Objective To analyze the current status,hotspots,and trends in the research field of traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacy combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods The relevant literatures on traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacy combined with TACE treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma collected by China National Knowledge Infrastructure from January 1994 to December 2022,and use CiteSpace 6.1.R6 software to analyze its publication volume,authors,research institutions,and key words.Results This study included a total of 686 articles.The publication volume showed a fluctuating upward trend from 1994 to 2015,but it had decreased since 2016,indicating that further breakthrough research was needed in this field.The communication between authors and research institutions needed to be strengthened,with low levels of cross institutional and cross regional cooperation and uneven geographical distribution.Cooperation should be strengthened.High frequency key words included hepatocellular carcinoma,Chinese materia medica,interventional therapy,therapeutic,etc.,resulting in 9 key word clustering labels.Conclusion Currently,there is a lack of experimental research and related mechanism research,the future research hotspots of traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacy combined with TACE treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma will focus more on traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacy,interventional therapy,clinical observation,and cell apoptosis,which provides new ideas for researchers conducting related research in the future.

Objective By using the bibliometrics method,the literature about Yinchenhao decoction was visualized and analyzed to explore its research hot spot and frontier.Methods The related literatures on Yinchenhao decoction were retrieved from CNKI database,and CiteSpace 6.1.R6 software was used to analyze the authors,institutions and key words,and the key words were clustered to draw a visual atlas.Results A total of 856 articles were included,and the number of articles showed a fluctuating upward trend.There were 764 authors and 513 related key words,including clinical application,experimental study and signaling pathway of Yinchenhao decoction.Conclusion Although Yinchenhao decoction is a commonly used clinical prescription for liver disease,there is a lack of studies on the mechanism of action and molecular level.Future research hot spot should focus more on large sample randomized controlled clinical studies and experimental studies,so as to provide new directions for researchers.

Objective:To investigate the safety and feasibility of the CHESS endoscpic ruler (CHESS ruler), and the consistency between the measured values and the interpretation values by endoscopic physician experience.Methods:From January 2021 to January 2022, a total of 105 liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension were prospectively enrolled from General Hospital, Xixia Branch Hospital, Ningnan Hospital of People′s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (29 cases), and the First People′s Hospital of Yinchuan (25 cases), General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University (18 cases), Wuzhong People′s Hospital (10 cases), the Fifth People′s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (10 cases), Shizuishan Second People′s Hospital (6 cases), Yinchuan Second People′s Hospital (5 cases), and Zhongwei People′s Hospital (2 cases) 8 hospitals. The clinical characteristics of all the patients, including gender, age, nationality, etiolog of liver cirrhosis, and Child-Pugh classification of liver function were recorded. A big gastroesophageal varices was defined as diameter of varices ≥5 mm. Endoscopist (associated chief physician) performed gastroscopy according to the routine gastroscopy procedures, and the diameter of the biggest esophageal varices was measured by experience and images were collected, and then objective measurement was with the CHESS ruler and images were collected. The diameter of esophageal varices of 10 randomly selected patients (random number table method) was determined by 6 endoscopists (attending physician or associated chief physician) with experience or measured by CHESS ruler. Kappa test was used to test the consistency in the diameter of esophageal varices between measured values by CHESS ruler and the interpretation values by endoscopic physician experience.Results:Among 105 liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension, male 65 cases and female 40 cases, aged (54.8±12.2) years old, Han nationality 82 cases, Hui nationality 21 cases and Mongolian nationality 2 cases. The etiology of liver cirrhosis included chronic hepatitis B (79 cases), alcoholic liver disease (7 cases), autoimmune hepatitis (7 cases), chronic hepatitis C (2 cases), and other etiology (10 cases). Liver function of 32 cases was Child-Pugh A, Child-Pugh B 57 cases, and Child-Pugh C 16 cases. All 105 liver cirrhosis patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension were successfully measured the diameter of gastroesophageal varices by CHESS ruler, and the success rate of application of CHESS ruler was 100.0% (105/105). The procedure time from the CHESS ruler into the body to the exit of the body after measurement was (3.50±2.55) min. No complications happened in all the patients during measurement. Among 105 liver cirrhosis patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension, 96 cases (91.4%) were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices by the endoscopists. Totally 93 cases (88.6%) were considered as big gastroesophageal varices by CHESS ruler. Eight cases were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices by the endoscopist, however not by the CHESS ruler; 5 cases were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices by the CHESS ruler, but not by the endoscopists; 4 cases were not recognized as big gastroesophageal varices both by the endoscopists and CHESS ruler; 88 cases were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices both by the endoscopists and CHESS ruler. The missed diagnostic rate of big gastroesophageal varices by the endoscopists experience was 5.4% (5/93), and the Kappa value of consistency coefficient between the measurement by the CHESS ruler and the interpretation by endoscopists experience was 0.31 (95% confidence interval 0.03 to 0.60). The overall Kappa value of consistency coefficient by 6 endoscopists measured by CHESS ruler in big gastroesophageal varices diagnosis was 0.77 (95% confidence interval 0.61 to 0.93).Conclusion:As an objective measurement tool, CHESS ruler can make up for the deficiency of subjective judgment by endoscopists, accurately measure the diameter of gastroesophageal varices, and is highly feasible and safe.

