ObjectiveTo construct a multifunctional liposomal delivery system by replacing cholesterol（Chol） in conventional liposomes with saikosaponin D（SSD） and modifying with poloxamer 407（P407） for co-delivery of curcumin（Cur）. The system was evaluated for in vivo tumor targeting and inhibitory effects on mouse subcutaneous solid tumors. MethodsSingle-factor and orthogonal tests combined with information entropy weighting were used to optimize the formulation process of the liposome with encapsulation efficiency and absolute Zeta potential as indexes， and validation studies and liposomal characterization were performed. A subcutaneous solid tumor model was established by injecting H22 hepatocellular carcinoma cells subcutaneously into the dorsal surface of the right forelimb of mice. DiR-loaded traditional Chol liposomes（P407-DiR-Chol-LPs， PDCL） and novel SSD-based liposomes（P407-DiR-SSD-LPs， PDSL） were prepared by the optimized formulation process， and tail vein injection was performed to investigate the impact of SSD on liposome tumor targeting with small animal in vivo imaging. Mice were randomly divided into eight groups， including blank group， model group， free doxorubicin（DOX） group（2 mg·kg^-1）， free Cur group（8 mg·kg^-1）， free SSD group（10 mg·kg^-1）， P407-Cur-Chol-LPs（PCCL） group， P407-SSD-LPs（PSL） group， and P407-Cur-SSD-Lps（PCSL） group. Treatments were administered intraperitoneally every other day for seven doses. Antitumor efficacy and biocompatibility were evaluated by monitoring body weight change， organ indices， tumor volume and mass， relative tumor proliferation rate（T/C）， and tumor growth inhibition rate（TGI）. Histopathological analysis of liver， kidney， and tumor tissues was performed using hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase（AST）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， blood urea nitrogen（BUN）， and creatinine（Crea）in mice were quantified by fully automated biochemical analyzer. ResultsOrthogonal test yielded optimal ratios of Cur， SSD， and P407 to soybean phosphatidylcholine（SPC） as 1∶25， 1∶20， and 1∶4. The optimized PCSL exhibited spherical morphology with a particle size of 179.15 nm， a Zeta potential of -47.25 mV， and an encapsulation efficiency of 96.40%. Its in vitro release profile conformed to first-order kinetics， demonstrating excellent storage stability and hemocompatibility. In vivo imaging revealed that the fluorescence signal in tumor tissues and the fluorescence intensity ratio between tumors and organs were significantly higher in the PDSL group than in the PDCL group（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Among the treatment groups， PCSL group showed superior efficacy over free Cur group， free SSD group， PCCL group， and PSL group， with TGI>40% and T/C<60%， indicating pronounced anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Histopathology and serum biochemistry indicated minimal hepatorenal toxicity and improved hepatic and renal function in PCSL-treated mice. ConclusionReplacing Chol with SSD in preparing multifunctional drug delivery systems not only stabilizes liposomes but also yields superior anti-hepatocellular carcinoma efficacy， achieving the effect of drug-excipient integration. Co-delivery of Cur via this system can be used for treating subcutaneous solid tumors in hepatocellular carcinoma， providing new insights and technical approaches for anti-hepatocellular carcinoma research and the meridian-guiding and messenger-directing theory in traditional Chinese medicine.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） has become the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. Its pathological process is centered on the “two-hit” theory， with gut-liver axis dysregulation running through the entire disease course from steatosis to liver cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma， and it forms an extensive cross-system regulatory mechanism with the metabolic， cardiovascular， renal， and psychological and nervous systems through multi-dimensional pathways such as the “gut-liver-brain axis”， the “liver-kidney axis”， and the “liver-heart axis”. Disease progression is not limited to the liver itself， and it also involves functional imbalance of multiple organ systems throughout the body. This article systematically elaborates on the association mechanism of “liver pathological progression-multi-axis regulation-comorbidity occurrence” in MAFLD， proposes synergistic management strategies integrating early screening based on risk stratification， targeted intervention， and multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment， and analyzes the limitations of current research and future development directions， in order to provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for precise diagnosis and treatment and individualized management of MAFLD.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Zishen Huoxue Formula （ZSXHF） on molecular-targeted therapy-associated proteinuria in patients with primary liver cancer （PLC）， to assess the efficacy of ZSXHF in the treatment of molecular-targeted therapy-associated proteinuria， and to provide a basis for clinical medication. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted among the PLC patients with molecular-targeted therapy-associated proteinuria who were diagnosed and treated in The Department of Hepatology of Chinese PLA General Hospital， from January 1， 2022 to July 1， 2025. With ZSXHF treatment as the exposure factor， the patients with a cumulative treatment duration of ≥9 weeks were enrolled as traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） group， while those without TCM treatment were enrolled as control group. Propensity score matching was performed for the two groups at a ratio of 1∶1 based on sex， age， 24-hour urinary protein， blood urea nitrogen， and serum creatinine. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the influencing factors for promoting the improvement of targeted-therapy-associated proteinuria. ResultsA total of 137 PLC patients with targeted-therapy-associated proteinuria were enrolled， with 34 patients in the TCM group and 103 in the control group. After follow-up for 6 months， the TCM group had a significant improvement in urinary protein grade compared with the control group （χ²=9.261， P=0.016）. There were 25 patients in each group after propensity score matching， and after follow-up for 6 months， there were significant differences between the two groups in urinary protein grade （χ²=15.689， P<0.001） and 24-hour urinary protein （Z=-3.075， P=0.002）. After cumulative treatment with ZSXHF for ≥9 weeks， the TCM group had a significantly greater change in 24-hour urinary protein from baseline compared with the control group （t=-2.514， P=0.016）， while there were no significant differences in the changes in liver and renal function after ZSXHF intervention between the two groups （all P>0.05）. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that ZSXHF treatment （odds ratio=2.901， 95% confidence interval： 1.135 — 7.417， P=0.026） was an independent influencing factor for improvement in molecular-targeted therapy-associated proteinuria. ConclusionZSHXF can effectively alleviate molecular-targeted therapy-associated proteinuria in PLC patients with a favorable safety profile， which provides a new reference for TCM prevention and treatment of molecular-targeted therapy-associated adverse reactions in PLC patients.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the incidence of cyclosporine （CsA）-associated acute kidney injury （AKI） in hospitalized patients， identify influencing factors， and construct a risk prediction model. METHODS A single-center retrospective study was conducted， enrolling clinical data from hospitalized patients treated with CsA at the First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital from January 2018 to July 2024. The patients were classified into AKI group and non-AKI group based on the occurrence of CsA-related AKI. Univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to identify independent risk factors for CsA-related AKI， and a risk prediction model was constructed and its performance was evaluated. RESULTS A total of 439 patients were included， of whom 54 developed CsA-related AKI， with an incidence rate of 12.30%. The occurrence of CsA-associated AKI was positively correlated with concurrent bacterial pulmonary infection， cytomegalovirus viremia， respiratory failure， renal insufficiency， gastrointestinal bleeding， and peripheral central venous catheterization （odds ratios of 763.750， 16.944， 41.933， 236.806， 17.537 and 212.789， respectively； P ＜0.05）； while uric acid， prealbumin， and calcium levels were negatively associated with it （odds ratios of 0.983， 0.967 and 0.058， respectively； P ＜0.05）. The prediction model constructed based on the above factors yielded a χ 2 value of 10.254 （ P ＞0.05） in the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. The average area under the curve （AUC） from 10-fold cross-validation was 0.885. The AUC of the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.883， with a sensitivity of 84.3% and a specificity of 80.4%， respectively， at the optimal cutoff value of 0.1. CONCLUSIONS Six factors， including concurrent bacterial pulmonary infection and cytomegalovirus viremia， are positively associated with the occurrence of CsA-related AKI； while uric acid， prealbumin， and calcium levels are negatively associated. The Logistic regression model constructed based on these factors demonstrates good predictive performance and can assist clinic in conducting early risk assessment and personalized interventions.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effects of gentiopicroside (GPS) against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation in endothelial cells, aiming to reduce atherosclerosis. METHODS: Eight-week-old male ApoE-deficient mice were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=10 per group): the vehicle group and the GPS treatment group. Both groups were fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. GPS (40 mg/kg per day) was administered by oral gavage to the GPS group, while the vehicle group received an equivalent volume of the vehicle solution. At the end of the treatment, blood and aortic tissues were collected for assessments of atherosclerosis, lipid profiles, oxidative stress, and molecular expressions related to NLRP3 inflammasome activation, ROS production, and apoptosis. Additionally, in vitro experiments on human aortic endothelial cells treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were conducted to evaluate the effects of GPS on NLRP3 inflammasome activation, pyroptosis, apoptosis, and ROS production, specifically examining the role of the sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. SIRT1 and Nrf2 inhibitors were used to confirm the pathway's role. RESULTS: GPS treatment significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesions in the en face aorta (P<0.01), as well as in the thoracic and abdominal aortic regions, and markedly decreased sinus lesions within the aortic root (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Additionally, GPS reduced oxidative stress markers and proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1 β and IL-18, in lesion areas (P<0.05, P<0.01). In vitro, GPS inhibited ox-LDL-induced NLRP3 activation, as evidenced by reduced NLRP3 (P<0.01), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD, cleaved-caspase-1, and cleaved-gasdermin D expressions (all P<0.01). GPS also decreased ROS production, apoptosis, and pyroptosis, with the beneficial effects being significantly reversed by SIRT1 or Nrf2 inhibitors. CONCLUSION GPS exerts an antiatherogenic effect by inhibiting ROS-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome activation via the SIRT1/Nrf2 pathway.
