ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Solanum nigrum on hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride （CCl₄） in rats. MethodsSixty SD rats were randomly allocated into blank， model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （0.9， 1.8， 3.6 g·kg^-1， respectively） S. nigrum， and silibinin capsules （18.9 mg·kg^-1） groups. Except the blank group， the other groups were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of 40% CCl₄ solution for the modeling of hepatic fibrosis. After 4 weeks of gavage， blood was collected from the abdominal aorta following intraperitoneal anesthesia. The rats were sacrificed， and the liver was separated. The pathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining. The levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， and liver fibrosis indexes ［type Ⅲ procollagen （PCⅢ）， type Ⅳ collagen （Col Ⅳ）， laminin （LN）， and hyaluronic acid （HA）］ in the rat serum were determined. The mRNA and protein levels of B cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）/Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）/cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3 （Caspase-3） pathway-related factors were determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group exhibited significant hepatocyte edema， infiltration of inflammatory cells， connective tissue proliferation， and collagen fiber deposition in the liver tissue. Compared with the model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose S. nigrum and silymarin capsules significantly improved the structure of liver cells and alleviated the edema， inflammatory cell infiltration， connective tissue proliferation， and collagen fiber deposition. Compared with those in the blank group， the serum levels of ALT， AST， PCⅢ， Col Ⅳ， LN， and HA were elevated in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the serum levels of ALT， AST， PCⅢ， Col Ⅳ， LN， and HA were reduced in all the treatment groups （P<0.05）. Real-time PCR and Western blot results showed that compared with the blank group， the model group had up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2 and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Bax and Caspase-3 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all the treatment groups showed down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2 and up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Bax and Caspase-3 （P<0.05）， with the high-dose S. nigrum group showing the best therapeutic effect. ConclusionS. nigrum modulates the progression of hepatic fibrosis in rats by regulating apoptosis through the Bcl-2/Bax/caspase-3 pathway.

Childhood simple obesity has become a significant public health issue in China. Modern medicine primarily relies on lifestyle interventions and often suffers from poor long-term compliance， while pharmacological options are limited and associated with potential adverse effects. Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） has a long history in the prevention and management of this condition， demonstrating eight distinct advantages， including systematic theoretical foundation， diversified therapeutic approaches， definite therapeutic efficacy， high safety profile， good patient compliance， comprehensive intervention strategies， emphasis on prevention， and stepwise treatment protocols. Additionally， TCM is characterized by six distinctive features： the use of natural medicinal substances， non-invasive external therapies， integration of medicinal dietetics， simple exercise regimens， precise syndrome differentiation， and diverse dosage forms. By combining internal and external treatments， TCM facilitates individualized regimen adjustment and holistic regulation， demonstrating remarkable effects in improving obesity-related metabolic indicators， regulating constitutional imbalance， and promoting healthy behaviors. However， challenges remain， such as inconsistent operational standards， insufficient high-quality clinical evidence， and a gap between basic research and clinical application. Future efforts should focus on accelerating the standardization of TCM diagnosis and treatment， conducting multicenter randomized controlled trials， and fostering interdisciplinary integration， so as to enhance the scientific validity and international recognition of TCM in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.

BACKGROUND:Ammonia poisoning is considered to be the main hypothesis for the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy.Ammonia can lead to psychiatric and cognitive behavioral disorders,although the specific pathological molecular mechanisms remain unclear.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of ammonia poisoning on cognitive behavior and hippocampal neuronal synapses in mice.METHODS:Thirty-two C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal control group and an ammonium chloride group,with 16 mice in each group.Normal saline was injected intraperitoneally in the control group,and ammonium chloride(10 mmol/kg)was injected intraperitoneally in the ammonium chloride group to construct a model of ammonia poisoning,once a day.After 7 days of ammonium chloride intervention,blood samples were collected from the hearts of six mice in each group for blood ammonia concentration detection.Behavioral experiments,including the open field test,novel object recognition test,and Y-maze test,were performed to assess mental and cognitive-behavioral changes in mice.Finally,hippocampal tissues were extracted for western blot analysis to detect the expression levels of synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein-95 in hippocampal neurons.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The blood ammonia concentration was significantly elevated in the ammonium chloride group compared with the control group(P＜0.05).Mice in the ammonium chloride group showed anxiety-like behavior and disinhibition phenomenon,and a significant decrease in recognition memory and working memory ability.Western blot results revealed that the expression of synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein-95 protein in hippocampal neurons in the ammonium chloride group was lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05).To conclude,ammonia poisoning can induce hippocampal neuronal synaptic damage,leading to psychiatric and cognitive behavioral abnormalities in mice.

