ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy and mechanisms of Sini San in the treatment of depression and liver injury based on gut microbiota. MethodsThirty-two male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a normal group， model group （M）， Sini San group （MS， 2.5 g·kg^-1）， and fluoxetine group （MF， 2 mg·kg^-1）. Except for the normal group， rats in the other three groups were subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS）. After 8 weeks， the open-field test and sucrose preference test were conducted. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect serum corticosterone （CORT）， adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH）， corticotropin-releasing factor （CRF）， lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， Zonulin， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA） levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex， and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） levels in the hippocampus. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect hippocampal BDNF mRNA expression. Serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） levels were measured using the ultraviolet lactate dehydrogenase method. The ultrastructure of the intestinal epithelium was observed by electron microscopy， and gut microbiota in rat feces were analyzed using 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the sucrose preference of rats in the model group was significantly reduced （P0.01）， whereas it was significantly increased in the Sini San group compared with the model group （P0.05）. Compared with the normal group， hippocampal GABA protein levels and BDNF mRNA expression in the model group were significantly decreased （P0.05）， and compared with the model group， both were significantly increased in the Sini San group （P0.05， P0.01）. Compared with the normal group， serum LPS and Zonulin levels in the model group were significantly increased （P0.05， P0.01）， and compared with the model group， Zonulin levels in the Sini San group were significantly decreased （P0.05）. No obvious changes were observed in the ultrastructure of the jejunal mucosa among groups. Compared with the normal group， widened and blurred tight junctions， sparse and shortened microvilli， and mitochondrial swelling with cristae disruption in epithelial cells were observed in the ileal and colonic mucosa of the model group， which were markedly improved in the Sini San and fluoxetine groups. The results of 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing showed that Sini San improved CUMS-induced dysbiosis of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Correlation analysis indicated that Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were significantly correlated with depression-related indicators， liver function， and intestinal mucosal permeability. ConclusionSini San exerts antidepressant and hepatoprotective effects by improving Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria and inhibiting the increase in intestinal mucosal permeability in CUMS rats.

ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy and mechanisms of Sini San in the treatment of depression and liver injury based on gut microbiota. MethodsThirty-two male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a normal group， model group （M）， Sini San group （MS， 2.5 g·kg^-1）， and fluoxetine group （MF， 2 mg·kg^-1）. Except for the normal group， rats in the other three groups were subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS）. After 8 weeks， the open-field test and sucrose preference test were conducted. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect serum corticosterone （CORT）， adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH）， corticotropin-releasing factor （CRF）， lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， Zonulin， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA） levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex， and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） levels in the hippocampus. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect hippocampal BDNF mRNA expression. Serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） levels were measured using the ultraviolet lactate dehydrogenase method. The ultrastructure of the intestinal epithelium was observed by electron microscopy， and gut microbiota in rat feces were analyzed using 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the sucrose preference of rats in the model group was significantly reduced （P<0.01）， whereas it was significantly increased in the Sini San group compared with the model group （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， hippocampal GABA protein levels and BDNF mRNA expression in the model group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）， and compared with the model group， both were significantly increased in the Sini San group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the normal group， serum LPS and Zonulin levels in the model group were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and compared with the model group， Zonulin levels in the Sini San group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. No obvious changes were observed in the ultrastructure of the jejunal mucosa among groups. Compared with the normal group， widened and blurred tight junctions， sparse and shortened microvilli， and mitochondrial swelling with cristae disruption in epithelial cells were observed in the ileal and colonic mucosa of the model group， which were markedly improved in the Sini San and fluoxetine groups. The results of 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing showed that Sini San improved CUMS-induced dysbiosis of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Correlation analysis indicated that Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were significantly correlated with depression-related indicators， liver function， and intestinal mucosal permeability. ConclusionSini San exerts antidepressant and hepatoprotective effects by improving Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria and inhibiting the increase in intestinal mucosal permeability in CUMS rats.