Background and Objectives: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) with tumorigenic potential are reported as the crucial factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and therapy resistance. Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are documented to play an important role in the protection of hepatocytes. Bie Jia Jian pill (BJJP), a Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been used to treat liver fibrosis and liver cancer. This study aimed to explore the potential role of combined use of BJJP with BMSCs in HCC cell lines. Methods: and Results: Flow cytometry was used to identify BMSCs isolated from BALB/c mice and CSCs enriched from Huh7 cells by measuring CD24, CD133, CD44, CD73, CD105, CD166, CD29, CD14 and CD34. Differentiation potential of BMSCs was also determined. Cell viability and proliferation ability of CSCs were determined by CCK-8 assay and clone formation assay. The expressions of CSCs biomarkers and Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway related proteins were determined by PCR and western blot. TOP-Flash/FOP-Flash luciferase assay was applied to measure the activity of β-catenin/TCF. Compared with untreated CSCs, BJJP or BMSCs treatment alone on CSCs lead to increased miR-140 expression and cell apoptosis, as well as decreased expressions of CD24, CD133, EpCAM and cell viability.Downregualted expressions of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway related proteins, Wnt3a and β-catenin were found in response to BJJP or BMSCs treatment alone. The combination of BJJP＋BMSCs treatment on CSCs could further enhance the suppressive effect on CSCs. Down-regulation of miR-140 in CSCs partially blocked the effects of BMSCs or BMSCs＋BJJP on the expressions of Wnt3a and β-catenin as well as the cell viability and apoptosis of CSCs.Reversed expression pattern was found in CSCs transfected with miR-140 overexpression. Conclusions Taken together, we demonstrate that BJJP＋BMSCs together could further enhance the suppressive effect on CSCs through regulating miR-140 and suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway. This study demonstrated the potential of BJJP＋BMSCs in therapeutic treatment of HCC.

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a common yet highly heterogeneous childhood malignant brain tumor, however, clinically effective molecular targeted therapy is lacking. Modulation of hedgehog (HH) signaling by epigenetically targeting the transcriptional factors GLI through bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) has recently spurred new interest as potential treatment of HH-driven MB. Through screening of current clinical BRD4 inhibitors for their inhibitory potency against glioma-associated oncogene homolog (GLI) protein, the BRD4 inhibitor

