OBJECTIVE To systematically evaluate the quality of the Heat-clearing and symptom-relieving formula and screen potential marker components that influence the quality of the formula. METHODS The contents of 11 components （calycosin-7- O - β -D-glucoside， ononin， hyperoside， isoquercitrin， baicalin， baicalein， cryptotanshinone， tanshinone Ⅱ A ， tanshinone Ⅰ， senkyunolide A， ferulic acid） in the Heat-clearing and symptom-relieving formula were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （HPLC-MS/MS）. Using the contents of the aforementioned components as variables， cluster analysis （CA）， principal component analysis （PCA）， and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis （OPLS-DA） were conducted using OriginPro 2024 software and SIMCA 14.1 software； marker components affecting the quality of the Heat-clearing and symptom-relieving formula were then screened based on the criteria of variable importance in the projection （VIP） value＞1 and P ＜0.05. The comprehensive evaluation of 20 batches of samples was carried out using the entropy weight-technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution（TOPSIS） and grey correlation analysis （GCA） methods. RESULTS The contents of the above 11 components were 7.993-72.866， 4.542-31.228， 727.666-1 901.884， 496.846-1 293.279， 1 995.501-6 779.150， 54.500-241.280， 150.302-304.339， 79.698-189.206， 257.118-682.418， 5.498-21.687， 7.524-26.935 μg/g. CA， PCA and OPLS-DA results showed that 20 batches of samples were grouped into 2 categories. Q1， Q3， Q4， Q7-Q9， Q12， Q15， Q16 were grouped into one category， and the rest were grouped into another category； VIP values of ferulic acid， tanshinone Ⅱ A ， baicalin， cryptotanshinone， calycosin-7- O - β -D-glucoside and ononin were all greater than 1 （ P ＜0.05）. Both the entropy weight-TOPSIS and GCA methods showed that the samples ranked in the top 11 according to the euclidean distance and relative correlation degree were Q2， Q5， Q6， Q10， Q11， Q13， Q14， Q17-Q20. CONCLUSIONS The established HPLC-MS/MS method is rapid， accurate and highly sens itive. Combined with chemical pattern recognition analysis， entropy weight-TOPSIS and GCA methods， this method can be used to evaluate the quality of the Heat-clearing and symptom-relieving formula. Ferulic acid， tanshinone Ⅱ A ， baicalin， cryptotanshinone， calycosin-7- O - β -D-glucoside and ononin may be the marker components that affect the quality of this formula. The overall quality of 11 batches of the Heat-clearing and symptom-relieving formula， including Q17， is relatively superior.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis worldwide and a major cause of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. IgAN exhibits marked heterogeneity in clinical presentation, histopathology, and pathogenic mechanisms, contributing to variable treatment responses and prognosisamong patients. Precise risk assessment and individualized intervention are therefore of critical importance. This review systematically traces the evolution of IgAN management from traditional risk stratification toward biomarker-driven precision medicine. We first review the clinical utility and limitations of established risk stratification tools, including the KDIGO guidelines, the Oxford MEST-C classification, and the International IgAN Prediction Tool. We then discuss emerging biomarkers closely linked to disease pathogenesis, including galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1), anti-Gd-IgA1 autoantibodies, B cell activating factor (BAFF), a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), and complement components, as well as the targeted therapies they have informed. In addition, urinary biomarkers and multi-omics approaches show promise for dynamic disease monitoring and individualized risk stratification.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the antitumor activity of Periplaneta americana extract（PAE） against human-derived lung adenocarcinoma organoids（LUAD-PDOs） and to elucidate its potential mechanism based on transcriptomics. MethodsFresh tumor and adjacent normal tissues from patients with LUAD were collected to construct LUAD-PDOs and normal lung organoid（Nor-PDOs） models using 3D organoid culture technology. The effective intervention concentration of PAE was determined using the cell counting kit-8（CCK-8） assay. Experimental groups included the model group（LUAD-PDOs）， normal group， model administration group（LUAD-PDOs+PAE）， and normal administration group（Nor-PDOs+PAE）. Hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was used to observe the pathological structures of PDOs， immunohistochemistry（IHC） was performed to detect the expressions of the proliferation marker Ki-67 and lung adenocarcinoma differentiation markers cytokeratin-7（CK-7） and Napsin A， TUNEL staining was applied to detect cell apoptosis. RNA sequencing（RNA-Seq） was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes（DEGs）， followed by Gene Ontology（GO）， Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes（KEGG）， and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis（GSEA）， alongside protein-protein interaction（PPI） network analysis to screen core mechanisms. Finally， key targets were validated by integrating external database analysis with immunofluorescence（IF）. ResultsNor-PDOs and LUAD-PDOs that highly recapitulated the pathological characteristics of the primary tissues were successfully established. The CCK-8 assay determined that the effective intervention concentration of PAE was 16 g·L^-1. Morphological observation showed that Nor-PDOs exhibited lumen-forming structures， whereas LUAD-PDOs displayed dense， solid structures. CCK-8 and TUNEL assays revealed that， compared with the model group， PAE intervention inhibited the proliferation of LUAD-PDOs and promoted apoptosis in LUAD cells， while showing no significant effect on the viability of Nor-PDOs. Transcriptomic analysis identified 719 DEGs that were significantly reversed after PAE intervention（347 up-regulated and 372 down-regulated）（P<0.05）. GO enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs in the model administration group were significantly enriched in biological processes related to cell cycle regulation compared to the model group. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that PAE affected pathways related to proliferation and metabolism， including pathways in cancer and the p53 signaling pathway. GSEA further confirmed that PAE significantly enhanced the activity of the p53 signaling pathway（P<0.05）. PPI network analysis indicated that breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein（BRCA1） and checkpoint kinase 1（CHEK1） were the core down-regulated targets in the p53 pathway. IF verified the high expression of BRCA1 and CHEK1 in LUAD-PDOs and their significant downregulation after PAE intervention（P<0.05）. Furthermore， survival analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas（TCGA） database indicated that low expression of BRCA1 and CHEK1 was significantly associated with prolonged overall survival in patients with LUAD（P<0.05）. ConclusionPAE effectively inhibits proliferation of LUAD-PDOs and promotes their apoptosis， its anti-tumor mechanism is potentially associated with the activation of the p53 signaling pathway， with BRCA1 and CHEK1 genes likely serving as key downstream targets for the effects of PAE.