BACKGROUND:Ammonia poisoning is considered to be the main hypothesis for the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy.Ammonia can lead to psychiatric and cognitive behavioral disorders,although the specific pathological molecular mechanisms remain unclear.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of ammonia poisoning on cognitive behavior and hippocampal neuronal synapses in mice.METHODS:Thirty-two C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal control group and an ammonium chloride group,with 16 mice in each group.Normal saline was injected intraperitoneally in the control group,and ammonium chloride(10 mmol/kg)was injected intraperitoneally in the ammonium chloride group to construct a model of ammonia poisoning,once a day.After 7 days of ammonium chloride intervention,blood samples were collected from the hearts of six mice in each group for blood ammonia concentration detection.Behavioral experiments,including the open field test,novel object recognition test,and Y-maze test,were performed to assess mental and cognitive-behavioral changes in mice.Finally,hippocampal tissues were extracted for western blot analysis to detect the expression levels of synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein-95 in hippocampal neurons.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The blood ammonia concentration was significantly elevated in the ammonium chloride group compared with the control group(P＜0.05).Mice in the ammonium chloride group showed anxiety-like behavior and disinhibition phenomenon,and a significant decrease in recognition memory and working memory ability.Western blot results revealed that the expression of synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein-95 protein in hippocampal neurons in the ammonium chloride group was lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05).To conclude,ammonia poisoning can induce hippocampal neuronal synaptic damage,leading to psychiatric and cognitive behavioral abnormalities in mice.

