ObjectiveTo investigate the potential mechanism of Danggui Buxuetang （DBT） in the treatment of vascular dementia （VAD）. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomly assigned to the sham-operated group， model group， DBT low-， medium-， and high-dose groups， and the donepezil group. Except for the sham-operated group， rats in all other groups underwent bilateral common carotid artery ligation. After successful modeling， DBT was administered at doses of 9.2， 18.4， 36.8 g·kg^-1 for the low-， medium-， and high-dose groups， respectively， while the donepezil group received 3 mg·kg^-1 donepezil solution by gavage once daily. After 4 consecutive weeks of drug treatment， rats underwent the Morris water maze test， novel object recognition test， Nissl staining to observe hippocampal neurons， and immunofluorescence staining to detect the expression of neuronal nuclear protein （NeuN） in the hippocampus. Western blot was used to assess the expression of PTEN-induced kinase 1 （PINK1）， Parkin， microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3Ⅱ （LC3Ⅱ）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， and Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe hippocampal neuronal ultrastructure. Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of NADPH oxidase subunits p22^phox and p47^phox in hippocampal tissues. The levels of malondialdehyde （MDA）， glutathione （GSH）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， and total antioxidant capacity were measured to evaluate oxidative stress levels. ResultsIn the Morris water maze test， escape latency changed significantly over time in all groups except the model group. Compared with the sham-operated group， the model group showed significantly prolonged escape latency （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， rats in the DBT groups and the donepezil group exhibited significantly shorter escape latency （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The number of crossings over the original platform was significantly reduced in the model group compared with the sham-operated group （P<0.01）， whereas rats in the DBT and donepezil groups showed significantly increased platform crossings compared with the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the sham-operated group， exploration time of new objects was significantly reduced in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， exploration time of new objects increased significantly in the medium- and high-dose DBT groups and the donepezil group （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while no significant change was observed in the low-dose DBT group. Compared with the high-dose DBT group， rats in the donepezil group had significantly prolonged escape latency and reduced platform crossings and new-object exploration time （P<0.05）. Nissl staining showed decreased density of healthy neurons in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus in the model group， with loss of Nissl bodies and nuclear atrophy or disappearance. In the high-dose DBT group， neuronal density in CA1 and CA3 increased， with neurons arranged closely and displaying normal morphology. Immunofluorescence showed that compared with the sham-operated group， the hippocampal NeuN⁺ cell count in the VAD model group was significantly decreased（P<0.01）， compared with the VAD model group， the hippocampal NeuN⁺ cell count in the high-dose DBT group was significantly increased（P<0.01）. Compared with the sham-operated group， the expression of PINK1， Parkin， LC3Ⅱ， and Bax proteins was significantly increased（P<0.01）， while the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased in the VAD model group（P<0.01）. Compared with the VAD model group， the high-dose DBT group showed significantly decreased expression of PINK1， Parkin， LC3Ⅱ， and Bax proteins（P<0.01）and significantly upregulated Bcl-2 expression（P<0.01）. The medium-dose DBT group exhibited significantly reduced expression of Parkin， LC3Ⅱ， and Bax proteins（P<0.05，P<0.01） and significantly increased Bcl-2 expression（P<0.01）， while no statistically significant differences were observed in the low-dose DBT group. Transmission electron microscopy showed mitochondrial pyknosis， thickened cristae， increased electron density， and the presence of mitochondrial autophagy in the model group. In contrast， hippocampal neurons in the high-dose DBT group contained abundant mitochondria with intact morphology， clear cristae， and uniform matrix. Compared with the sham-operated group， total antioxidant capacity， SOD activity， and GSH levels were significantly decreased， while MDA levels were significantly increased in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， total antioxidant capacity and antioxidant levels （SOD， GSH） increased significantly， and MDA decreased significantly in the medium- and high-dose DBT groups （P<0.01）， while no significant changes were observed in the low-dose DBT group. Compared with the sham-operated group， mRNA expression of p22^phox and p47^phox was significantly increased in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， expression of p22^phox and p47^phox was significantly decreased in the DBT groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionDBT may exert neuroprotective effects by regulating PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitochondrial autophagy， thereby improving learning and memory abilities and treating VAD.

Parkinson’s disease （PD） is a common chronic neurodegenerative disease with movement disorders as the main clinical manifestation. The nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）/heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） signaling pathway is closely associated with the occurrence and progression of PD. TCM flavonoid monomers （luteolin， rutin， etc.）， alkaloids （camptothecin， sinomenine， and alkaloids extracted from Uncaria rhynchophylla）， terpenes （tanshinone ⅡA， carvacrol， paeoniflorin）， phenols （ellagic acid， rosmarinic acid）， saponins （ginsenoside RK1）， and traditional Chinese medicine compounds （Wuzi yanzong pill and PD formula-2） can resist oxidative stress damage， inhibit inflammatory responses and abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein， and regulate neurotrophic factors by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway， thereby alleviating dopaminergic neuronal damage.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of intelligent temperature-pressure-controlled flexible ureteroscopy combined with negative-pressure suction sheath lithotripsy in the treatment of upper urinary tract stones ≤2.5 cm. Methods: The clinical data of 225 patients with ≤2.5 cm upper urinary tract stones treated with this surgical method in our department during Aug. 2023 and Jul. 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the dual-control group (n=36) and conventional group (n=189) according to whether or not the intelligent temperature and pressure control device was used during operation. In the dual-control group，the intraoperative temperature and pressure in the renal pelvis were monitored and controlled in real time by the temperature and pressure sensors distributed at the end of the ureteral soft lens. The perioperative parameters，stone-removal rate，complication rate and renal function were compared between the two groups. Results: All operations were successfully completed in both groups. The postoperative procalcitonin (PCT) level [(22.75±5.85) ng/L vs. (29.08±6.60) ng/L，P=0.001]，difference in the white blood cell (WBC) level [(0.24±2.12)×10 cells/L vs. (1.19±2.17)×10 cells/L，P=0.016]，incidence of fever (2.8% vs. 16.9%，P=0.028) and overall complication rate (5.6% vs. 19.6%，P=0.042) were significantly lower in the dual-control group than in the conventional group，while the stone-clearance rate was slightly higher (88.9% vs. 82.5%，P=0.346)，with no significant difference. Conclusion: For upper urinary tract stones ≤2.5 cm，intelligent temperature-pressure-controlled ureteroscopy combined with negative-pressure suction sheath lithotripsy has a satisfactory stone-removal rate and a low rate of complications，which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective: To identify the phenotypes, antibodies and explore the molecular mechanisms of a patient who carries antibodies to RBC high-frequency antigens and his family members. Methods: The antibody identification test was performed for the proband by serological methods, and targeted NGS was subsequently used to detect mutations that occurred in blood group genes. Blood samples were collected from the proband and his family members. Sanger sequencing was used to verify the mutation of the XK gene. The expression of Kell blood group antigens was detected by serological methods and flow cytometry. K cells were used to detect the antibody specificity of the proband. The morphology of red blood cells was detected by the scanning electron microscopy. The serum creatine kinase levels of the proband and his family members were analyzed by colorimetric methods. Results: The results of the antibody identification test suggested that the proband might have antibodies to high-frequency antigens. NGS results suggested a homozygous mutation (c. 107G>A) in exon 1 of the XK gene in the proband, resulting in a truncated XK protein. The Sanger sequencing results of the proband were consistent with the NGS results, and the mutation was not found in other family members. The expression of Kell blood group antigens of the proband was not found by serological methods and flow cytometry. The results of the antibody specificity test showed that the proband had anti-Km antibodies. Spike-like changes were identified on red blood cells, and serum creatine kinase level was elevated in the proband. Conclusion: In this study, the McLeod phenotype caused by homozygous mutation (c. 107G>A) of XK gene was identified in Chinese individuals for the first time by the phenotype and molecular mechanism studies. The results of genotyping and phenotyping suggested that the McLeod phenotype caused by the mutation was compatible with the phenotypes of McLeod and K .