Diabetic kidney disease （DKD）， a prevalent microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus， is characterized by intricate pathophysiological mechanisms and persistent clinical management challenges. Historically， glomerular injury has been regarded as the central pathological hallmark of DKD， with research predominantly focusing on hyperfiltration， glomerular basement membrane thickening， and podocyte dysfunction. Emerging evidence， however， underscores the renal tubule-not merely as a passive bystander but as an early initiator and pivotal driver-in DKD pathogenesis. Hyperglycemia， metabolic dysregulation， and chronic low-grade inflammation induce tubular epithelial cell injury at early disease stages. Such injury disrupts tubuloglomerular feedback， thereby elevating intraglomerular pressure and sustaining hyperfiltration. Concurrently， injured tubular cells secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and profibrotic factors， promoting epithelia-mesenchymal transition， interstitial hypoxia， and progressive tubulointerstitial fibrosis that ultimately culminate in irreversible decline of renal function. This "tubule-first" paradigm represents a fundamental shift from the classical glomerulocentric model and redefines the conceptual framework of DKD progression. Traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）， with its inherent advantages of multi-component synergy， multi-target engagement， and systemic homeostatic regulation， has demonstrated compelling renoprotective effect， particularly in preserving tubular integrity and function， mitigating tubular cellular stress， and indirectly alleviating glomerular hemodynamic burden. Accumulating preclinical and clinical evidence supports the efficacy of numerous single herbs and standardized formulae of TCM in attenuating tubulointerstitial injury and slowing down DKD progression. This review systematically delineates the sequential pathogenic cascade-from initial tubular insult to secondary glomerular deterioration-and critically evaluates the mechanism basis and translational potential of TCM-based interventions targeting tubular resilience. We aim to provide a refined pathophysiological rationale and actionable insights for optimizing clinical strategies and accelerating the development of novel therapeutics for DKD.

Diabetic kidney disease （DKD）， a prevalent microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus， is characterized by intricate pathophysiological mechanisms and persistent clinical management challenges. Historically， glomerular injury has been regarded as the central pathological hallmark of DKD， with research predominantly focusing on hyperfiltration， glomerular basement membrane thickening， and podocyte dysfunction. Emerging evidence， however， underscores the renal tubule-not merely as a passive bystander but as an early initiator and pivotal driver-in DKD pathogenesis. Hyperglycemia， metabolic dysregulation， and chronic low-grade inflammation induce tubular epithelial cell injury at early disease stages. Such injury disrupts tubuloglomerular feedback， thereby elevating intraglomerular pressure and sustaining hyperfiltration. Concurrently， injured tubular cells secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and profibrotic factors， promoting epithelia-mesenchymal transition， interstitial hypoxia， and progressive tubulointerstitial fibrosis that ultimately culminate in irreversible decline of renal function. This "tubule-first" paradigm represents a fundamental shift from the classical glomerulocentric model and redefines the conceptual framework of DKD progression. Traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）， with its inherent advantages of multi-component synergy， multi-target engagement， and systemic homeostatic regulation， has demonstrated compelling renoprotective effect， particularly in preserving tubular integrity and function， mitigating tubular cellular stress， and indirectly alleviating glomerular hemodynamic burden. Accumulating preclinical and clinical evidence supports the efficacy of numerous single herbs and standardized formulae of TCM in attenuating tubulointerstitial injury and slowing down DKD progression. This review systematically delineates the sequential pathogenic cascade-from initial tubular insult to secondary glomerular deterioration-and critically evaluates the mechanism basis and translational potential of TCM-based interventions targeting tubular resilience. We aim to provide a refined pathophysiological rationale and actionable insights for optimizing clinical strategies and accelerating the development of novel therapeutics for DKD.