Background and Objectives: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) with tumorigenic potential are reported as the crucial factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and therapy resistance. Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are documented to play an important role in the protection of hepatocytes. Bie Jia Jian pill (BJJP), a Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been used to treat liver fibrosis and liver cancer. This study aimed to explore the potential role of combined use of BJJP with BMSCs in HCC cell lines. Methods: and Results: Flow cytometry was used to identify BMSCs isolated from BALB/c mice and CSCs enriched from Huh7 cells by measuring CD24, CD133, CD44, CD73, CD105, CD166, CD29, CD14 and CD34. Differentiation potential of BMSCs was also determined. Cell viability and proliferation ability of CSCs were determined by CCK-8 assay and clone formation assay. The expressions of CSCs biomarkers and Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway related proteins were determined by PCR and western blot. TOP-Flash/FOP-Flash luciferase assay was applied to measure the activity of β-catenin/TCF. Compared with untreated CSCs, BJJP or BMSCs treatment alone on CSCs lead to increased miR-140 expression and cell apoptosis, as well as decreased expressions of CD24, CD133, EpCAM and cell viability.Downregualted expressions of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway related proteins, Wnt3a and β-catenin were found in response to BJJP or BMSCs treatment alone. The combination of BJJP＋BMSCs treatment on CSCs could further enhance the suppressive effect on CSCs. Down-regulation of miR-140 in CSCs partially blocked the effects of BMSCs or BMSCs＋BJJP on the expressions of Wnt3a and β-catenin as well as the cell viability and apoptosis of CSCs.Reversed expression pattern was found in CSCs transfected with miR-140 overexpression. Conclusions Taken together, we demonstrate that BJJP＋BMSCs together could further enhance the suppressive effect on CSCs through regulating miR-140 and suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway. This study demonstrated the potential of BJJP＋BMSCs in therapeutic treatment of HCC.

Bioinformatic analysis and variant classification are the key components of high-throughput sequencing-based genetic diagnostic approach.This consensus is part of the effort to develop a standardized process for next generation sequencing (NGS)-based test for germline mutations underlying Mendelian disorders in China.The flow-chart,common software,key parameters of bioinformatics pipeline for data processing,annotation,storage and variant classification are reviewed,which is aimed to help improving and maintaining a high-quality process and obtaining consistent outcomes for NGS-based molecular diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of Yulangsan polysacharide ( YLSPS) and mechanism against ibuprofen-induced liver injury in mice. Methods The mice were randomly divided into the blank control(NC), the model control,YLSPS at 150 mg·kg-1 , 300 mg·kg-1 ,600 mg·kg-1 groups and biphenyldicarboxylate (150 mg·kg-1 BPDC) group. The mice were orally administered with corresponding agents once per day for consecutive 14 days, whereas the blank control group and model control group were orally administered with saline. Except the blank control group, all the other mice were orally administered IBU 200 mg·kg-1 body weight 2 h after last lavagedof medicimes. The mice were fasted and watered ad lib for 20 h after model establishment. Activities of ALT,AST and ALP,content of T-BiL,TNF-α,IL-6 in serum;activities of SOD,GSH-Px and content of MDA in liver tissue were detected. The morphological pathology test was used to examine degrees of hepatic injury. Results Compared with the model control, YLSPS could obviously reduce activities of ALT,AST and ALP,content of T-BiL, MDA,TNF-α and IL-6, and increase SOD,GSH-Px and CAT (P<0. 05), and then lessen the hepatic injury. Conclusion YLSPS showed potential protective effect against ibuprofen-induced liver injury in mice, the mechanism may be related to attenuating free radical injury and inhibiting lipid peroxidation and lowering release of inflammatory factors.

To explore the effects of Dachengqi Decoction (DCQD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on pancreatic acinar cell apoptosis in a rat model of experimental acute pancreatitis.

Objective: To explore the effects of ranitidine on pharmacokinetics of rhein in rats after oral administration of Dachengqi Decoction (DCQD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Methods: Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into DCQD group and DCQD plus ranitidine group, and were orally administered with DCQD at a dose of 10 g/kg or DCQD (10 g/kg) combined with ranitidine (150 mg/kg), respectively. Blood samples were gathered after a series of time intervals. Metabolism of rhein was determined with a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with internal standard of 1, 8-dihydroxyanthraquinone and the data were analyzed with DAS 2.1 program. The pharmacokinetic parameters were compared between the two groups. Results: The pharmacokinetic parameters of rhein in the DCQD group, including peak concentration (C(max)), area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), distribution phase half-life (t(1/2alpha)), elimination rate constant (K(10)) and central to peripheral transfer rate constant (K(12)), were significantly different to those in the DCQD plus ranitidine group (P<0.05, P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the other parameters between the two groups. Conclusion: Ranitidine can influence the pharmacokinetics of rhein in rats after oral administration of DCQD.