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Iridoid Glucosides/therapeutic use* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Animals ; Atherosclerosis/metabolism* ; Inflammasomes/drug effects* ; Male ; Sirtuin 1/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Humans ; Endothelial Cells/pathology* ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

OBJECTIVE: To identify the underlying mechanism by which quercetin (Que) alleviates sepsis-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: In vivo, C57BL/6 mice were assigned to sham, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and CLP+Que (50 mg/kg) groups (n=15 per group) by using a random number table. The sepsisrelated ARDS mouse model was established using the CLP method. In vitro, the murine alveolar macrophages (MH-S) cells were classified into control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS+Que (10 μmol/L), and LPS+Que+acetylcysteine (NAC, 5 mmol/L) groups. The effect of Que on oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in mice lungs and MH-S cells was determined, and the mechanism with reactive oxygen species (ROS)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was also explored both in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS: Que alleviated lung injury in mice, as reflected by a reversal of pulmonary histopathologic changes as well as a reduction in lung wet/dry weight ratio and neutrophil infiltration (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Additionally, Que improved the survival rate and relieved gas exchange impairment in mice (P<0.01). Que treatment also remarkedly reduced malondialdehyde formation, superoxide dismutase and catalase depletion, and cell apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, Que treatment diminished the release of inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-6 both in vivo and in vitro (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Mechanistic investigation clarifified that Que administration led to a decline in the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in addition to the suppression of ROS expression (P<0.01). Furthermore, in LPS-induced MH-S cells, ROS inhibitor NAC further inhibited ROS/p38 MAPK pathway, as well as oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell apoptosis on the basis of Que treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION Que was found to exert anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects by suppressing the ROS/p38 MAPK pathway, thereby conferring protection for mice against sepsis-related ARDS.
Animals ; Sepsis/drug therapy* ; Quercetin/therapeutic use* ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome/enzymology* ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Male ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Lung/drug effects* ; Mice ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Macrophages, Alveolar/pathology* ; Inflammation/pathology* ; Protective Agents/therapeutic use*

Objective To explore the application value of fractional anisotropy(FA)analysis of RGB component transformation in different directions of fibers in substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease(PD).Methods There were 35 cases of PD and 37 cases of normal control group.After being performed by brain diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)scanning,the sequence was imported into 3DSlicense 5.6.0,and the diffusion module was used to implement pseudo color mapping based on FA,locate and segment substantia nigra,and use the substantia nigra mask as the tracking starting point.After forming tracing,fibers were imported into DTIANALYSIS 1.51,converting the RGB components into FA values for analysis,and visualized the analysis result.At the same time,fiber length,fiber density,and segmented FA point cloud percentage were compared.Results Compared with the normal group,the length of substantia nigra fibers in the PD group was shorter[(95.14±19.85)mm vs(115.99±21.39)mm,P＜0.01],and there was a statistical difference between the two groups.There was no statistical difference in fiber density[(0.07±0.05)/mm3 vs(0.10±0.12)/mm3,P＞0.05]between control group and PD group.The percentage of FA segment point clouds in the PD group was lower than that in the normal group at 0.9-1,but the principal component characteristics of the point cloud ratios in each FA segment were not significant.Conclusion Based on the transformation of RGB components into FA analysis,the length,density,and FA values of substantia nigra nerve fibers in PD patients can be quantified and visualized,providing a basis for the study of PD neural pathways.