ObjectiveThis paper aims to observe the syndrome improvement and negative antigen conversion rate of Qingxuan Daozhi formula in the treatment of influenza in children （heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome）. MethodsThrough a multi-center randomized controlled methodology design，confirmed influenza cases were collected from October 2022 to April 2023 in the pediatrics department of eight hospitals，such as Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. A total of 180 children with influenza and heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome conforming to the standard were recruited through the clinic. The sick children meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into groups by a block-randomized method. The children in the experimental group were treated with Qingxuan Daozhi formula for five days，and those in the control group were treated with Oseltamivir Phosphate Granules for five days. The primary efficacy indicator was the negative conversion rate of influenza antigen detection. Secondary efficacy indicators were the Canadian acute respiratory illness and flu scale （CARIFS） and the incidence of complications，severe cases， and critical cases. Follow-up observation was conducted on the day of enrollment，48 hours after medication，72 hours after medication， and （6+1） d after medication. ResultsOne hundred and eighty participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group （90 cases） or the control group （90 cases）. All participants were followed up during the study. Comparison of influenza antigen detection results in the primary efficacy indicators showed that the average time of negative influenza antigen conversion in the experimental group was （5.29±1.25） d，and that in the control group was （5.40±1.68） d，without a statistically significant difference. After five days of intervention，52 cases in the experimental group and 51 cases in the control group converted to negative，without a statistically significant difference. CARIFS score results in the secondary efficacy indicators showed that during 72 hours after intervention，there were statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in three dimensions， including headache，muscle soreness， and the need for extra care （P<0.05）. On the （6+1） days after the intervention，the differences in both the experimental group and the control group were statistically significant in 10 dimensions， including sore throat，bad sleep，uncomfortable feeling，poor spirit and fatigue，crying more than usual，the need for extra care，symptom，function，influence on parents，and total score （P<0.05）. The comparison results within the group in the dimensional scores of symptom， function， and influence on parents，as well as the CARIFS total score showed that with the delay of follow-up time，scores of both groups decreased significantly，with a statistically significant difference （P<0.01）. Inter-group comparison results showed that the mean score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group at the time of enrollment. With the progress of intervention，the score of the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group. At the end of follow-up，the mean score of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group，with no statistically significant difference. In terms of the incidence of complications，severe cases， and critical cases， there were no complications，severe cases， and critical cases in the two groups，without a statistically significant difference. ConclusionThe symptom improvement effect and negative antigen conversion rate of Qingxuan Daozhi formula in the treatment of influenza in children （heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome） are not inferior to Oseltamivir Phosphate granules， and children's acceptance is better. It can be more widely used in clinical treatment of influenza in children （heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome）.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Haizao Yuhu Tang regulates the nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 （NR4A1）signaling pathway to modulate CD8-positive T lymphocyte （CD8⁺T） cell exhaustion-mediated immune escape in transgenic mice with papillary thyroid carcinoma （PTC）. MethodsSixty C57BL/6J mice carrying the conditional BRAF^V600E point mutation were randomly assigned to five groups （n=12）： Model， low-dose （7.28 g·kg^-1·d^-1） Haizao Yuhu Tang， medium-dose （14.56 g·kg^-1·d^-1） Haizao Yuhu Tang， high-dose （29.12 g·kg^-1·d^-1） Haizao Yuhu Tang， and vemurafenib （PLX4032， 0.02 g·kg^-1·d^-1）. In addition， 12 BRAF^V600E-negative mice were selected as the control group. All the groups received continuous intervention for 8 weeks. After treatment， the thyroid tumor weight and volume of mice in each group were measured. Hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining was performed to observe the morphological characteristics of thyroid tumors. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was adopted to quantify the serum levels of interferon-γ （IFN-γ）， interleukin-2 （IL-2）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9 （CXCL9）， and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 （CXCL10）. Flow cytometry was employed to determine the proportion of cytotoxic CD8⁺T cells in the tumor tissue. Western blot and real-time PCR were employed to determine the protein and mRNA levels， respectively， of molecules related to the NR4A1 signaling pathway. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group showed significantly increased thyroid tumor volume and weight （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose Haizao Yuhu Tang groups and the vemurafenib group exhibited varying degrees of reduction in thyroid tumor volume and weight （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with the medium-dose Haizao Yuhu Tang group and the vemurafenib group showing the most pronounced therapeutic effects （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose Haizao Yuhu Tang groups and the vemurafenib group showed increased serum levels of IFN-γ， IL-2， TNF-α， CXCL9， and CXCL10， decreased mRNA and protein levels of NR4A1， Programmed cell death-1 （PD-1）， and Programmed cell death-ligand 1 （PD-L1）， and enhanced cytotoxic activity of CD8⁺T cells （P<0.05， P<0.01） Among these groups， the medium-dose Haizao Yuhu Tang group exhibited the optimal therapeutic effects. In addition， compared with that in the model group， T-cell factor-1 （TCF-1） expression was increased in the low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose Haizao Yuhu Tang groups （P<0.01）， whereas no significant change in TCF-1 expression was observed in the vemurafenib group. ConclusionHaizao Yuhu Tang may restore the cytotoxic function of CD8⁺T cells by inhibiting the NR4A1 signaling pathway， thereby suppressing immune evasion in PTC and delaying PTC growth.

