (P＜0.01).Homeostasis model assessment for β cell function (HOMA-β) was slightly higher in IGR group,but significantly lower in DM group (P ＜ 0.01).Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was slightly higher in IGR and DM groups but without significant difference among 3 groups.In multivariate analyses,family history of diabetes(OR=12.710,95％ CI 1.176-137.30,P=0.036),age(OR=1.106,95％ CI 1.018-1.202,P=0.017),and GH levels(OR=1.075,95％ CI 1.007-1.147,P=0.030) were independent risk factors of diabetes in acromegaly patients.Conclusion Impaired glucose metabolism is present in nearly 70％ of patients at diagnosis of acromegaly,and is associated with age,family history of diabetes,and higher GH levels,but not with IGF-1 levels.

Objective To understand and compare the proportion of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the whole brain and cerebral cortex of mice at different embryonic days, and provide quantitative data for the later optimization of NSCs isolation and culture.Methods The whole brains (at embryonic 12.5, 14, 16 and 18 days) and cerebral cortex (at embryonic14, 16 and 18 days) were isolated and digested into single cell suspension, and were adherently cultured for 3-4 h.Immunofluorescence staining of Nestin, a NSCs specific marker, was used to statistically analyze the proportion of NSCs in each group.Expression of Nestin mRNA in the cerebral cortex of mice at E12.5, E14, E16, and E18 was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Results The result of immunofluorescence assay showed that there were Nestin-positive cells in the whole brain and cerebral cortex of mice at different embryonic days.In the whole brain,the proportion of NSCs was highest at E12.5 (53.42±1.57%) and lowest at E18(25.96±1.31%), and the proportions at E14 and E16 were placed in the middle among the groups.In the cerebral cortex, the highest proportion of NSCs was at E14 (33.65±0.29%), and the lowest at E18(25.29±0.28%), and the middle at E16 (26.82±0.30%).The result of real-time PCR showed that when the mRNA expression of Nestin in the cerebral cortex was set to 1, the relative mRNA expression of Nestin was 0.83±0.04 at E14, 0.77±0.05 at E16, and 0.44 ±0.05 at E18.Thus, the mRNA expression level of Nestin in the mouse cerebral cortex was gradually decreasing with the increase of embryonic days.Conclusions During the brain development, the proportion of NSCs is gradually decreasing in the whole brain and cerebral cortex of mice with the increase of embryonic days.