ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of the combination of components from Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma and Chuanxiong Rhizoma on rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes （RA-FLSs） and the underlying mechanism. MethodsRA-FLSs were grouped as follows： blank control， positive control （methotrexate）， Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma components， Chuanxiong Rhizoma components， and components from Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma+Chuanxiong Rhizoma. The cell-counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was employed to the cell proliferation， invasion， and apoptosis. The levels of tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， interleukin （IL）-6， reactive oxygen species （ROS）， and malondiadehyde （MDA） in cells were measured. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）， nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） p65， phosphorylated inhibitory subunit of NF-κBα （p-IκBα）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-3 （Caspase-3）， and B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）. Real-time PCR was employed to determine the mRNA levels of Nrf2， HO-1， and NF-κB p65. ResultsThe cells in the groups of positive control， Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma components， Chuanxiong Rhizoma components， and components from Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma+Chuanxiong Rhizoma were treated with 2.50 mg·L^-1 methotrexate， 0.20 mg·L^-1 triptolide + 0.20 mg·L^-1 celastrol， 5.00 mg·L^-1 ferulic acid + 20.00 mg·L^-1 ligustrazine， 0.20 mg·L^-1 triptolide + 0.20 mg·L^-1 celastrol + 5.00 mg·L^-1 ferulic acid + 20.00 mg·L^-1 ligustrazine， respectively. Compared with the blank control group， drug administration reduced the proliferation and invasion and increased the apoptosis of cells （P<0.01）， lowered the levels of TNF-α， IL-6， ROS， and MDA （P<0.01）， up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of Caspase-3， Nrf2， and HO-1 （P<0.01）， and down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2， NF-κB p65， and p-IκBα （P<0.01）. Compared with the Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma components group， the combination of components from Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma+Chuanxiong Rhizoma inhibited the proliferation and invasion （P<0.05） and promoted the apoptosis of RA-FLSs， up-regulated the mRNA levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 and protein levels of Nrf2 and Caspase-3 （P<0.05）， and down-regulated the protein levels of NF-κB p65 and p-IκBα （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe combination of components from Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma can inhibit the proliferation and invasion and promote the apoptosis of RA-FLSs and alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway， activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway， and regulating the expression of Bcl-2/Caspase-3.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the molecular mechanism by which Lichong Xiaozheng Granules (LCXZ) sensitize ovarian cancer to cisplatin (DDP) treatment. METHODS: LC-MS analysis was used to identify the blood components of LCXZ after its administration in mice via gavage. In a BALB/c mouse model bearing subcutaneous ovarian cancer xenografts, the effects of daily gavage of distilled water (control group), intraperitoneal injection of DDP (5 mg/kg) once a week, or both DDP injection and daily LCXZK gavage (15 g/kg) on tumor growth were evaluated. Histopathological changes in the xenografts and kidneys were assessed with HE staining. RNA-seq was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes followed by KEGG pathway analysis. The changes in mitochondrial ultrastructure and expressions of mitochondrial apoptosis-related were examined with transmission electron microscopy and Western blotting. RESULTS: A total of 218 blood-borne components of LCXZ were detected by LC-MS. In the tumor-bearing mice, treatments with DDP and DDP combined with LCXZ redcued the tumor volume by 60.3% and 72.6% compared with that in the control group, respectively. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significantly upregulated ANT3 expression in both the two treatment groups. Molecular docking indicated that the main active components of LCXZ were capable of binding to adenine nucleotide translocator 3 (ANT3) with binding energies below -6 kcal/mol. Transmission electron microscopy showed obvious mitochondrial swelling and outer-membrane damage in the tumor cells in DDP-treated mice, and these changes were more pronounced in the combined treatment group. The expression levels of BAX, ANT3, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 were increased, whereas BCL-2 expression was decreased significantly in the tumor cells in both the DDP and DDP+LCXZ groups. CONCLUSIONS LCXZ enhances the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin against ovarian cancer xenografts in mice by promoting mitochondrial dysfunction and activating apoptotic signaling pathways via upregulating ANT3.
