Diabetic cardiomyopathy （DCM） is a common chronic complication of diabetes， categorized as consumptive thirst in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， and it subsequently gives rise to chest impediment. DCM is characterized by a complex pathogenesis and exhibits long-term progression with poor prognosis in clinical practice. Astragali Radix， as a medicinal material with edible value， possesses diverse active components including saponins， polysaccharides， and flavonoids. It has the effects of tonifying Qi， elevating Yang， promoting fluid production， nourishing blood， expressing toxin， and expelling pus. Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that Astragali Radix and its active components exert therapeutic effects in various aspects such as inhibition of inflammation， alleviation of stress injury， regulation of programmed cell death， modulation of glucose and lipid metabolism， inhibition of myocardial fibrosis， and regulation of gut microbiota and metabolites， treating DCM in a multi-component， multi-target， and multi-pathway manner. The compatibility of Astragali Radix exerts both synergistic and antagonistic effects. The compound preparations and extracts of Astragali Radix are widely used in clinical practice， and the development of novel nano and gel materials and extracellular vesicles helps to improve the oral bioavailability， providing more possibilities for the clinical application of Astragali Radix in DCM， though its potential for clinical translation requires ongoing exploration. This review summarizes the TCM theoretical basis of Astragali Radix in the treatment of DCM， and integrates modern pharmacological research results to delve into the effects and mechanisms of the herb combinations， compound preparations， extracts， and new composite materials of Astragali Radix in the treatment of DCM， aiming to provide a reference for in-depth research and new drug development of Astragali Radix for DCM.

The recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) can be used for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) preparation before ¹³¹I therapy, and follow-up. Since its approval by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998, rhTSH has been clinically used in European countries, the United States, and other countries for nearly 30 years. In April 2024, China’s first independently developed rhTSH agent was approved. Based on clinical experience and evidence from domestic and international studies, an expert consensus on the application of rhTSH has been developed following thorough consultations among experts. The consensus offers evidence-based recommendations to guide the appropriate use of rhTSH in clinical practice.

Objective:To investigate the effects of melatonin(Mel)on inflammatory damage in the retina of rats with oxygen-induced retinopathy(OIR)and the molecular mechanisms.Methods:Healthy neonatal SD rats were di-vided into the sham group(Sham),the model group(OIR),and the melatonin treatment group(OIR+Mel).The OIR model was induced by alternating 50%/10%oxygen concentration exposure for 14 d.The OIR+Mel group was in-jected intraperitoneally with 10 mg-kg-1 melatonin.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the morpho-logical changes in the retinal tissue;immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of retinal cleaved-caspase-1 and IL-1β proteins;and immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of cGAS-STING-NL-RP3 signaling molecules and gasdermin(GSDMD)in the microglia of the retina.Results:HE staining results showed that compared with the Sham group,the retinal cells in the OIR group were disorganized and the thickness of the inner retina was significantly thinner,and the retinal cells in the OIR+Mel group were more neatly arranged compared with those in the OIR group(P<0.05).Immunohistochemical staining results showed that the number of cleaved-caspase-1+and IL-1β+cells in the retina of rats in the OIR group increased significantly compared with that in the Sham group,and the number of cleaved-caspase-1+and IL-1β+cells in the retina of rats in the OIR+Mel group decreased signifi-cantly compared with that of the OIR group(P<0.05).Immunofluorescence staining results showed that the number of cGAS+,STING+and NLRP3+cells in the retina of rats in the OIR group increased significantly compared with that in the Sham group,and the number of cGAS+,STING+and NLRP3+cells in the retina of rats in the OIR+Mel group de-creased significantly compared with that in the OIR group(P<0.05);The number of Iba-1+/N-GSDMD+cells in-creased significantly in the OIR group compared with the Sham group,whereas the number of Iba-1+/N-GSDMD+cells in the OIR+Mel group was significantly less than that in the OIR group,but still more than that in the Sham group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Mel inhibits the pyroptosis of retinal microglia,thus attenuates retinal inflammatory injury in OIR rats,and its mechanism may be related to the cGAS-STING-NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Nanopore sequencing,as a representative of third-generation sequencing technology,is widely used in molecular biology research.It offers several advantages,including high throughput,ultra-long read lengths,real-time sequencing,and the absence of amplification and labeling requirements.This technology has been applied for the detection of various pathogens,genomic typing,structural variation analysis,and personalized treatment guidance,making it valuable for pathogen monitoring and medical research.This article focuses on the principles of nanopore sequencing technology,its advantages,and its applications in molecular biology and molecular medicine.The limitations of nanopore sequencing and its future development directions are also summarized,providing new perspectives for further research in this field.

