ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Xiaozhi Qinggan decoction （XQD） in preventing and treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease （MASLD） by regulating ferroptosis， network pharmacology， in vitro and in vivo experiments. MethodsIn the in vivo experiment， mouse MASLD models were established by high-fat diet （HFD） induction. The model mice were randomly assigned to a positive control group （silybin， 50 mg·kg^-1）， low-， medium- and high-dose XQD groups （4.725， 9.45， 18.9 g·kg^-1）， with a normal control group. After 4 weeks of modeling， mice except the normal group were administered intragastrically for 8 consecutive weeks. Liver function， serum lipid levels， hepatic histopathology， as well as the levels of malondialdehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， reduced glutathione （GSH） and oxidized glutathione （GSSG） and Fe²⁺ were detected. The mRNA and protein expression of p53， SLC7A11 and GPX4 were determined by quantitative Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） and Western blot. In the network pharmacology analysis， active components and potential targets of XQD for MASLD were screened， followed by functional and pathway enrichment analyses， and molecular docking was performed to verify the target binding activity. In the in vitro experiment， the optimal concentration of XQD-containing serum was screened by cytotoxicity assay. HepG2 cells were transfected with ov-NC or ov-p53 plasmid， and a lipid accumulation model was induced by free fatty acid （FFA， 1.0 mmol·L^-1）. Cells were divided into a normal group， FFA model group， ov-NC+XQD （15%） group and ov-p53+XQD （15%） group. Intracellular Fe²⁺ level and lipid accumulation were evaluated， and the protein expression of p53， SLC7A11 and GPX4 was measured by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group exhibited markedly elevated body weight， liver weight， liver index， fasting blood glucose， AUC of glucose tolerance test， serum liver function and blood lipid levels at week 12 （P<0.01）. Hepatic steatosis and inflammatory infiltration were observed by pathological staining. Additionally， hepatic levels of MDA， SOD and Fe²⁺ were increased （P<0.01）， while GSH， GSSG and the GSH/GSSG ratio were decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression of hepatic p53 was upregulated （P<0.01）， whereas the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was downregulated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the low- and medium-dose XQD groups showed significantly decreased body weight at week 12 （P<0.05）. The silybin group， together with the medium- and high-dose XQD groups， presented reduced liver weight and liver index （P<0.05）. Fasting blood glucose and the AUC of glucose tolerance test were lowered in all four treatment groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Pathological staining revealed alleviated hepatic steatosis and inflammation， accompanied by decreased serum liver function and blood lipid levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， hepatic MDA and SOD levels were markedly reduced， while GSH， GSSG and the GSH/GSSG ratio were significantly elevated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Hepatic Fe²⁺ level was decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression of hepatic p53 was downregulated， and the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was upregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Network pharmacology analysis identified quercetin， kaempferol， luteolin， tanshinone IIA and isorhamnetin as the core active components of XQD， with p53 serving as the key target. Stable binding was verified between these active components and the p53 protein. The optimal concentration of XQD-containing serum in vitro was determined to be 15%. Compared with the normal group， the model group showed increased intracellular Fe²⁺ and lipid accumulation， significantly upregulated p53 protein expression （P<0.01）， and markedly downregulated SLC7A11 and GPX4 protein expression （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the ov-NC group exhibited reduced Fe²⁺ and lipid accumulation， downregulated p53 expression， and upregulated SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression. In the ov-p53 group， p53 expression was upregulated （P<0.01）， while SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression was downregulated （P<0.01）. ConclusionXQD inhibits ferroptosis by downregulating p53 and upregulating SLC7A11 and GPX4， thereby alleviating oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes and improving MASLD.

It is believed that patients with cirrhotic ascites exhibit a pathological mechanism characterized by the decline of healthy qi and the accumulation of pathogenic factors. Clinically， treatment should be based on the theory of tonification and purging， with a staged approach distinguishing between the active phase and the remission phase. The balance between tonification and purging should be adjusted according to the progression of pathogenic and healthy actors. In the acute phase， purging should take precedence over tonification， using purging as a means of tonification to facilitate the flow of water and qi through the triple energizer. The severity of water retention， dampness， blood stasis， and heat should be carefully assessed to ensure thorough elimination of pathogenic factors while avoiding harm to healthy qi. Medication adjustments should be made once the pathogenic factors are significantly weakened. In the remission phase， an integrated approach combining both tonification and purging should be adopted， incorporating purging within tonification to clear residual pathogens and prevent recurrence. Concurrently， proactive treatment of the underlying disease is essential to achieve complete recovery and prevent the recurrence of ascites.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Yifei Jianpi prescription on the of signal transducer and activator of transcription protein 1 （STAT1）/interferon regulatory factor 3 （IRF3） signaling pathway in a pneumonia model induced by lipopolysaccharide （LPS） and to explore the mechanism of Yifei Jianpi prescription in improving lung immune and inflammatory responses. MethodsSixty male SPF SD rats were used in this study. Ten rats were randomly assigned to the normal control group， and the remaining 50 were instilled with LPS in the trachea to establish a pneumonia model. After successful modeling， the rats were randomly divided into the model group， dexamethasone group （0.5 mg·kg^-1）， and Yifei Jianpi prescription high-dose （12 mg·kg^-1）， medium-dose （6 mg·kg^-1）， and low-dose （3 mg·kg^-1） groups， with 10 rats in each group. Treatment was administered once daily， and the normal control and model groups received the same volume of normal saline. After 14 days， flow cytometry was used to detect the classification of whole blood lymphocytes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure serum levels of immunoglobulin G （IgG）， immunoglobulin A （IgA）， immunoglobulin M （IgM）， and the content of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-8 （IL-8）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-10 （IL-10） in alveolar lavage fluid （BALF）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe lung tissue pathology and score the damage. Thymus weight， spleen weight， and wet-to-dry weight ratio （W/D） were recorded. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression of STAT1， IRF3， IL-6， and interferon-alpha （IFN-α） in lung tissues， while Western blot was performed to assess the protein expression of STAT1， IRF3， IL-6， and IFN-α. ResultsCompared with the normal control group， the model group showed significantly increased proportion of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood， decreased proportions of NK cells and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ （P<0.05， P<0.01）， decreased serum levels of IgG and IgA， significantly increased IgM levels （P<0.01）， significantly elevated content of TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-8 in BALF， and significantly decreased IL-10 levels （P<0.01）. Lung tissue damage was evident， with significant increases in thymus and spleen weights and a higher W/D ratio （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression of STAT1， IRF3， IFN-α， and IL-6 in lung tissues was significantly upregulated （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Yifei Jianpi prescription groups showed significantly reduced proportions of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood， increased proportions of NK cells and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratios （P<0.05， P<0.01）， significantly increased serum levels of IgG and IgA， significantly decreased IgM levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， significantly reduced levels of TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-8 in BALF， and significantly increased IL-10 levels （P<0.01）. Lung tissue damage was alleviated， thymus and spleen weights were significantly reduced， and the W/D ratio was markedly decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression of STAT1， IRF3， IFN-α， and IL-6 in lung tissues was significantly downregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionYifei Jianpi prescription can alleviate lung tissue damage and improve immune and inflammatory responses in LPS-induced pneumonia rats. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of STAT1/IRF3 signaling pathway activation.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Tangning Tongluo tablets in the treatment of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy （DR）. MethodsFourteen research centers participated in this study， which spanned a time interval from September 2021 to May 2023. A total of 240 patients with nonproliferative DR were included and randomly assigned into an observation group （120 cases） and a control group （120 cases）. The observation group was treated with Tangning Tongluo tablets， and the control group with calcium dobesilate capsules. Both groups were treated for 24 consecutive weeks. The vision， DR progression rate， retinal microhemangioma， hemorrhage area， exudation area， glycosylated hemoglobin （HbA1c） level， and TCM syndrome score were assessed before and after treatment， and the safety was observed. ResultsThe vision changed in both groups after treatment （P<0.05）， and the observation group showed higher best corrected visual acuity （BCVA） than the control group （P<0.05）. The DR progression was slow with similar rates in the two groups. The fundus hemorrhage area and exudation area did not change significantly after treatment in both groups， while the observation group outperformed the control group in reducing the fundus hemorrhage area and exudation area. There was no significant difference in the number of microhemangiomas between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， the number of microhemangiomas decreased in both the observation group （Z=-1.437， P<0.05） and the control group （Z=-2.238， P<0.05）， and it showed no significant difference between the two groups. As the treatment time prolonged， the number of microhemangiomas gradually decreased in both groups. There was no significant difference in the HbA1c level between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， the decline in the HbA1c level showed no significant difference between the two groups. The TCM syndrome score did not have a statistically significant difference between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， neither the TCM syndrome score nor the response rate had significant difference between the two groups. With the extension of the treatment time， both groups showed amelioration of TCM syndrome compared with the baseline. ConclusionTangning Tongluo tablets are safe and effective in the treatment of nonproliferative DR， being capable of improving vision and reducing hemorrhage and exudation in the fundus.

ObjectiveTo investigate the inhibitory effect of Huoluo Xiaolingdan on triple negative breast cancer （TNBC） in mice through its regulation of TCF1⁺CD8⁺ stem cell-like T cells infiltration. MethodsA mouse model of TNBC was established and the mice were randomly divided into the model group， low-dose （3.9 g·kg^-1）， medium-dose （7.8 g·kg^-1） and high-dose （15.6 g·kg^-1） Huoluo Xiaolingdan groups， and anti-PD-1 antibody treatment group. Each group was given a dose of 0.01 mL·g^-1， while the model group and the anti-PD-1 treatment group were also given an equivalent volume of normal saline. The drug was administered for 21 days. In the anti-PD-1 antibody group， mice were intraperitoneally injected with 100 μg of mouse anti-PD-1 antibody twice a week， for a total of five injections. The tumor volume， survival time and tumor mass were measured at different time points. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the histological changes of the tumor. The expression of CD8⁺T cells and TCF1⁺CD8⁺ stem-like T cells in tumor tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. Flow cytometry was used to detect the difference of immune cell subsets in tumors and the expression difference of TCF1⁺CD8⁺ stem cell-like T cells in tumors and peripheral blood. The expression level of PD-L1 in tumor tissues was detected by Western blot. ResultsCompared with model group， the tumor volume and mass of in low-， medium- and high-dose Huoluo Xiaolingdan groups and anti-PD-1 group were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The median survival time of mice in low-， medium- and high-dose Huoluo Xiaolingdan groups and anti-PD-1 group was as follows： 27.00 days （95%CI， 0.45-2.65）， 31.00 days （95%CI， 0.32-1.89）， 34.00 days （95%CI， 0.40-2.33）， and 35.00 days （95%CI， 0.42-2.47）. All of them were higher than that of the model group ［24.50 days （95%CI， 0.37-10.5）］. Flow cytometry showed that compared with the model group， the proportion and number of infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells in tumor were increased in low-， medium- and high-dose Huoluo Xiaolingdan groups and anti-PD-1 group （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the proportion of tumor regulatory T cells （Treg） and M2 macrophages decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the proportion of IFN-γ⁺CD8⁺ T and GrzB⁺CD8⁺ T cells in tumors in low-， medium- and high-dose Huoluo Xiaolingdan groups and anti-PD-1 group was increased （P<0.01）， and the proportion of TCF1⁺CD8⁺ T cells in tumor and peripheral blood was also increased. Immunofluorescence staining further showed that the number of TCF1⁺CD8⁺ T cells in tumor tissues increased in low-， medium- and high-dose Huoluo Xiaolingdan groups. Western blot analysis showed no significant decrease in the PD-L1 protein expression in tumor tissues between the Huoluo Xiaolingdan groups and the model group. ConclusionHuoluo Xiaolingdan can inhibit TNBC in mice by increasing tumor infiltration of TCF1⁺CD8⁺ stem-like T cells， enhancing CD8⁺ T cell activity， and regulating immune cell subgroups such as M2 macrophages and Treg cells to enhance anti-tumor immunity. This study provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of Huoluo Xiaolingdan in breast cancer treatment and combination therapy.