Animals ; Female ; Cisplatin/pharmacology* ; Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice ; Rats ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Humans ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*

Objective:To investigate the safety and therapeutic effect of split liver transplantation (SLT) in clinical application.Methods:This is a retrospective case-series study. The clinical data of 203 consecutive SLT, 79 living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and 1 298 whole liver transplantation (WLT) performed at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2014 to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Two hundred and three SLT liver grafts were obtained from 109 donors. One hundred and twenty-seven grafts were generated by in vitro splitting and 76 grafts were generated by in vivo splitting. There were 90 adult recipients and 113 pediatric recipients. According to time, SLT patients were divided into two groups: the early SLT group (40 cases, from July 2014 to December 2017) and the mature SLT technology group (163 cases, from January 2018 to July 2023). The survival of each group was analyzed and the main factors affecting the survival rate of SLT were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were used for survival analysis.Results:The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3-, and 5-year were 74.58%, 71.47%, and 71.47% in the early SLT group, and 88.03%, 87.23%, and 87.23% in the mature SLT group, respectively. Survival rates in the mature SLT group were significantly higher than those in the early SLT group ( χ2=5.560, P=0.018). The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3- and 5-year were 93.41%, 93.41%, 89.95% in the LDLT group and 87.38%, 81.98%, 77.04% in the WLT group, respectively. There was no significant difference among the mature SLT group, the LDLT group and the WLT group ( χ2=4.016, P=0.134). Abdominal hemorrhage, infection, primary liver graft nonfunction,and portal vein thrombosis were the main causes of early postoperative death. Conclusion:SLT can achieve results comparable to those of WLT and LDLT in mature technology liver transplant centers, but it needs to go through a certain time learning curve.

Objective:To seek the optimal melanin-removal method for hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, immunohistochemistry and molecular detection.Methods:Thirty-eight paraffin tissue samples of malignant melanoma diagnosed at the Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China between January 2018 and March 2022 were collected and used to make a tissue microarray. Melanin in these cases was removed using warm hydrogen peroxide, double oxidation depigmentation, modified potassium permanganate-oxalic acid or trichloroisocyanuric acid, followed by HE staining. The cases were divided into two cohorts: one was subject to the one of the above four methods to remove melanin first, followed by immunohistochemistry (SOX-10, Ki-67, HMB45 and Melan A), while the other was subject to immunohistochemical staining first and then a melanin removal. Following that, seventeen melanin-rich paraffin tissue samples were collected and depigmented using the methods described above. DNA extraction was then done, followed by assessments of DNA content and quality. Moreover, the completeness of melanin removal, the effect on HE and immunohistochemical staining, and the quality of DNA were compared between the depigmented methods.Results:Regarding the effectiveness of melanin removal, the modified potassium permanganate-oxalic acid and the warm hydrogen peroxide methods were the most effective, and both showed residual melanin in only 5.26% (2/38) of the cases. The trichloroisocyanuric acid method showed residual melanin in 10.53% (4/38) of the cases. The worst was the double oxidation depigmentation method, which showed pigment residue in 15.79% (6/38) of the cases. For HE staining, the percentage of good staining with the warm hydrogen peroxide method was 92.11%, higher than the other three methods. For immunohistochemical staining, the mean staining scores of immunohistochemistry first followed by melanin removal with modified potassium permanganate-oxalic acid, double oxidation and trichloroisocyanuric acid were 20.84, 26.63 and 35.02, respectively. These immunohistochemical staining scores were higher than those of melanin removal first followed by immunohistochemistry (8.70, 15.41 and 21.22, respectively). The mean staining score of melanin removal by warm hydrogen peroxide method followed by immunohistochemistry was 33.57, superior to that of immunohistochemistry followed by the melanin removal (19.96). Moreover, the staining scores of HMB45, MelanA and Ki-67 with immunohistochemical staining followed by trichloroisocyanuric acid method were 36.45, 33.79, and 36.24, respectively, while the staining score of SOX10 with melanin removal by warm hydrogen peroxide followed by immunohistochemistry was 34.39. The DNA was significantly degraded by modified potassium permanganate-oxalic acid, double oxidation depigmentation and trichloroisocyanuric acid, whereas the mean concentration of DNA extracted after melanin removal by hydrogen peroxide method was 59.59 μg/L, substantially higher than that of DNA extracted without melanin removal (30.3 μg/L, P=0.001). The A260/ A280 of DNA extracted after melanin removal by hydrogen peroxide was between 1.8 and 2.0 in all cases, and the A260/ A230 was above 2.0 in sixteen cases, suggesting high purity of DNA. However, the DNA extracted without removing the melanin showed poor purity, with A260/ A280 below 1.8 in eight cases and A260/ A230 below 2.0 in sixteen cases. Conclusions:Warm hydrogen peroxide showed the least melanin residue, superior HE staining and a minimal effect on DNA purity/quality compared to the other three methods. It thus appears most suitable for PCR, NGS and other molecular detection. Melanin removal with trichloroisocyanuric acid after immunohistochemical staining has the least melanin residual, and thus could be the most convenient and efficient. However, it is noted that the efficacy of the same depigmentation method varies with different antibodies. Therefore, the optimal depigmentation method should be selected based on the specific markers of interest.