ObjectiveTo understand the epidemiological characteristics and post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies exposure cases in Suqian City of Jiangsu Province from 2021 to 2024, providing a reference for optimizing the allocation of health resources and formulating scientific prevention and control measures. MethodsData on individuals exposed to rabies and treated at Suqian’s rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) clinics from 2021 to 2024 were collected. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze patient characteristics, exposure classification, animal species responsible for injuries, wound management, and vaccination status. ResultsBetween 2021 and 2024, the number of outpatient visits for rabies PEP clinics in Suqian City totaled 333 450. The median age and the 25th and 75th percentiles of exposed individuals was 23 (9, 47) years. The highest proportion of exposed individuals was recorded in 2023 (27.09%); the majority were female (52.22%), aged 5‒9 years (17.49%), and in other occupations (37.05%). The rabies exposure rate in Suqian City from 2021 to 2024 was 16.75‰. The overall rabies exposure rate showed an upward trend (χtrend2=1 994.80, P<0.001). The exposure rate among males was lower than that among females (χ²=890.43, P<0.001). The highest exposure rate was observed in the 5‒9 age group (χ²=67 063.20, P<0.001). The number of individuals seeking medical care for rabies exposure exhibited a weak bimodal distribution, with the primary peak occurring in August and the secondary peak in January. The primary animal responsible for injuries was the cat (53.70%), and the source of these animals was predominantly domestic pets (88.90%). The proportion of exposed individuals bitten by cats showed an upward trend from 2021 to 2024 (χtrend2=548.44, P<0.001). Grade Ⅲ exposure accounted for the highest proportion (53.53%), and 301 652 cases (90.46%) presented within 24 hours of exposure. The coverage rate of rabies vaccine was 98.18% (13 625/13 877) for those with Grade Ⅰ exposure and 99.95% (319 413/319 573) for those with Grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ exposures; 64 042 individuals received rabies immunoglobulin or anti-rabies serum; 8 360 exposed individuals received tetanus vaccine, with the usage rate of tetanus vaccine among exposed individuals was only 2.51%, though the rate was on the rise (χtrend2=618.26, P<0.001). ConclusionBetween 2021 and 2024, the overall incidence of rabies exposure in Suqian City showed an upward trend, with a higher incidence among women than men. The incidence was particularly high among children and adolescents aged 14 and under, with the majority of injuries caused by cats; most injuries were inflicted by domestic animals. The overall uptake of tetanus vaccines showed an upward trend. Suqian City should step up health education on rabies exposure during January and August each year, with a particular focus on raising awareness of rabies exposure prevention among people aged 14 and under and women. It should also strengthen the management of domestic animals and ensure that they receive regular rabies vaccinations, particularly for pet cats. Preventive measures against tetanus should be strengthened for individuals exposed to rabies. Medical staff at rabies PEP clinics should receive enhanced training on the management of rabies exposures and the completion of information system reports to ensure the standardized operation of these clinics.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of interleukin （IL）-8 secreted by tumor-associated macrophages （TAMs） in colorectal cancer （CRC） metastasis and its potential therapeutic value. MethodsThe TAMs model was constructed by phorbol ester （PMA） combined with IL-4/IL-13， and the model phenotype was verified by flow cytometry， RT-qPCR and ELISA. Human CRC HCT116 cells were treated with conditioned medium （CM） from M0 macrophages and TAMs， and the metastatic capacity of HCT116 cells was evaluated by wound-healing assay and Transwell assay. The expression levels of IL-8 in M0 macrophages and TAMs were detected by Western blot， RT-qPCR and ELISA. The expression level of epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） markers （E-cadherin， N-cadherin） in HCT116 cells treated with CM-M0 and CM-TAMs were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR. HCT116 cells were stimulated with CM-TAMs supplemented with IL-8 receptor inhibitor Reparixin. The HCT116 cells metastasis ability was evaluated by wound-healing assay and Transwell assay， and the expression levels of E-cadherin and N-cadherin were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR. Finally， a splenic injection liver metastasis model was established using murine CRC cells CT26-LUC， and the effect of Reparixin on this animal model was observed by in vivo imaging. ResultsFlow cytometry showed that the proportion of M2 macrophages （CD11b⁺CD206⁺ cells） was elevated in the TAMs model. RT-qPCR and ELISA assays revealed that the levels of M2 macrophage markers IL-10 and TGF-βsignificantly increased. Wound-healing assay and Transwell assay demonstrated that CM-TAMs significantly enhanced the migration and invasion ability of HCT116 cells. Western blot， RT-qPCR and ELISA assays showed that TAMs highly expressed IL-8 and simultaneously induced downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of N-cadherin in HCT116 cells. Reparixin not only reversed the pro-metastatic effects of CM-TAMs， but also upregulated the expression level of E-cadherin and downregulated that of N-cadherin in HCT116 cells. Furthermore， it reduced the bioluminescence signal intensity of liver metastatic lesions in the splenic injection liver metastasis model. ConclusionThe TAMs promote CRC metastasis by secreting IL-8 to induce EMT. Inhibiting IL-8 secretion in TAMs or blocking the binding of IL-8 to its receptor may provide a new strategy for CRC treatment.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of semaglutide （SEM） on myocardial injury induced by coronary microembolization （CME） in rats via the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） signaling pathway. MethodsThirty-two rats were randomly assigned to four groups （n=8）： the Sham group， the CME group， the CME + SEM group， and the CME + SEM + Compound C （CC， a specific inhibitor of AMPK） group. The CME model was established by injecting microembolic spheres into the left ventricle， while the Sham group received an equal volume of normal saline via left ventricular injection. The CME + SEM group received subcutaneous injections of SEM （1 mg/kg， once weekly） for 4 weeks before CME induction. For the CME + SEM + CC group， rats were treated with SEM for 4 weeks， followed by an intravenous injection of CC （0.25 mg/kg dissolved in sterile normal saline） 30 minutes before CME modeling. 24 hours post-modeling， all groups underwent the following assessments： echocardiography to evaluate cardiac function， HE staining for myocardial histopathological analysis， Heidenhain staining to quantify the microinfarct area， ELISA to determine serum cardiac troponin T （cTnT） levels， and Western blot analysis to detect the expression of proteins related to the AMPK/NLRP3 pathway in cardiac tissues. ResultsCompared with the Sham group， the CME group showed significantly deteriorated cardiac function， elevated serum cTnT levels， and a marked increase in myocardial microinfarct area （P<0.05）. Compared with the CME group， the CME + SEM group exhibited significant improvements in cardiac function， decreased cTnT levels， and a remarkable reduction in myocardial microinfarct area （P<0.05）. Histopathological analysis revealed a normal myocardial structure in the Sham group without infarction. In contrast， the CME group showed disorganized myocardial arrangement， accompanied by nuclear fragmentation and karyolysis. In the CME + SEM group， myocardial degeneration， edema and inflammatory cell infiltration were obviously alleviated. Compared with Sham group， the protein ratio of p-AMPK/AMPK slightly increased in the CME group， while the protein levels of NLRP3， gasdermin D-N domain （GSDMD-N）， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， caspase-1 p20， interleukin（IL）-1β ， and IL-18 were markedly upregulated （P<0.05）. Notably， compared to the CME group， the CME + SEM group had a further elevated p-AMPK/AMPK ratio， while the protein levels of NLRP3， GSDMD-N， ASC， caspase-1 p20， IL-1β and IL-18 were markedly decreased （P<0.05）. ConclusionSEM significantly ameliorates CME-induced myocardial injury， and its mechanism of action may be closely associated with promoting AMPK phosphorylation， inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammatory responses， and suppressing pyroptosis.