ObjectiveThis paper aims to systematically collect and organize ancient and modern clauses and studies containing Xieqingwan， excavate and analyze the key information of Xieqingwan， and provide a reference for facilitating the development of the classic formula Xieqingwan. MethodsThe composition， dosage， decocting methods， usage， and other key information of Xieqingwan in ancient traditional Chinese medicine books were collected and analyzed by means of literature research and metrological methods. The modern clinical application of Xieqingwan was summarized. ResultsA total of 42 pieces of effective data involving 32 ancient traditional Chinese medicine books were collected. Xieqingwan was first recorded in Xiaoer Yaozheng Zhijue. The drug origin of this formula is basically clear in the ancient traditional Chinese medicine books. The modern drug usage and decocting method were as follows： Angelicae Sinensis Radix， Gentianae Radix et Rhizoma， Chuanxiong Rhizoma， Gardenia seeds， Radix et Rhizoma Rhei， Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix， and Saposhnikoviae Radix were grounded to fine powder， decocted with honey， and finally formed into pills with the size of a chicken head （1.5 g）. It was suggested that half a pill or one pill were taken for one dose with warm Lophatheri decoction and sugar. The indications and clinical application had developed from the recordings in Xiaoer Yaozheng Zhijue and evolved from pediatrics to ophthalmic otolaryngology， neurology， dermatology， digestion， and respiratory diseases. The main pathogenesis of these diseases is heat in the liver meridian and is treated. The effect of Xieqingwan is "clearing away heat and toxicity， removing fire and relaxing the bowels， and dispersing swelling and relieving pain". It is recommended to use the corresponding preparation methods in the 2020 Edition of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. Modern clinical studies are centered around the clinical application of Xieqingwan， which is often modified and used in treating Tourette syndrome， herpes， febrile convulsion， sleepwalking， and insomnia. ConclusionThis paper conducts a thorough textual research of the key information of Xieqingwan， induces its historic evolution， and confirms its key information， so as to provide a reference for the future development of Xieqingwan.

Background Arsenic is an environmentally harmful substance that causes hepatic insulin resistance and liver damage, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Objective To explore whether the insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) is involved in insulin resistance in HepG2 cells after arsenic exposure through the peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) / glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) pathway. Methods Cell viability was determined using cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) and an appropriate NaAsO₂ infection dose was determined. A cellular arsenic exposure model of HepG2 cells was established by four concentrations of NaAsO₂ solution for 24 h (the experiment was divided into four groups: 0, 2, 4, and 8 μmol·L⁻¹); HepG2 cells were firstly treated with pcDNA3.1-IGF2BP2 and pcDNA3.1-NC respectively for 6 h, then with 8 μmol·L⁻¹ NaAsO₂ for 24 h to establish a IGF2BP2 overexpression cell model (the experiment was divided into 4 groups: control, NaAsO₂, NaAsO₂+pcDNA3.1-IGF2BP2, and NaAsO₂+pcDNA3.1-NC); finally the cells were subject to 100 nmol·L⁻¹ insulin stimulation for 30 min. Glycogen and glucose in HepG2 cells were determined by glycogen and glucose assay kits; mRNA expression levels of IGF2BP2 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR; protein expression levels of IGF2BP2, PPAR-γ, and GLUT4 in HepG2 were detected by Western blot (WB); and the binding of IGF2BP2 to PPAR-γ and PPAR-γ to GLUT4 was verified by co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP) experiment. Results The results of CCK8 experiment showed a dose-effect relationship between NaAsO₂ concentration and cell viability. When the concentration of NaAsO₂ was ≥4 μmol·L⁻¹ , the cell viabilities were lower than that of the control group (P <0.05). With the increasing dose of NaAsO₂ infection, reduced glucose consumption and glycogen levels in HepG2 cells were found in the 2, 4, and 8 μmol·L⁻¹ NaAsO₂ treatment groups compared to the control group (P <0.05). The difference between the mRNA expression level of IGF2BP2 in the HepG2 cells treated with 4 or 8 μmol L⁻¹ NaAsO₂ and the control group was significant (P <0.05). In the IGF2BP2 overexpression cell model, compared with the control group, glucose consumption and glycogen levels were lowered in the NaAsO₂ group (P <0.05), the mRNA expression level of IGF2BP2 and the protein expression levels of IGF2BP2, PPAR-γ, and GLUT4 in the cell membrane were all decreased (P <0.05). Compared with the NaAsO₂ group, the glucose consumption and glycogen levels were increased in the NaAsO₂+pcDNA3.1-IGF2BP2 group (P <0.05), and the mRNA expression level of IGF2BP2 and the protein expression levels of IGF2BP2, PPAR-γ, and GLUT4 in the cell membrane were all increased (P <0.05). The results of CO-IP experiments showed that IGF2BP2 interacted with PPAR-γ as well as PPAR-γ with GLUT4 protein. Conclusion IGF2BP2 is involved in arsenic exposure-induced insulin resistance in HepG2 cells by acting on the PPAR-γ/GLUT4 pathway.

Intestinal fibrosis is a significant clinical challenge in inflammatory bowel diseases, but no effective anti-fibrotic therapy is currently available. Glucagon receptor (GCGR) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP1R) are both peptide hormone receptors involved in energy metabolism of epithelial cells. However, their role in intestinal fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Herein GCGR and GLP1R were found to be reduced in the stenotic ileum of patients with Crohn's disease as well as in the fibrotic colon of mice with chronic colitis. The downregulation of GCGR and GLP1R led to the accumulation of the metabolic byproduct lactate, resulting in histone H3K9 lactylation and exacerbated intestinal fibrosis through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Dual activating GCGR and GLP1R by peptide 1907B reduced the H3K9 lactylation in epithelial cells and ameliorated intestinal fibrosis in vivo. We uncovered the role of GCGR/GLP1R in regulating EMT involved in intestinal fibrosis via histone lactylation. Simultaneously activating GCGR/GLP1R with the novel dual agonist peptide 1907B holds promise as a treatment strategy for alleviating intestinal fibrosis.

High-performance phototheranostics with combined photothermal therapy and photoacoustic imaging have been considered promising approaches for efficient cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, developing phototheranostic materials with efficient photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE), especially over the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm), remains challenging. Herein, we report an ultraefficient NIR-II-activated nanomedicine with phototheranostic and vaccination capability for highly efficient in vivo tumor elimination and metastasis inhibition. The NIR-II nanomedicine of a semiconducting biradical oligomer with a motor-flexible design was demonstrated with a record-breaking PCE of 87% upon NIR-II excitation. This nanomedicine inherently features extraordinary photothermal stability, good biocompatibility, and excellent photoacoustic performance, contributing to high-contrast photoacoustic imaging in living mice and high-performance photothermal elimination of tumors. Moreover, a whole-cell vaccine based on a NIR-II nanomedicine with NIR-II-activated performance was further designed to remotely activate the antitumor immunologic memory and effectively inhibit tumor occurrence and metastasis in vivo, with good biosafety. Thus, this work paves a new avenue for designing NIR-II active semiconducting biradical materials as a promising theranostics platform and further promotes the development of NIR-II nanomedicine for personalized cancer treatment.

Obesity usually exacerbates the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITME), hindering CD8⁺ T cell infiltration and function, which further represents a significant barrier to the efficacy of immunotherapy. Herein, a multifunctional liposomal system (CR-Lip) for encapsulating celastrol (CEL) was utilized to remodel obesity-related ITME and improve cancer immunotherapy, wherein Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) was detected interspersed in the phospholipid bilayer and its glycosyl exposed on the surface of the liposome. CR-Lip had a relatively uniform size (116.5 nm), facilitating favorable tumor tissue accumulation through the interaction between Rg3 and glucose transporter 1 overexpressed in obese tumor cells. Upon reaching the tumor region, CR-Lip was found to induce the immunogenic cell death (ICD) of HFD tumor cells. Notably, the level of PHD3 in HFD tumor cells was effectively boosted by CR-Lip to effectively block metabolic reprogramming and increase the availability of major free fatty acids fuel sources. In vivo, experiments studies revealed that the easy-obtained nano platform stimulated enhanced the production of various cytokines in tumor tissues, DC maturation, CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration, and synergistic anticancer therapeutic potency with aPD-1 (tumor inhibition rate = 82.1%) towards obesity-related melanoma. Consequently, this study presented an efficacious approach to tumor immunotherapy in obese mice by encompassing tumor eradication, inducing ICD, and reprogramming metabolism. Furthermore, it offered a unique insight into a valuable attempt at the immunotherapy of obesity-associated related tumors.