Objective To explore the relationship of metabolic comorbidities and insulin resistance(IR)with chronic kidney disease(CKD)among elderly individuals undergoing health exam.Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 8358 older adults who took health exam in Chinese PLA General Hospital between December 2009 and May 2021.According to the guidelines for CKD diagnostic criteria,they were divided into CKD group(983 cases)and non-CKD(7375 cases).Clinical data was collected,and the eGDR was calculated.Quasi-Bayesian method was used for causal mediation analysis.Results The prevalence of metabolic comorbidi-ties including hypertension,CHD,DM,hyperlipidemia,and hyperuricemia was significantly higher in the CKD group than the non-CKD group(P＜0.01).The eGDR was obviously lower in the CKD group than the non-CKD group[6.88±2.09 mg/(kg·min)vs 8.41±2.12 mg/(kg·min),P＜0.01].Logistic regression analysis revealed that,without adjusting covariates,each 1-unit increase in eGDR was associated with a 29％reduction in the risk of developing CKD(OR=0.714,95％CI:0.691-0.738,P＜0.01),and after adjusting covariates,eGDR remained signifi-cantly negatively association with the risk of CKD(P＜0.01).Mediation analysis indicated that DM and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity accounted for the highest proportions of the mediating effect in the relationship between eGDR and CKD(14.2％and 12.5％,respectively).Conclusion In the elderly population undergoing health exam,reduced insulin sensitivity is significantly asso-ciated with the development of CKD.Diabetes and arteriosclerosis exert mediating effect in this association.

Objective To investigate the correlation between arterial stiffness(AS)and incident chronic kidney disease(CKD)among the elderly individuals taking health checkup.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 857 elderly individuals without CKD at baseline who taking physical exams in our medical center from December 2009 to May 2021.Their clinical and labora-tory data were collected.Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV)was used to assess the se-verity of AS,and then the subjects were divided into normal elasticity group(201 cases),and moderate(490 cases)and severe AS group(166 cases).Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to dis-play cumulative incidence rates of incident CKD across different AS groups.Restricted cubic splines(RCS)and Cox regression models were applied to analyze the correlation of baPWV and incident CKD risk.Results The severe AS group had significantly advanced age,greater ratio of hypertension,larger waist circumference,higher HR,SBP and DBP,increased urinary albumin/creatinine ratio(UACR),elevated levels of TG and fasting blood glucose,and baPWV than the normal elasticity group(P＜0.05).During the follow-up period,37 participants developed CKD.The incidence of CKD was obviously higher in the severe AS group than the normal arterial elas-ticity group(9.04％vs 3.48％).RCS analysis revealed a U-shaped relationship between baPWV and incident CKD risk.When baPWV ≥1 400 cm/s,each standard deviation increase in baPWV indicates the risk of incident CKD increasing by 71％(HR=1.71,95％CI:1.30-2.25,P＜0.01).Regardless of adjustment for covariates or not,baPWV remained positive correlation with inci-dent CKD risk(P＜0.05).Conclusion Among the elderly individuals undergoing health check-up,increased AS severity is significantly associated with higher risk of incident CKD when baP-WV ≥1400 cm/s.