Objective To understand the distribution, species composition, seasonal fluctuations, and presence of Dabie bandavirus in ticks in Tai'an City, providing a basis for assessing tick-borne disease risks and formulating prevention strategies. Methods Free-living ticks were monitored using the flagging method, whereas parasitic ticks were monitored through host surface examination. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the presence of Bandavirus dabieense in tick specimens. Results The density of free-living ticks in Tai'an City showed a continuous decreasing trend over the 3 years from 2021 to 2023, with an average tick density of 0.43 ticks/(flag·100 m). The dominant habitats were scenic areas and forests, and the seasonal fluctuations exhibited a bimodal pattern, peaking in March and August. The only free-living tick species captured was Haemaphysalis longicornis. Over the 3 years, the average tick index for parasitic ticks was 1.85, with sheep as the primary host. Seasonal fluctuations also followed a bimodal pattern, peaking in March and August. The primary parasitic tick species captured were H. longicornis and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. No Dabie bandavirus was detected in the tick specimens. Conclusions Tick density in Tai'an City remains relatively high, necessitating continued efforts to enhance tick surveillance and implement targeted prevention measures in rural environments to further reduce the health risks posed by tick-borne diseases.

Syringa pinnatifolia, belonging to the family Oleaceae, is a species endemic to China. It is predominantly distributed in the Helan Mountains region of Inner Mongolia and Ningxia of China. The peeled roots, stems, and thick branches have been used as a distinctive Mongolian medicinal material known as "Shan-chen-xiang", which has effects such as suppressing "khii", clearing heat, and relieving pain and is employed for the treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and joint pain. Over the past five years, significant increase was achieved in research on chemical constituents and pharmacological effects. There were a total of 130 new constituents reported, covering sesquiterpenoids, lignans, and alkaloids. Its effects of anti-myocardial ischemia, anti-cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, sedation, and analgesia were revealed, and the mechanisms of agarwood formation were also investigated. To better understand its medical value and potential of clinical application, this review updates the research progress in recent five years focusing on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of S. pinnatifolia, providing reference for subsequent research on active ingredient and support for its innovative application in modern medicine system.
Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Syringa/chemistry*

As a new type of production factor that can empower the development of new quality productivity, the data element is an important engine to promote the high quality development of the industry. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) dispensing is the most basic work of TCM clinical pharmacy, and its quality directly affects the clinical efficacy of TCM. The integration of data elements and TCM dispensing can stimulate the innovation and vitality of the TCM dispensing industry and promote the high-quality and sustainable development of the industry. A large-scale, detailed, and systematic study on TCM dispensing was conducted. The innovative practice path of data fusion construction in the whole process of TCM dispensing was investigated by integrating the digital resources "nine full activities" of TCM dispensing, creating the digital dictionary of "TCM clinical information data elements", and exploring innovative applications of TCM dispensing driven by data and technology, so as to promote the standardized, digital, and intelligent development of TCM dispensing in medical health services. The research content of this project was successfully selected as the second batch of "Data element×" typical cases of National Data Administration in 2024, which is the only selected case in the field of TCM.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans