Medicinal plants， with diverse species， high heterozygosity， and special breeding objectives， can be hardly bred with conventional hybridization techniques. Plant genetic transformation is highly selective and can specifically change the traits of plants， serving as an important technical means for the breeding of medicinal plants. The commonly used plant genetic transformation technologies include Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and particle bombardment. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is the most widely used method， while it is not applicable to all medicinal plants due to the high specificity. Although not specific， particle bombardment is limited in application due to the low conversion efficiency and external force damage to cells and tissue. With the rise and development of nanotechnology， the emerging nanomaterial-mediated transformation has solved the problems of the above two technologies. However， limited by its late development， the mechanism of nanomaterial-mediated introduction of genetic materials into plant cells remains unclear， and thus this technology is rarely used in medicinal plants. This article summarizes the development status of several commonly used or emerging plant genetic transformation technologies such as Agrobacterium-mediated transformation， particle bombardment， and nanomaterial-mediated transformation， as well as their application in different medicinal plants. Furthermore， this article looks forward to the development trend of genetic transformation technologies for plants and their application prospects in medicinal plants and Chinese materia medica resources， aiming to provide new technical ideas for the genetic improvement and germplasm innovation of medicinal plants and inject new impetus into the sustainable development of Chinese materia medica resources.

Rheumatoid arthritis （RA） is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovitis as its pathological basis. Although current therapeutic drugs can alleviate symptoms， they are often accompanied by a high risk of side effects. In recent years， the use of flavonoids from traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in the treatment of RA has garnered significant attention. Studies have shown that the mechanisms by which flavonoids treat RA include inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory factors， regulating multiple cellular signaling pathways， alleviating oxidative stress， modulating immune system functions， inhibiting bone destruction， and suppressing angiogenesis. Due to their notable anti-inflammatory， antioxidant， and immunomodulatory activities， flavonoids hold promise as potential therapeutic agents for RA. A substantial number of articles in this field have been published. By reviewing Chinese and international literature and applying bibliometric and visual analysis using CiteSpace， this paper explored research hotspots and frontiers in this field， systematically reviewed the structures and anti-RA mechanisms of TCM flavonoids， provided a theoretical basis for their use in RA treatment and clinical applications， and offered new perspectives and references for the discovery of novel TCM-based anti-RA drugs.

Rheumatoid arthritis （RA） is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovitis as its pathological basis. Although current therapeutic drugs can alleviate symptoms， they are often accompanied by a high risk of side effects. In recent years， the use of flavonoids from traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in the treatment of RA has garnered significant attention. Studies have shown that the mechanisms by which flavonoids treat RA include inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory factors， regulating multiple cellular signaling pathways， alleviating oxidative stress， modulating immune system functions， inhibiting bone destruction， and suppressing angiogenesis. Due to their notable anti-inflammatory， antioxidant， and immunomodulatory activities， flavonoids hold promise as potential therapeutic agents for RA. A substantial number of articles in this field have been published. By reviewing Chinese and international literature and applying bibliometric and visual analysis using CiteSpace， this paper explored research hotspots and frontiers in this field， systematically reviewed the structures and anti-RA mechanisms of TCM flavonoids， provided a theoretical basis for their use in RA treatment and clinical applications， and offered new perspectives and references for the discovery of novel TCM-based anti-RA drugs.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of bone mass and volume of low-density zones beneath the tibial plateau on the maximum von Mises stresses experienced by the cartilage and meniscus in the knee joint. METHODS: The study included one healthy adult volunteer, from whom CT scans were obtained, and one patient diagnosed with knee osteoarthrisis (KOA), for whom X-ray films were acquired. A static model of the knee joint featuring a low-density zone was established based on a normal knee model. In the finite element analysis, axial loads of 1 000 N and 1 800 N were applied to the weight-bearing region of the upper surface of the femoral head for model validation and subsequent finite element studies, respectively. The maximum von Mises stresses in the femoral cartilage, as well as the medial and lateral tibial cartilage and menisci, were observed, and the stress percentage of the medial and lateral components were concurrently analyzed. Additionally, HE staining, as well as alkaline magenta staining, were performed on the pathological specimens of patients with KOA in various low-density regions. RESULTS: The results of model validation indicated that the model was consistent with normal anatomical structures and correlated with previous calculations documented in the literature. Static analysis revealed that the maximum von Mises stress in the medial component of the normal knee was the lowest and increased with the advancement of the hypointensity zone. In contrast, the lateral component exhibited an opposing trend, with the maximum von Mises stress in the lateral component being the highest and decreasing as the hypointensity zone progressed. Additionally, the medial component experienced an increasing proportion of stress within the overall knee joint. HE staining demonstrated that the chondrocyte layer progressively deteriorated and may even disappear as the hypointensity zone expanded. Furthermore, alkaline magenta staining indicated that the severity of microfractures in the trabecular bone increased concurrently with the expansion of the hypointensity zone. CONCLUSION The presence of subtalar plateau low-density zone may aggravate joint degeneration. In clinical practice, it is necessary to pay attention to the changes in the subtalar plateau low-density zone and actively take effective measures to strengthen the bone status of the subtalar plateau low-density zone and restore the complete biomechanical function of the knee joint, in order to slow down or reverse the progression of osteoarthritis.
Humans ; Finite Element Analysis ; Knee Joint/physiology* ; Tibia/anatomy & histology* ; Cartilage, Articular/physiology* ; Menisci, Tibial/physiopathology* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/diagnostic imaging* ; Weight-Bearing ; Bone Density ; Adult ; Stress, Mechanical ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Female

Tumors exhibit abnormal glucose metabolism, consuming excessive glucose and excreting lactate, which constructs a tumor microenvironment that facilitates cancer progression and disrupts immunotherapeutic efficacy. Currently, tumor glucose metabolic dysregulation to reshape the immunosuppressive microenvironment and enhance immunotherapy efficacy is emerging as an innovative therapeutic strategy. However, glucose metabolism modulators lack specificity and still face significant challenges in overcoming tumor delivery barriers, microenvironmental complexity, and metabolic heterogeneity, resulting in poor clinical benefit. Nanomedicines, with their ability to selectively target tumors or immune cells, respond to the tumor microenvironment, co-deliver multiple drugs, and facilitate combinatorial therapies, hold significant promise for enhancing immunotherapy through tumor glucose metabolic reprogramming. This review explores the complex interactions between tumor glucose metabolism-specifically metabolite transport, glycolysis processes, and lactate-and the immune microenvironment. We summarize how nanomedicine-mediated reprogramming of tumor glucose metabolism can enhance immunotherapy efficacy and outline the prospects and challenges in this field.

Zedoary turmeric oil， volatile oil extracted from zedoary turmeric， composed mainly of monoterpenes （including α-pinene， β-pinene， etc.） and sesquiterpenes （including β-elemene， zedoary alcohol， zedoary ketone， etc.）， and has been used in clinical practice to treat various malignant tumors such as ovarian cancer， cervical carcinoma， colorectal cancer， lung cancer and liver cancer. Zedoary turmeric oil regulates vascular endothelial growth factor and nuclear factors- κB， signal transducers and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathways to play a role in inhibiting tumor angiogenesis， inhibiting tumor cell proliferation， inducing tumor cell apoptosis， and blocking cell cycle. However， due to its insolubility in water and poor stability， its clinical application is limited； the application of new formulations and technologies such as liposomes， microspheres， and nanoemulsion improves the solubility and stability of zedoary turmeric oil. This paper summarizes recent research progress on the chemical composition， anti-tumor effects， and formulations of zedoary turmeric oil， both domestically and internationally， providing a reference for further expanding the clinical application and formulation development of zedoary turmeric oil in the anti-tumor field.

Zedoary turmeric oil， volatile oil extracted from zedoary turmeric， composed mainly of monoterpenes （including α-pinene， β-pinene， etc.） and sesquiterpenes （including β-elemene， zedoary alcohol， zedoary ketone， etc.）， and has been used in clinical practice to treat various malignant tumors such as ovarian cancer， cervical carcinoma， colorectal cancer， lung cancer and liver cancer. Zedoary turmeric oil regulates vascular endothelial growth factor and nuclear factors- κB， signal transducers and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathways to play a role in inhibiting tumor angiogenesis， inhibiting tumor cell proliferation， inducing tumor cell apoptosis， and blocking cell cycle. However， due to its insolubility in water and poor stability， its clinical application is limited； the application of new formulations and technologies such as liposomes， microspheres， and nanoemulsion improves the solubility and stability of zedoary turmeric oil. This paper summarizes recent research progress on the chemical composition， anti-tumor effects， and formulations of zedoary turmeric oil， both domestically and internationally， providing a reference for further expanding the clinical application and formulation development of zedoary turmeric oil in the anti-tumor field.

