ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Astragali Radix-mediated changes in gut microbiota on treating type 2 diabetes （T2DM）. MethodsA 12-week randomized， placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled eighty patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and poor glycemic control in the Qi deficiency type. All patients received insulin therapy. The observation group （40 cases） was administered with Astragali Radix Granules， while the control group （40 cases） received a placebo. Both treamtents were taken orally twice daily. Changes in gut microbiota were assessed by 16s rDNA sequencing. Serum glucagon-like peptide-1 （GLP-1） levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Glucose metabolism indicators including fasting blood glucose （FPG）， 2-hour postprandial blood glucose （2 h PG），glycated albumin（GA）， and glycated hemoglobin （HbA1c） were evaluated. Pancreatic function was evaluated using fasting C-peptide （FCP）， 2-hour postprandial C-peptide （2 h CP）， and C-peptide area under the curve （AUC_cp）. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， clinical efficacy， and safety indicators were also observed. ResultsIn terms of glucose metabolism indicators， compared with the baseline， both groups exhibited significantly lower FPG， 2 h PG， GA and HbA1C （P<0.01），while FCP， 2 h CP and AUC_cp were significantly higher （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group after the treatment， the observation group showed significantly lower FPG， 2 h PG， GA and HbA1C（P<0.05， P<0.01），and significantly higher FCP， 2 h CP and AUC_cp （P<0.05， P<0.01）， indicating that Astragali Radix can improve glucose metabolism. In terms of the diversity of gut microbiota， no significant differences were detected in the Chao1， Shannon and Simpson indexes of the two groups compared with their respective baselines. However， compared with the post-treatment control group， the observation group demonstrated significant increases in the Chao1， Shannon and Simpson indexes （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The β-diversity analysis showed significant separation in gut microbiota composition before and after treatment in both groups， indicating that Astragali Radix can significantly alter the structure and improve the diversity of gut microbiota. At the phylum level， compared with the baseline， both groups showed a significant increase in the relative abundance of Bacteroidota（P<0.01）. The relative abundance of the potentially harmful phylum Proteobacteria was significantly lower in the observation Group after treatment （P<0.01）. Compared with the post-treatment control group， the observation group had a significantly higher relative abundance of Bacteroidota（P<0.01）. No significant difference was found in Firmicutes/Bacteroidota （F/B） ratio between the two groups after treatment， and other phyla showed no significant differences. At the genus level， compared with the baseline， the observation group exhibited a significant increase in Bacteroides （P<0.01） and a significant decrease in Escherichia-Shigella （P<0.01）， whereas no significant difference was seen in the control group . Compared with the control group after treatment， the observation group after treatment had a significantly higher relative abundance of Bacteroides （P<0.01）. No significant differences were seen in other genera. Linear discriminant analysis （LDA） identified potential characteristics taxa： in the observation group， Bacteroidota at the phylum level and Bacteroides and Dubosiella at the genus level， in the control group， Proteobacteria at the phylum level as well as Barnesiella and Staphylococcus at the genus level. Correlation analysis based on a heatmap revealed that GLP-1 levels were positively correlated with Firmicutes， F/B ratio and Fusobacterium， and negatively correlated with Bacteroidota， Proteobacteria， Bacteroides and Escherichia-Shigella. In terms of clinical efficacy， compared with the control group， the total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher （P<0.05）. Compared with the baseline， the scores for shortness of breath， fatigue， weakness， spontaneous sweating and reluctance to speak significantly decreased in both groups （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the score for weakness was significantly lower in the observation group （P<0.01），indicating that Astragali Radix could improve clinical symptoms and alleviate weakness symptoms. In terms of safety， compared with the baseline， alanine aminotransferase （ALT） levels significantly decreased in both groups （P<0.05，P<0.01），indicating that Astragali Radix did not induce any significant abnormalities in liver and kidney functions. ConclusionAstragali Radix demonstrates the potential to significantly improve the gut microbiota environment in patients of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes with Qi deficiency. The therapeutic effect may contribute to glycemic control， possibly mediated by an elevation in GLP-1 level. These findings may support its further clinical investigations and potential applications.

Zhusha Anshenwan is a classical traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） formula originating from LI Dongyuan's Treatise on the Differentiation of Endogenous and Exogenous Injuries （Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun） of the Jin-Yuan period. It is composed of five medicinal ingredients： Cinnabaris （Zhusha）， Coptidis Rhizoma （Huanglian）， Angelicae Sinensis Radix （Danggui）， Rehmanniae Radix （Shengdihuang）， and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma （Gancao）. Under the guidance of TCM theory， this formula is used to treat syndromes of disturbed spirit， including insomnia， palpitations， and anxiety， caused by hyperactivity of heart fire and deficiency of Yin-blood， and it also exerts auxiliary anticonvulsant effects in epilepsy and related conditions. However， the potential neurotoxicity， hepatotoxicity， and nephrotoxicity of its monarch drug， Cinnabaris （mainly composed of mercuric sulfide， HgS）， together with the risk of in vivo accumulation， have rendered its clinical application controversial， and it has not yet been formally included in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. In addition， restrictions imposed by the Minamata Convention on Mercury have led to an increasing shortage of natural medicinal Cinnabaris resources， making the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of synthetic Cinnabaris particularly urgent. This contradiction highlights the complexity of safety evaluation for traditional medicines. Existing studies indicate that Zhusha Anshenwan exhibits definite pharmacological activities in calming the mind， improving sleep， and regulating emotional disorders. Moreover， other components of the formula may exert antagonistic effects on the toxicity of Cinnabaris， and reports of severe mercury poisoning caused by standardized clinical use of this prescription are extremely rare. Research suggests that other ingredients in the compound formula， such as Rehmanniae Radix， Coptidis Rhizoma， and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， may effectively alleviate the hepatorenal toxicity of Cinnabaris through mechanisms including modulation of the gut microbiota， formation of mercury complexes， and direct protection of target organs. This article aims to systematically review the progress in pharmacodynamic research on Zhusha Anshenwan， to explore its mechanisms of action in depth， and to analyze the toxicokinetic characteristics and safety risks of Cinnabaris， as well as the scientific connotations of toxicity reduction and efficacy enhancement achieved through compound compatibility. In addition， it compares Zhusha Anshenwan with other commonly used sedative formulas， with the aim of providing a scientific basis and forward-looking perspectives for the safe and rational application and in-depth development of this classical prescription in a modern context， and of emphasizing the important value of holistic research on TCM compound formulas in addressing the challenges of single-component toxicity.

AIM To investigate the effects of volatile oil from Acorus tatarinowii Schott(A.tatarinowii)on neuroinflammation in a rat model of tic disorders.METHODS The SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group(8 rats)and the model group(40 rats).The rat models of tic disorders established successfully by intraperitoneal injection of iminodiapropionitrile(IDPN)were further divided into the model group,the tiapride group and the high-dose,moderate-dose and low-dose A.tatarinowii volatile oil groups,with 8 rats in each group.The 4-week intragastric treatment of respective drug was initiated the next day after the completion of modeling,and normal saline was dosed upon the blank group and the model group,during which the rats' behavioral changes were assessed by stereotyped behavior and motor behavior score every week.After the administration,the rats had their morphological changes of striatal neurons observed by Nissl staining;their levels of TGF-β,IL-10,TNF-αand IL-1β in serum and striatum detected by ELISA;their striatal protein expressions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry;and their striatal expressions of M1,M2 microglia marker proteins CD86,CD206,SYN and PSD-95 detected by immunofluorescence co-staining.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the A.tatarinowii volatile oil groups demonstrated improved twitch-like behavior;decreased scores of motor behavior and rigid behavior(P＜0.01);alleviated damage of Nissl bodies in neurons;increased serum and striatum levels of TGF-β and IL-10(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased levels of TNF-α and IL-1β(P＜0.01);decreased striatal protein expressions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1(P＜0.01);increased protein expressions of PSD95 and SYN(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and decreased CD86/Iba1(P＜0.01)and increased CD206/Iba1(P＜0.01)in terms of the fluorescence intensity.CONCLUSION A.tatarinowii volatile oil contributes an anti-tic effect and improves the neuroinflammation in the brain of the rat model of tic disorders by promoting the transformation of microglia into M2 type via CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signal axis.

To analyze the standard establishment approach and compilation rationale for metallic pharmaceutical packaging standard development in the 2025 edition of the Pharmacopeia of the People's Republic of China.This article systematically explained the background and process of establishing the guiding principles for metallic materials and containers used in pharmaceutical packaging in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia through basic information,relevant domestic and international standards,the establishment of key quality attributes of metallic pharmaceutical packaging materials,and the construction of metallic pharmaceutical packaging material standards.The newly established guidelines,the Pharmacopeia of the People's Republic of China 9625,prioritized product critical quality attributes(CQAs)and real-world applicability.This dual emphasis on rigidity and adaptability enhances drug safety,meets the regulatory requirements,and promotes the globalization and scientific advancement of China's pharmaceutical packaging industry.