This article reports the diagnosis and treatment of one patient with fascioliasis of the common bile duct, aiming to provide reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease. The patient sought medical attention due to long-term symptoms such as abdominal pain, abdominal distension, nausea, and vomiting. Imaging examinations displayed dilatation of the common bile duct and intrahepatic bile ducts, and the patient was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of “common bile duct stone”. Through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and choledochoscopy, two worms were collected from the common bile duct, which were identified as Fasciola hepatica by high-throughput sequencing.

Purpose: Due to the preservation of the entire stomach after endoscopic resection, the occurrence of metachronous gastric cancer (MGC) remains a possibility. In this study, we investigated the incidence and risk factors for MGC in patients with early gastric cancer who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and successfully eradicatedHelicobacter pylori. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 1,191 patients who underwent ESD and successfully eradicated H. pylori at the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University. Endoscopic surveillance was performed at 3, 6, and 12 months post-resection, and annually thereafter. MGC was defined as the development of a new cancer at a site other than the primary gastric cancer site, at least 1 year after the initial endoscopic resection. Results: A total of 77 patients were diagnosed with MGC during a median follow-up of 41.5 months. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a 5-year cumulative incidence of MGC of 9.4% after successful H. pylori eradication. Multivariate analysis of the training set using Cox proportional hazards models identified male sex, severe atrophic gastritis, multiple gastric cancers before H. pylori eradication, and smoking history as independent risk factors for MGC.The nomogram exhibited favorable discrimination, with area under the curves of 0.767 and 0.822 in the training set and 0.724 and 0.745 in the testing set at 3 and 5 years, respectively. Conclusions Patients with gastric cancer who undergo endoscopic resection, even after successful H. pylori eradication, should undergo annual and continuous endoscopic surveillance for MGC.

Background/Aims: Non-pharmacological treatments are crucial for managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), yet patient engagement remains a challenge. Understanding patients' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding these treatments is essential for improving care. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across 5 hospitals, from October 2023 to February 2024. A self-designed knowledge, attitudes, and practices questionnaire along with the IBS quality of life and IBS severity scoring system was administered, and 496 valid responses were analyzed. Statistical analyses included correlation tests, multivariate linear regression, and mediation effect analysis. Results: The median scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 28, 25.5, and 21, respectively. Significant positive correlations were found between knowledge-attitude (r = 0.195), knowledge-practice (r = 0.364), and attitude-practice (r = 0.151). The multivariate linear regression analysis further indicated that knowledge (β = 0.399, P < 0.001) and attitude (β = 0.219, P = 0.022) positively correlated with the practical performance. SEM revealed that knowledge had a significant direct effect on both attitude (β = 0.186, P = 0.013) and practice (β = 0.356, P = 0.006). However, the direct effect of attitude on practice was not significant, and attitude did not mediate the relationship between knowledge and practice. Conclusions IBS patients exhibit a significant gap between their positive attitudes and their actual practices concerning non-pharmacological treatments. Knowledge is a direct driver of practice, but positive attitudes alone are insufficient to translate into behavior. Healthcare providers must move beyond simply fostering positive attitudes and focus on targeted educational interventions that provide actionable knowledge and skills to improve patient outcomes.