ObjectiveTo explore the differences between the ancient decocting methods and modern decocting method of Yihuangtang by taking the dry extract rate， the content of active ingredients and the fingerprint information as indicators， so as to provide reference for the preparation of benchmark samples and the development of compound preparations of this famous classical formula. MethodAccording to the three decocting methods recorded in Paozhi Dafa and Jianming Yigou and Management Specifications of Traditional Chinese Medicine Decoction Chambers in Medical Institutions， the Yihuangtang was decocted respectively. The polysaccharide content in the samples was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometer （UV） at 488 nm， and the contents of alkaloids （berberine hydrochloride， phellodendrine chloride and magnoflorine） in the samples and their fingerprint profiles were determined by high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）， and the dry extract rate was combined to compare the differences of the three decocting methods of Yihuangtang. Among them， the fingerprint was gradient eluted with acetonitrile （A） -0.1% phosphoric acid aqueous solution （B） as mobile phase （0-10 min， 5%-8%A； 10-35 min， 8%A； 35-45 min， 8%-12% A； 45-75 min， 12%-17%A； 75-105 min， 17%-35%A； 105-110 min， 35%-100%A； 110-112 min， 100%-5%A； 112-122 min， 5%A）， and the detection wavelength was 230 nm. ResultWhen the decoction was carried out according to the method described in Paozhi Dafa， the content of polysaccharides was higher than that of the modern decocting method and the method described in Jianming Yigou. However， the contents of berberine hydrochloride， phellodendrine chloride and magnoflorine were the highest in the modern decocting method. Meanwhile， the number of peaks in fingerprint of the samples prepared by the three decocting methods was basically the same， and 13 common peaks were matched， and the three common peaks of berberine hydrochloride， phellodendrine chloride and magnoflorine were identified. However， the relative peak areas of the common peaks in the fingerprint of the samples prepared by the three decocting methods varied greatly， suggesting that there were differences in the extracting effects of different decocting methods. In addition， there were also differences in the dry extract rate among the three decocting methods of Yihuangtang， and the highest value was obtained by decocting the samples according to the method recorded in Paozhi Dafa. ConclusionDecocting method can affect the dry extract rate， fingerprint information and active ingredient content of Yihuangtang， among which the modern decocting method is conducive to the extraction of alkaloids and the preparation transformation of this famous classical formula， and it is recommended to determine its preparation process by optimizing the modern decocting method.

Objective:The present study was designed to strengthen the education of research integrity, and to improve the awareness of academic misconduct and academic literacy of medical post-graduate students.Methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted with master post-graduate students of a university affiliated hospital, and statistical analysis on the education of research integrity and the perception of academic misconduct among the survey respondents was performed.Results:Academic master post-graduate students′ cognitions of the misconduct in scientific research process and overall academic misconduct were better than that of professional master post-graduate students, and there were significant differences ( P<0.05). The more times of participation in research integrity training, the better cognition of misconduct of scientific research process, research results publication process, and overall academic misconduct, with significant differences ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The education on scientific research integrity of medical post-graduates should be carried out systematically, while the content should be improved and the form should be enriched for scientific research integrity education, so that the medical post-graduates can have a deeper understanding of the code of academic practices, and an education model of scientific research integrity for medical post-graduate which is suitable for China′s national conditions can be gradually developed.

Objective:To investigate whether it is by regulating interleukin 1β ( IL-1β) gene expression that androgen receptor (AR) in macrophages affects hyperphosphate-induced vascular smooth muscle cell calcification. Methods:The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiment was used to determine whether AR was bound to the androgen receptor element (ARE) sequence of IL-1β promoter in THP-1 cells. Whether the AR regulated IL-1β gene expression was detected by luciferase assay experiments. AR of THP-1 cells was silenced and transfected by lentivirus with vector or shRNA. Flow cytometry was used to select positive transfected cells THP-1ARsc (control) and THP-1ARsi (AR silencing) with fluorescent markers. Western blotting was used to detect AR protein levels of THP-1ARsc (control) and THP-1ARsi cells (AR silencing in monocytes). Macrophages MФARsc (control) or MФARsi (AR silencing) were induced by 50 ng/ml phorbol ester. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect IL-1β expression levels of MФARsc or MФARsi conditioned medium. The human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) were cultured in MФARsc or MФARsi conditioned medium with phosphate (2.5 mmol/L final concentration of sodium dihydrogen phosphate), and Alizarin red S staining was used to analyze HASMC calcification degree. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of RUNX2 (osteoblast marker) and SM22α (HASMC marker), and neutralization assay was performed to test IL-1β-mediating effect of macrophages AR on HASMC calcification. Results:AR was bound to ARE sequence of IL-1β promoter and regulated IL-1β gene expression. The expression level of IL-1β protein in conditioned medium of MФARsi cells decreased significantly compared to MФARsc cells ( P<0.001). Compared with MФARsc conditioned medium group, HASMC calcium deposition in MФARsi conditioned medium group decreased significantly, RUNX2 protein decreased and SM22α protein increased (all P<0.05). The degree of HASMC calcification in the MФARsi conditioned medium+IgG antibody group decreased than that in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IgG antibody group significantly, and the degree of HASMC calcification in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IL-1β antibody group decreased significantly than that in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IgG antibody group; while the degree of HASMC calcification in the MФARsi conditioned medium+IgG antibody group and MФARsi conditioned medium+IL-1β antibody group decreased than that in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IL-1β antibody group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Macrophage AR regulates IL-1β expression by binding to ARE sequence within IL-1β promoter, and IL-1β mediates the effect of macrophage AR on hyperphosphate-induced HASMC calcification.