Objective:To investigate the safety and therapeutic effect of split liver transplantation (SLT) in clinical application.Methods:This is a retrospective case-series study. The clinical data of 203 consecutive SLT, 79 living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and 1 298 whole liver transplantation (WLT) performed at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2014 to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Two hundred and three SLT liver grafts were obtained from 109 donors. One hundred and twenty-seven grafts were generated by in vitro splitting and 76 grafts were generated by in vivo splitting. There were 90 adult recipients and 113 pediatric recipients. According to time, SLT patients were divided into two groups: the early SLT group (40 cases, from July 2014 to December 2017) and the mature SLT technology group (163 cases, from January 2018 to July 2023). The survival of each group was analyzed and the main factors affecting the survival rate of SLT were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were used for survival analysis.Results:The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3-, and 5-year were 74.58%, 71.47%, and 71.47% in the early SLT group, and 88.03%, 87.23%, and 87.23% in the mature SLT group, respectively. Survival rates in the mature SLT group were significantly higher than those in the early SLT group ( χ2=5.560, P=0.018). The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3- and 5-year were 93.41%, 93.41%, 89.95% in the LDLT group and 87.38%, 81.98%, 77.04% in the WLT group, respectively. There was no significant difference among the mature SLT group, the LDLT group and the WLT group ( χ2=4.016, P=0.134). Abdominal hemorrhage, infection, primary liver graft nonfunction,and portal vein thrombosis were the main causes of early postoperative death. Conclusion:SLT can achieve results comparable to those of WLT and LDLT in mature technology liver transplant centers, but it needs to go through a certain time learning curve.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis （IPF）， as a progressive lung disease， has a poor prognosis and no reliable and effective therapies. IPF is mainly treated by organ transplantation and administration of chemical drugs， which are ineffective and induce side effects， failing to meet the clinical needs. Therefore， developing safer and more effective drugs has become an urgent task， which necessitates clear understanding of the pathogenesis of IPF. The available studies about the pathogenesis of IPF mainly focus on macrophage polarization， epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT）， oxidative stress， and autophagy， while few studies systematically explain the principles and links of the pathogeneses. According to the traditional Chinese medicine theory， Qi deficiency and blood stasis and Qi-Yang deficiency are the key pathogeneses of IPF. Therefore， the Chinese medicines or compound prescriptions with the effects of replenishing Qi and activating blood， warming Yang and tonifying Qi， and eliminating stasis and resolving phlegm are often used to treat IPF. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that such medicines play a positive role in inhibiting macrophage polarization， restoring redox balance， inhibiting EMT， and regulating cell autophagy. However， few studies report how Chinese medicines regulate the pathways in the treatment of IPF. By reviewing the latest articles in this field， we elaborate on the pathogenesis of IPF and provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanism of the active ingredients or compound prescriptions of Chinese medicines in regulating IPF. Combining the pathogenesis of IPF with the modulating effects of Chinese medicines， we focus on exploring systemic treatment options for IPF， with a view to providing new ideas for the in-depth study of IPF and the research and development of related drugs.