Objective:To understand the epidemiological characteristics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in Shandong province from 2010 to 2022, analyze the trends in morbidity and mortality, and provide a scientific basis for the prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment of SFTS.Methods:The data on SFTS cases and deaths were retrospectively collected through the China Disease Control and Prevention Information System′s infectious disease surveillance system and the Shandong province all-cause mortality surveillance system. Descriptive epidemiological method was used for epidemiological analysis, and the Joinpoint regression model was applied to analyze trends in morbidity and mortality.Results:From 2010 to 2022, 6 714 SFTS cases were reported in Shandong, with an average crude incidence rate (CIR) and age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of 0.52/100 000 and 0.43/100 000, respectively. Among these, 1, 064 cases died within 30 days of onset, with an average crude mortality rate (CMR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of 0.08/100, 000 and 0.06/100 000, respectively, and an average case fatality rate of 15.85%. The average incidence rates for males and females were 0.52/100 000 and 0.53/100 000, respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05). The average annual mortality rate for males (0.09/100 000) was higher than that for females (0.08/100 000), and the average annual case fatality rate for males (17.21%) was higher than that for females (14.48%), with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05); 93.95% of the cases were over 45 years old, and 86.56% of the deaths were over 60 years old. Both cases and deaths were primarily among farmers, accounting for over 85% of the total. From 2010 to 2022, the incidence rate of SFTS in Shandong showed an overall upward trend, with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) in CIR of 23.58% and an AAPC in ASIR of 19.97%, P<0.05. The mortality rate of SFTS cases in Shandong from 2010 to 2022 showed a continuous and significant upward trend, with a CMR AAPC of 27.64% and an ASMR AAPC of 22.70%, P<0.05. SFTS incidence and mortality in Shandong exhibited clear seasonality, with high occurrence from May to October, primarily concentrated in the Jiaodong Peninsula and the hilly areas of central Shandong. The number of affected counties increased in a wave-like pattern, expanding from 6 in 2010 to 79 in 2021 for cases and from 2 in 2010 to 53 in 2022 for deaths. Conclusions:From 2010 to 2022, the incidence and mortality of SFTS in Shandong showed an upward and expanding trend, with a particularly heavy disease burden among middle-aged and elderly farmers.