Objective To explore the correlations between interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-8(IL-8),antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and the microbial abundance and the degree of mucosal injury in patients with trichomonal vaginitis(TV).Methods A total of 120 TV patients admitted from January 2022 to December 2024 were selected and divided into the occurrence group(n=63)and the non-occurrence group(n=57)according to presence and absence of mucosal injury.The general data,IL-6,IL-8,LL-37 and microbial abundance were compared between the two groups.According to the degree of mucosal injury,the occurrence group was divided into the mild subgroup(n=34),the moderate subgroup(n=20),and the severe subgroup(n=9).Pearson correlation analysis was applied to investigate the correlations between IL-6,IL-10,antimicrobial peptide LL-37,microbial abundance and the degree of mucosal injury.Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of mucosal injury in TV patients.The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)was used to evaluate the predictive value of relevant indicators for mucosal injury in TV patients.Result The levels of IL-6,IL-8,antimicrobial peptide LL-37,and the abundance of Actinobacteria and Gardnerella in the occurrence group were higher than those in the non-occurrence group,while the abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus was lower than that in the non-occurrence group(P<0.05,P<0.01).Pearson correlation analysis showed that IL-6,IL-8,antimicrobial peptide LL-37,and abundance of Actinobacteria and Gardnerella were positively correlated with the degree of mucosal injury(r=0.543,0.713,0.352,0.409,0.659,P<0.01),while the abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus was negatively correlated with the degree of mucosal injury(r=-0.540,-0.504,P<0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that IL-6,IL-8,antimicrobial peptide LL-37,and abundance of Actinobacteria were risk factors for mucosal injury in TV patients,while the abundance of Firmicutes and the abundance of Lactobacillus were protective factors(P<0.05).The ROC curve showed that the area under the ROC curve(AUC)of the combined detection of IL-6,IL-8,antibacterial peptide 37,and the abundance of Actinobacteria,Firmicutes,and Lactobacillus in evaluating mucosal injury in TV patients was higher than that of the single detection(P<0.01).Conclusion IL-6,IL-8,antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and microbial abundance are closely related to the degree of mucosal injury in TV patients.The combined detection has a high value in evaluating the occurrence of mucosal injury in TV patients.

To analyze the standard establishment approach and compilation rationale for metallic pharmaceutical packaging standard development in the 2025 edition of the Pharmacopeia of the People's Republic of China.This article systematically explained the background and process of establishing the guiding principles for metallic materials and containers used in pharmaceutical packaging in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia through basic information,relevant domestic and international standards,the establishment of key quality attributes of metallic pharmaceutical packaging materials,and the construction of metallic pharmaceutical packaging material standards.The newly established guidelines,the Pharmacopeia of the People's Republic of China 9625,prioritized product critical quality attributes(CQAs)and real-world applicability.This dual emphasis on rigidity and adaptability enhances drug safety,meets the regulatory requirements,and promotes the globalization and scientific advancement of China's pharmaceutical packaging industry.

Objective To explore the correlations between interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-8(IL-8),antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and the microbial abundance and the degree of mucosal injury in patients with trichomonal vaginitis(TV).Methods A total of 120 TV patients admitted from January 2022 to December 2024 were selected and divided into the occurrence group(n=63)and the non-occurrence group(n=57)according to presence and absence of mucosal injury.The general data,IL-6,IL-8,LL-37 and microbial abundance were compared between the two groups.According to the degree of mucosal injury,the occurrence group was divided into the mild subgroup(n=34),the moderate subgroup(n=20),and the severe subgroup(n=9).Pearson correlation analysis was applied to investigate the correlations between IL-6,IL-10,antimicrobial peptide LL-37,microbial abundance and the degree of mucosal injury.Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of mucosal injury in TV patients.The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)was used to evaluate the predictive value of relevant indicators for mucosal injury in TV patients.Result The levels of IL-6,IL-8,antimicrobial peptide LL-37,and the abundance of Actinobacteria and Gardnerella in the occurrence group were higher than those in the non-occurrence group,while the abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus was lower than that in the non-occurrence group(P<0.05,P<0.01).Pearson correlation analysis showed that IL-6,IL-8,antimicrobial peptide LL-37,and abundance of Actinobacteria and Gardnerella were positively correlated with the degree of mucosal injury(r=0.543,0.713,0.352,0.409,0.659,P<0.01),while the abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus was negatively correlated with the degree of mucosal injury(r=-0.540,-0.504,P<0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that IL-6,IL-8,antimicrobial peptide LL-37,and abundance of Actinobacteria were risk factors for mucosal injury in TV patients,while the abundance of Firmicutes and the abundance of Lactobacillus were protective factors(P<0.05).The ROC curve showed that the area under the ROC curve(AUC)of the combined detection of IL-6,IL-8,antibacterial peptide 37,and the abundance of Actinobacteria,Firmicutes,and Lactobacillus in evaluating mucosal injury in TV patients was higher than that of the single detection(P<0.01).Conclusion IL-6,IL-8,antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and microbial abundance are closely related to the degree of mucosal injury in TV patients.The combined detection has a high value in evaluating the occurrence of mucosal injury in TV patients.