Objective: To construct a deep learning model based on convolutional neural network(CNN)-long short term memory network(LSTM)-Attention to explore the correlation between meteorological and clinical factors and the incidence of ischemic stroke. Methods: A fusion model CNN-LSTM-Attention based on CNN, LSTM, and Attention was constructed by incorporating clinical data and meteorological data of ischemic stroke inpatients. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated by maximum prediction error and root mean square error(RMSE). The impact of different lag days on prediction performance was investigated by selecting lag periods ranging from 1 to 7 days. Results: In both short-term and long-term predictions, the CNN-LSTM-Attention fusion model(short-term: 1.5 and 0.6; long-term: 8.3 and 2.5) showed superior maximum prediction bias and RMSE compared to the LSTM model(short-term: 2.8 and 1.2; long-term: 19.5 and 5.5) and the CNN-LSTM model(short-term: 2.0 and 0.8; long-term: 11.2 and 3.3). After incorporating lag days, the maximum prediction deviation and RMSE for lags of 3 days(short-term: 0.7 and 0.4; long-term: 5.5 and 1.9) and 5 days(short-term: 0.8 and 0.3; long-term: 6.5 and 2.0) in both short-term and long-term forecasts were smaller than lags of 0 days(short-term: 1.5 and 0.6; long-term: 8.3 and 2.5). The maximum prediction deviation and RMSE in the short-term forecast were greater than lag 0 days for both lag 1 days(1.5 and 0.8) and lag 7 days(1.9 and 0.9). In the long-term forecast, the two indicators for lag 1 days(6.8 and 2.4) were lower than those for lag 0 days but higher than those for lag 3 days and 5 days. The maximum prediction deviation for lag 7 days(7.5) was lower than that for lag 0 days, but the RMSE(2.7) is higher than that for lag 0 days. Conclusion The established CNN-LSTM-Attention model demonstrates significant predictive value for the onset of ischemic stroke and can provide reference for the rational allocation of medical resources.

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)expresses abundant glycolytic enzymes and displays comprehensive glucose metabolism reprogramming.Aldolase A(ALDOA)plays a prominent role in glycolysis;however,little is known about its role in HCC development.In the present study,we aim to explore how ALDOA is involved in HCC proliferation.HCC proliferation was markedly suppressed both in vitro and in vivo following ALDOA knockout,which is consistent with ALDOA overexpression encouraging HCC prolifera-tion.Mechanistically,ALDOA knockout partially limits the glycolytic flux in HCC cells.Meanwhile,ALDOA translocated to nuclei and directly interacted with c-Jun to facilitate its Thr93 phosphorylation by P21-activated protein kinase;ALDOA knockout markedly diminished c-Jun Thr93 phosphorylation and then dampened c-Jun transcription function.A crucial site Y364 mutation in ALDOA disrupted its interaction with c-Jun,and Y364S ALDOA expression failed to rescue cell proliferation in ALDOA deletion cells.In HCC patients,the expression level of ALDOA was correlated with the phosphorylation level of c-Jun(Thr93)and poor prognosis.Remarkably,hepatic ALDOA was significantly upregulated in the promotion and progression stages of diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC models,and the knockdown of Aldoa strikingly decreased HCC development in vivo.Our study demonstrated that ALDOA is a vital driver for HCC development by activating c-Jun-mediated oncogene transcription,opening additional avenues for anti-cancer therapies.

One-step nucleic acid amplification(OSNA)technology is a molecular diagnostic technology that assesses the metastatic status of lymph nodes by detecting the expression level of cytokeratin 19 mRNA in sentinel lymph nodes(SLNs).It is characterized by its rapidity,ac-curacy,semi-quantitative nature,and high reproducibility,thereby providing comprehensive lymph node diagnostic information for clinical physicians.It is of great significance regarding avoiding secondary axillary lymph node dissection(ALND)or excessive ALND.The de-escala-tion treatment pattern for breast cancer is the current therapeutic strategy pursued by surgeons.SLN biopsy(SLNB)can help patients re-ceive more precise and personalized treatment,thereby reducing unnecessary treatment intensity and side effects while ensuring thera-peutic efficacy.This article reviews the application of OSNA detection in SLNB.