Mitochondrial biogenesis represents a promising therapeutic target in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) due to its essential role in cancer cell metabolism and survival. The natural compound γ-Elemene exhibits potent anti-tumor activity, but its effects on mitochondrial regulation in TNBC remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that γ-Elemene induces dose-dependent cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-468 and HCC1806 TNBC cells while significantly impairing mitochondrial function, as shown by reduced membrane potential, oxidative phosphorylation capacity, and ATP production. γ-Elemene treatment markedly suppressed mitochondrial biogenesis, decreasing mitochondrial DNA content and downregulating key mitochondrial genes and proteins. These effects were associated with reduced expression of the master regulators NRF1 and TFAM, but independent of PGC-1α expression levels.Mechanistically, γ-Elemene upregulated the acetyltransferase GCN5, leading to enhanced PGC-1α acetylation. This upregulation occurs primarily through increased GCN5 transcription. Genetic ablation of GCN5 completely reversed γ-Elemene-induced PGC-1α acetylation and restored mitochondrial biogenesis and cell viability, establishing a critical role for GCN5 in mediating these effects. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism whereby γ-Elemene disrupts mitochondrial function in TNBC through GCN5-mediated PGC-1α acetylation, providing new insights into its anti-cancer properties and potential therapeutic applications against TNBC.

Objective To explore the characteristics of fluid flow within loaded osteons under different boundary conditions.Methods The COMSOL Multiphysics software was used to establish a three-dimensional(3D)finite element model of osteons with different boundary conditions,and the variation rules of pore pressure and flow velocity of osteons under different inner wall pulsating blood pressures and outer wall elastic constraint conditions were analyzed.Results As the pulsatile blood pressure inside the osteon increased from 0 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)to 300 mmHg,the peak pore pressure within the osteon correspondingly increased from 26 kPa to 68 kPa.As the elastic constraint on the outer wall of osteons changed from being completely elastic to completely constrained,the peak pore pressure within osteons increased from 15 kPa to 26 kPa,and the peak flow velocity increased from 0.04 um/s to 0.07 um/s.Conclusions This study reveals the influence laws of changes in boundary conditions such as the pulsatile blood pressure on the inner wall and the elastic constraint on the outer wall of osteons on fluid flow characteristics within loaded osteons.These findings are conducive to a deeper understanding of the mechanical response mechanisms of bone tissues in both physiological and pathological states,and provide an important theoretical basrs for further researches on bone mechanotransduction.

Background and Aims:Totally implantable venous access ports(TIVAP)are widely used in patients requiring long-term intravenous therapy.Traditional butterfly needle puncture fixation methods have limitations,including low success rates,increased pain,and risk of needle-stick injury.This study aimed to design an adjustable puncture protection kit for butterfly needles and evaluate its clinical utility using a simulated device.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted with 70 patients implanted with upper arm ports in the Hematology Department of Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,from January to December 2024.The patients were divided into a study group and a control group,with 35 cases in each,using a randomized block design.The study group underwent puncture with the simulated adjustable protection kit,while the control group used the traditional finger fixation method.Outcomes compared included first-attempt success rate,vertical puncture rate,pain score,puncture time,and complication rate.Results:The baseline characteristics of the two groups were balanced.The study group had significantly higher first-attempt puncture success rate and vertical puncture rate than the control group(94.3%vs.77.1%;91.4%vs.57.1%,both P<0.05).In the experimental group compared with the control group,pain scores were lower(1.80±1.13 vs.2.94±1.33,P<0.05),and puncture time was shorter[(31.31±9.05)s vs.(41.80±23.97)s,P<0.05].There was no significant difference in the incidence of puncture-related complications between the two groups(2.9%vs.14.3%,P>0.05).Conclusion:The simulated adjustable butterfly needle puncture protection kit effectively improves puncture success,enhances efficiency,reduces patient pain,and demonstrates good clinical safety.This innovative design provides a promising solution for reducing needle-stick injury risks and optimizing port puncture procedures,although larger,multicenter,and long-term studies are warranted.

Objective:To explore the independent risk factors for uremic encephalopathy(UE)in maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)patients and provide evidence for early clinical warning and intervention.Methods:A case-control study was conducted,enrolling 67 MHD patients diagnosed with UE(UE group)at Laibin People's Hospital from January 2010 to December 2024,and 67 non-UE patients during the same period(control group).Demographic characteristics,dialysis parameters,laboratory indicators,and infection events were collected.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for UE.Results:The UE group had significantly higher rates of infection(58.2％vs.29.9％),serum creatinine(789 vs.702 μmol/L),and iPTH levels(568 vs.385 pg/mL)compared to the control group(P＜0.05).Multivariate analysis revealed that concurrent infection(OR=3.022,95％CI:1.312-6.958),elevated serum creatinine(OR=1.004,95％CI:1.000-1.008),and elevated iPTH(OR=1.002,95％CI:1.001-1.003)were independent risk factors for UE(P＜0.05).The combined prediction model achieved an AUC of 0.878(95％CI:0.822-0.934),with 82.1％sensitivity and 80.6％specificity.Conclusion:Infection,elevated serum creatinine,and elevated iPTH significantly increase the risk of UE in MHD patients.Clinical management should emphasize infection prevention,toxin clearance optimization,and parathyroid function regulation to reduce UE incidence.