Polysaccharides are the important material basis of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）， and have various pharmacological activities such as immunomodulation， antitumor and anti-aging. Due to the large molecular weight of TCM polysaccharides， their structural analysis and oral absorption mechanism are facing technical challenges， and the current research on their structure-activity relationships has made some breakthroughs， while the research on their oral absorption mechanisms is relatively slow. In-depth study of the oral absorption mechanism of TCM polysaccharides is not only crucial for the interpretation of their action pathways and efficacy in vivo， but also helpful for the interpretation of their pharmacological effects， rational clinical applications and the discovery of new targets. In recent years， the application of fluorescent labeling and isotopic labeling methods has provided new technical means for the oral absorption studies of polysaccharides， which has promoted the development of oral absorption studies of TCM polysaccharides. In this paper， we reviewed the oral absorption pathways and labeling techniques of TCM polysaccharides， and concluded that they can be absorbed orally through transmembrane， cellular bypass， and M-cell-mediated transport， of which transmembrane pathway is the main absorption pathway， and summarized the labeling reactions of four fluorescent labeling and isotopic labeling methods with TCM polysaccharides， which can provide references for evaluating the absorption pathways of TCM polysaccharides， screening active TCM polysaccharides， establishing pharmacodynamic models and comprehensively elucidating the mechanism of TCM polysaccharides.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of volatile oil of Ligusticum chuanxiong on the transdermal properties and cytotoxicity of triptolide in vitro. METHODS The chemical constituents of the volatile oil of L. chuanxiong were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The lower abdominal skin of KM mice was separated and divided into triptolide group， triptolide in compatibility with volatile oil of L. chuanxiong groups at 1∶10， 1∶50， 1∶100 （hereinafter referred to as “compatibility 1∶10”“compatibility 1∶50”“compatibility 1∶100” groups）. After the skin of mice in each group was fully exposed to 0.2 g of the corresponding cream for 24 h， the cumulative transdermal dose （Qn） of triptolide in the receiving solution of each group was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography， and the transdermal absorption rate （Jss） was calculated. Human immortalized keratinocytes （HaCat） were used as a model， the CCK-8 method was used to detect the cell survival rate of different concentrations of the volatile oil of L. chuanxiong and triptolide before and after compatibility. RESULTS A total of 62 chemical constituents of the volatile oil of L. chuanxiong were identified， including Z-ligustilide， senkyunolide， and β-selinene. The Qn （P＜ 0.01） and Jss of triptolide increased within 24 h in the compatibility 1∶10 and 1∶50 groups， while the Qn （P＜0.05） and Jss decreased in the compatibility 1∶100 group as compared with the triptolide group. Compared with the triptolide group， the cell survival rate of HaCat was significantly increased in the compatibility 1∶10 and 1∶50 groups when the triptolide concentrations were 36， 72 and 144 ng/mL （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； while the cell survival rate of HaCat was decreased in the compatibility 1∶100 group， but the difference was not statistically significant （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS When the compatibility ratio of triptolide and volatile oil of L. chuanxiong was 1∶10 or 1∶50， it can promote the transdermal absorption of triptolide and reduce the cytotoxicity of triptolide to HaCat.

OBJECTIVE To provide a reference for the definition of the legal attributes of the provincial Chinese herbal pieces processing norms and the improvement of legal expression for the drug standards in Drug Administration Law. METHODS Based on the legal evolution of local drug standards in China， the composition of national drug standards for Chinese herbal pieces and the composition of current provincial Chinese herbal pieces processing norms were analyzed； at the same time， based on the method of legal interpretation， the legal connotation of the provincial Chinese herbal medicine processing norms in Drug Administration Law was investigated. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS In the practice of drug supervision， the provincial Chinese herbal pieces processing norms are essentially local drug standards. The newly revised Drug Administration Law defines the drug standards specifically， but does not stipulate the legal attribute of drug standards for the provincial Chinese herbal pieces processing norms， and there are certain legislative technical defects. It is suggested that when amending the Drug Administration Law， the legal attributes of the drug standards of the provincial Chinese herbal medicine processing norms should be clarified.

OBJECTIVE To study the extraction technology of Sophora flavescens-Phellodendron chinense drug pair and provide a reference for the development of new drugs for the treatment of anorectal diseases. METHODS Using the contents of total alkaloids of S. flavescens （matrine+oxymatrine）， berberine hydrochloride and total flavonoid， and extract yield as evaluation indicators， analytic hierarchy process-entropy weight method was used to calculate the weight coefficient of each indicator， and was combined with Box-Behnken design-response surface method to study the extraction technology of S. flavescens-P. chinense drug pair and verify it. RESULTS The optimal extraction technology of S. flavescens-P. chinense drug pair was immersed in 12-fold amount of 58% ethanol for 30 minutes and extracted twice， each time for 120 minutes. The relative error between the verification experimental results and the predicted value was 1.88%. CONCLUSIONS The obtained extraction technology is stable and feasible and can provide reference for the application of S. flavescens-P. chinense drug pair and development of new drugs.