With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.

Objective To explore the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome characteristics of patients with Chikungunya hemorrhagic fever and to provide empirical data to support the application of TCM in diagnosing and treating Chikungunya hemorrhagic fever.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect clinical data(sex,age,days since onset,and comorbidity underlying disease conditions)and TCM with four-examination information(symptoms,tongue manifestations,and pulse manifestations)from 255 patients with Chikungunya hemorrhagic fever who visited Lecong Hospital of Shunde,Foshan,the Third People's Hospital of Shunde District of Foshan,Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University Affiliated Chencun Hospital between July 23 and July 29,2025.Factor and cluster analyses were used to summarize TCM syndrome characteristics and analyze core pathogenesis in conjunction with clinical features.Results Among the 255 patients with Chikungunya hemorrhagic fever,131 were male and 124 were female,with a age of(49.05±17.93)years and a disease duration of(3.26±1.78)days.Among the four types of examination information in TCM,35 items exhibited a frequency exceeding 10%.The most prevalent symptoms were arthralgia(180 patients,70.59%),exanthem(153 patients,60.00%),fatigue(99 patients,38.82%),anhidrosis(98 patients,38.43%),pruritus(96 patients,37.65%),and fever(92 patients,36.08%).Tongue and pulse manifestations were primarily white fur(155 patients,60.78%),pink tongue(111 patients,43.53%),slippery pulse(143 patients,56.08%),and greasy fur(134 patients,52.53%).Patients with disease onset≤3 d had a higher incidence of arthralgia,fatigue,fever,aversion to cold,generalized muscle pain,aversion to wind,insomnia,headache,sweating,low-grade fever,poor appetite,loose stool,hyperhidrosis,and red tongue than those with disease onset≥4 d(P<0.05).Patients with disease onset≥4 d had a higher incidence of pink tongue and thick fur than those with disease onset≤3 d(P<0.05).The syndrome elements in patients with Chikungunya hemorrhagic fever predominantly manifested on the defensive exterior,with involvement of the sinew-bone joints,skin-muscle,and spleen.Pathogenic factors were primarily characterized by external winds,dampness,and heat.Factor and cluster analysis result indicated three TCM pathogenesis progression patterns:imbalance of the defensive exterior with wind-dampness conflict and heat transformation;dampness-heat flowing into muscles and meridians causing joint obstruction and qi blood stasis;and dampness-heat congelation resulting in qi mechanism obstruction,consumption of body fluids,and infiltration of the skin.Conclusion Patients with Chikungunya hemorrhagic fever primarily present with fever,joint pain,and rashes.In TCM,this condition falls under the category of"dampness-warmth"syndrome.Its etiology is attributed to pathogens,with transmission occurring through mosquito bites.The core pathogenesis of TCM is the invasion of the defensive exterior and dampness-toxic heat accumulation.The therapeutic principles focus on clearing heat pathogens,resolving dampness pathogens,dispersing wind pathogens,and promoting the resolution of rashes.

Objective:To explore the latent categories of sleep quality in shift nurses using latent profile analysis, and analyze the characteristics and influencing factors of each category.Methods:A convenience sampling method was used to select 1 480 shift nurses from three ClassⅢ Grade A hospitals in Fuyang city from January to February 2024. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Perceived Stress Scale, and the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire-5. Latent profile analysis was performed to identify the latent categories of sleep quality, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of different sleep quality categories. In this study, a total of 1 480 questionnaires were distributed. After excluding 28 invalid questionnaires, 1 452 valid questionnaires were retrieved, the effective recovery rate of the questionnaires was 98.11%.Results:The sleep quality of 1 452 shift nurses was classified into four latent categories: 44.5% (647/1 452) were in the "sleep impairment" category, 44.6% (648/1 452) in the "good sleep" category, 4.0% (58/1 452) in the "difficulty falling asleep-low efficiency" category, and 6.8% (99/1 452) in the "sleep disorder-medication-induced sleep" category. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that perceived stress, monthly night shift frequency, sleep timing, daytime napping, and years of work experience were significant influencing factors for sleep quality ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:Sleep quality among shift nurses shows heterogeneity. Nursing managers should develop tailored management strategies and implement targeted sleep hygiene interventions based on nurses' sleep quality characteristics to improve their sleep quality.