Objective:To identify circulating proteins associated with cardiovascular, renal, and cardiorenal comorbidity events in individuals with metabolic syndrome, to construct a predictive model incorporating these proteins to improve prediction accuracy and to investigate their mediating effects on the interplay between cardiovascular and renal diseases.Methods:Data from the UK Biobank cohort were utilized. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to identify circulating proteins associated with various outcomes, followed by time-truncated sensitivity analyses. A predictive model incorporating protein scores was then developed using the LightGBM algorithm and compared with other models. Gene Ontology(GO) functional enrichment analysis was performed to explore the biological pathways of the identified proteins. Finally, mediation effect analysis was conducted to assess the role of circulating proteins in cardiorenal interactions. Results:The Cox analysis identified 180, 275, and 322 circulating proteins associated with cardiovascular events, renal events, and cardiorenal comorbidity events, respectively. Incorporating protein scores significantly improved model performance; the areas under the curve(AUC) for cardiovascular, renal, and cardiorenal events were 0.833, 0.907, and 0.890, respectively. GO functional enrichment analysis demonstrated significant enrichment in pathways such as cytokine activity(GO: 0005125), glycosaminoglycan binding(GO: 0005539), and humoral immune response(GO: 0006959) among all outcome-related proteins. Notably, EDA2R, GDF15, and WFDC2 exhibited significant mediating effects, each with mediation proportions exceeding 10%. Conclusions:A predictive model incorporating circulating protein scores can substantially improve prediction accuracy for cardiovascular and renal outcomes in individuls with metabolic syndrome.

For differentiated thyroid cancer(DTC),which accounts for over 90%of cases and usually has a good prognosis,bone metastasis is not only the main threat to patients'survival and quality of life,but also a difficult problem that needs to be solved urgently in clinical diagnosis and treatment at this stage.Currently,existing clinical guidelines at home and abroad have not yet provided comprehensive management recommendations and precise diagnostic and treatment strategies for bone metastasis in thyroid cancer,making it imperative to promote the implementation of systematic and personalized diagnostic and treatment plans.Therefore,understanding epidemiological characteristics,clarifying the pathogenesis,mastering commonly used diagnostic techniques,exploring the latest treatment progress and evaluating treatment efficacy are crucial for the management of bone metastasis in thyroid cancer.In terms of pathogenesis,bone metastasis in thyroid cancer is mostly osteolytic,regulating the interaction between the bone microenvironment and cancer cells through the release of various cytokines,thus forming a vicious cycle of bone metastasis.Early identification of bone metastasis in DTC is crucial for improving patient prognosis.Its diagnosis can be based on clinical manifestations(such as bone pain,pathological fractures,spinal cord compression and hypercalcemia),laboratory tests(such as red blood cell and platelet counts,serum calcium/phosphorus and bone turnover markers),and imaging examination results[such as X-ray,computed tomography(CT),magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT)/CT,and positron emission tomography(PET)/CT].The treatment of DTC bone metastasis involves multiple modalities,such as surgical treatment,interventional radiological treatment and external beam radiation therapy for local lesions,or the use of radionuclides(131I,89Sr and 153Sm),tyrosine kinase inhibitors(lenvatinib,sorafenib,etc.),or bone-targeting agents(including zoledronic acid,denosumab and 99Tc-methylene diphosphonate)to control the development of systemic bone metastasis.After the treatment of DTC bone metastasis,an efficacy evaluation should be conducted to guide subsequent treatment decisions and predict prognosis.With the increasingly mature multidisciplinary collaborative diagnosis and treatment model today,the diagnosis and treatment of bone metastatic DTC should include surgery,nuclear medicine,radiation and interventional therapy,external beam radiation therapy,medical oncology and clinical laboratory testing to ensure a comprehensive assessment of the patient's condition,make objective decisions on individualized treatment plans,and achieve the goal of preventing disease progression and alleviating symptoms.This article mainly reviewed the epidemiology,pathogenesis,diagnostic methods,treatment strategies and efficacy evaluation of bone metastasis,aiming to clarify the diagnostic and treatment thinking of bone metastasis in thyroid cancer,assist in clinical management,and provide useful references for clinicians to make rapid and accurate diagnosis and precise treatment decisions when facing patients with bone metastatic DTC.