Objective:To screen high risk children for lysosomal storage diseases (LSD) in southern China and analyze the spectrum characteristics of LSD in this region.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 7 435 children at high risk of LSD were screened at Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University from January 2009 to December 2024. The activities of 22 lysosomal enzymes from peripheral blood leukocytes or plasma were measured by fluorescence or colorimetric assays with synthetic substrates to screen for 24 LSD subtypes.Results:Among the 7 435 high risk children, 759 children were diagnosed with LSD (10.2%). The diagnosed cases included 506 males and 253 females, with an age at diagnosis of 3.0 (2.5, 5.5) years. The common disease types were mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) (390 cases (51.4%)), sphingolipidoses (269 cases (35.4%)), glycogen storage disease (62 cases (8.2%)), and mucolipidosis types Ⅱ and Ⅲ (29 cases (3.8%)). Among the positive cases, 21 disease subtypes were identified. The 5 frequent subtypes, in descending order, were MPS type Ⅱ (197 cases (26.0%)), Gaucher disease (111 cases (14.6%)), MPS type ⅣA (87 cases (11.5%)), glycogen storage disease type Ⅱ (62 cases (8.2%)), and metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) (49 cases (6.5%)). The rarest subtypes were mannosidosis, multiple sulfatase deficiency and Wolman disease, each with 1 case (0.1%).Conclusions:Enzyme activity screening is essential for diagnosing high risk children with LSD. In Southern China, the most common LSD subtypes are MPS Ⅱ, Gaucher disease, MPS ⅣA, glycogen storage disease type Ⅱ, and MLD, while mannosidosis, multiple sulfatase deficiency and Wolman disease are the rarest.

Objective:To evaluate the characteristics of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and its role in diagnosis and disease activity monitoring.Methods:A total of 66 IBD children admitted to Beijing Children′s Hospital from December 2017 to August 2024 were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, another 20 age-matched children who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy during the same period in the same hospital and showed no abnormalities were selected as the controls. Clinical data of IBD and control group were collected. Children with IBD were divided into active group and remission group according to clinical score and endoscopic score. The peripheral blood of IBD and control group were collected, and the levels of NET markers, including neutrophil elastase (NE) and myeloperoxidase (MPO)-DNA were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of NET markers in control group and different IBD groups were compared. Independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for group comparisons. Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for multiple group comparisons. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between NET markers and IBD activity. The efficacy of laboratory indicators in diagnosing IBD and control group was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:There were 66 children with IBD, including 36 in Crohn′s disease group with the age of (11.0±3.7) years, and 30 in ulcerative colitis (UC) group with the age of (8.3±5.0) years. The control group consisted of 20 children with the age of (10.1±3.5) years. Compared with control group, the levels of NE (958 (771, 1 328) vs. 303 (196, 501) μg/L) and MPO-DNA (0.11 (0.09, 0.18) vs. 0.09 (0.06, 0.12)) in peripheral blood of IBD group were significantly higher (both P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the levels of NE (1 008 (863, 1 301) vs. 807 (567, 1 535) μg/L) and MPO-DNA (0.11 (0.09, 0.21) vs. 0.12 (0.09, 0.14)) between Crohn′s disease and UC groups (both P>0.05). The NE levels in the endoscopic active group and remission group of Crohn's disease were higher than those in the control group (both P<0.05). The MPO-DNA level in the endoscopic active group of Crohn's disease was higher than that in the control group ( P<0.05), while the MPO-DNA level in the endoscopic remission group of Crohn's disease was lower than that in the control group ( P>0.05). The NE levels in the endoscopic activity group and remission group of UC were higher than those in control group (both P<0.05). NET markers were not correlated with the clinical activity and endoscopic activity of IBD (all P>0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of NE combined with MPO-DNA for distinguishing IBD from controls was 0.95, with a sensitivity was 90.0% and a specificity was 89.4%. Conclusion:The combination of NE and MPO-DNA demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing pediatric IBD patients from healthy children, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic biomarker panel of IBD.

Turning to critical illness is a common stage of various diseases and injuries before death. Patients usually have complex health conditions, while the treatment process involves a wide range of content, along with high requirements for doctor′s professionalism and multi-specialty teamwork, as well as a great demand for time-sensitive treatments. However, this is not matched with critical care professionals and the current state of medical care in China. Telemedicine, which shortens the distance of medical professionals and the gap of disease diagnosis and treatments in various regions through electronic information, can effectively solve the current problem. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a standardized, high-quality visualization telemedicine round system .Therefore, experts have been organized to search domestic and foreign literature on telemedicine round for critically ill patients and to form this consensus based on clinical experiences so as to further improve the level of critical care treatments in regions.