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanisms of combined prescriptions of essential oils from five traditional Chinese medicinal herbs,namely peppermint,turmeric,ginger,Tibetan fennel,and cumin,on symptoms related to functional abdominal pain syndrome(FAPS).Methods Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)was employed to analyze the chemical constituents of five essential oils,while network pharmacology was utilized to predict the key targets and signaling pathways associated with these essential oils in alleviating functional abdominal pain syndrome.A formula design methodology centered on these core targets and signaling pathways was developed for creating new prescriptions.Molecular docking technology was conducted to predict its the underlying mechanisms.Subsequently,animal experiments were performed to assess pharmacological activity,including hot plate tests and acetic acid-induced writhing assays to validate the analgesic effects of the newly formulated prescription,as well as xylene-induced ear swelling tests to evaluate its anti-inflammatory properties.The impact of the essential oil formulation on intestinal peristaltic function was examined through intestinal propulsion experiments.Additionally,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)methods were employed to measure levels of serotonin(5-HT),prostaglandin E2(PGE2),and gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)in brain tissue.Western blot analysis was conducted to determine protein expression levels of TPH1 and SERT in the intestine,along with TPH2 and SERT in the brain.Results The main chemical components in five essential oils were identified and screened(peppermint:12,turmeric:8,ginger:14,cumin:2,fennel:6).Based on the network pharmacology analysis,four new essential oil prescriptions were successfully designed according to the complementary relationship between the five essential oils in improving functional abdominal pain syndrome at the target level,including 4 new prescription named Prescription A,B,C and D,these four prescriptions were all based on ginger and turmeric essential oils,with other essential oils serving as supplements or enhancements.The results of animal experiments showed that Prescription D could significantly reduce the writhe frequency of mice(P<0.05),all the four groups could significantly prolong the pain threshold of mice(P<0.05),and Prescription C had a significant effect on reducing the degree of ear swelling(P<0.05).The prescription of essential oil did not significantly affect the function of peristalsis and the speed of propulsion.The levels of 5-HT and PGE2 in the brain tissue were significantly inhibited(P<0.05),and the level of GABA was significantly increased(P<0.05).Prescription C could reduce the expression of TPH1 in the intestinal tissue(P<0.05),Prescription A,C and D could reduce the expression of TPH2,and all groups had a tendency to increase the expression of SERT in the brain tissue.Conclusion In summary,the therapeutic effects of the four novel prescriptions composed of the five essential oils demonstrated potential in improving symptoms related to FAPS,the mechanism might be through modulating abnormalities in the brain-gut axis system.

Objective:To investigate the effects of melatonin(Mel)on inflammatory damage in the retina of rats with oxygen-induced retinopathy(OIR)and the molecular mechanisms.Methods:Healthy neonatal SD rats were di-vided into the sham group(Sham),the model group(OIR),and the melatonin treatment group(OIR+Mel).The OIR model was induced by alternating 50%/10%oxygen concentration exposure for 14 d.The OIR+Mel group was in-jected intraperitoneally with 10 mg-kg-1 melatonin.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the morpho-logical changes in the retinal tissue;immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of retinal cleaved-caspase-1 and IL-1β proteins;and immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of cGAS-STING-NL-RP3 signaling molecules and gasdermin(GSDMD)in the microglia of the retina.Results:HE staining results showed that compared with the Sham group,the retinal cells in the OIR group were disorganized and the thickness of the inner retina was significantly thinner,and the retinal cells in the OIR+Mel group were more neatly arranged compared with those in the OIR group(P<0.05).Immunohistochemical staining results showed that the number of cleaved-caspase-1+and IL-1β+cells in the retina of rats in the OIR group increased significantly compared with that in the Sham group,and the number of cleaved-caspase-1+and IL-1β+cells in the retina of rats in the OIR+Mel group decreased signifi-cantly compared with that of the OIR group(P<0.05).Immunofluorescence staining results showed that the number of cGAS+,STING+and NLRP3+cells in the retina of rats in the OIR group increased significantly compared with that in the Sham group,and the number of cGAS+,STING+and NLRP3+cells in the retina of rats in the OIR+Mel group de-creased significantly compared with that in the OIR group(P<0.05);The number of Iba-1+/N-GSDMD+cells in-creased significantly in the OIR group compared with the Sham group,whereas the number of Iba-1+/N-GSDMD+cells in the OIR+Mel group was significantly less than that in the OIR group,but still more than that in the Sham group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Mel inhibits the pyroptosis of retinal microglia,thus attenuates retinal inflammatory injury in OIR rats,and its mechanism may be related to the cGAS-STING-NLRP3 signaling pathway.