ObjectiveCardiovascular diseases pose a major public health challenge in China. The burden of cardiovascular disease associated with high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） has increased steadily nationwide. A comprehensive analysis of secular trends in cardiovascular disease burden and its determinants is crucial for developing targeted interventions and evidence-based health policies. MethodsBased on data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021， we analyzed the trends in deaths， disability-adjusted life years （DALYs）， age-standardized mortality rates （ASMR）， and age-standardized DALY rates （ASDR） of cardiovascular diseases attributable to high LDL-C in China from 1990 to 2021 using Joinpoint regression analysis. An age-period-cohort model was applied to assess the contributions of age， period， and cohort effects to changes in the cardiovascular disease burden attributable to high LDL-C. Projections of the high LDL-C-attributable cardiovascular disease burden in China from 2022 to 2030 were generated using a Bayesian age-period-cohort model. ResultsBetween 1990 and 2021， China saw a substantial rise in both deaths and disability-adjusted life years （DALYs） from cardiovascular disease linked to high LDL-C. Joinpoint regression revealed key turning points in this trend： an overall increase continued until 2004， after which the burden began to fall starting in 2011. Throughout this period， age-standardized mortality and DALY rates were consistently higher in males than in females. Age-period-cohort analysis further indicated that mortality and DALY rates due to high LDL-C increased almost exponentially with age， while period and cohort risks generally decreased over time. Projections suggest a continued decline in age-standardized mortality rates from LDL-C-related cardiovascular disease for both Chinese men and women by 2030. ConclusionRapid population growth and accelerated ageing in China emerge as primary drivers of the escalating cardiovascular diseases burden linked to elevated LDL-C. The burden of cardiovascular diseases is higher in men compared to women. By 2030， the burden of cardiovascular disease caused by high LDL-C in China will remain severe. These findings underscore the critical need for gender-specific screening protocols， age-tailored interventions， and personalized management frameworks to mitigate this public health challenge.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in China has recently been increasing year by year,and spontaneous skin ulcers in diabetic patients,as one of the most serious complications,often develop on the patient's extremities represented by foot ulcers.Due to the complexity and variety of its pathogenesis,it leads to poor clinical outcomes and difficulty in healing.Thus,pa-tients often face the risk of amputation and death.Therefore,the exploration of mechanisms of the vascular pathogenesis of diabetic delayed-healing wounds and targeted screening of therapeutic agents has become a current research hotspot.Herein,in this paper,we briefly review the role of impaired angiogenesis and vascular dysfunction in diabetic skin ulcers,and the research progress of classical hypoglycemic and natural compounds against vascular lesions is preliminarily summarized to provide a theoretical basis for effective clinical treatment.

By reviewing the research history on quality comparison between wild and cultivated Chinese crude drugs， this paper systematically combed the relevant research reports since the 1950s， and summarized and analyzed the results of existing comparative studies， and found that the existing comparative research on the quality of wild and cultivated Chinese crude drugs were mainly focused on several aspects， including characteristics， microstructures， chemical compositions， pharmacodynamic effects， and genetic diversity. Among these， comparative studies of chemical compositions have been the dominant approach， with a particular emphasis on comparing the contents of index components. However， research on pharmacodynamic effects remained relatively limited. Due to various factors such as sample quantity， sample origin， growth period and cultivation methods， the differences in quality between wild and cultivated Chinese crude drugs vary significantly. In general， most wild Chinese crude drugs exhibited higher quality than cultivated products， with significant differences in their characteristics. The contents and proportions of some chemical components underwent noticeable changes， particularly with a marked increase in the proportion of primary metabolites after cultivation. The quality of cultivated Chinese crude drugs is closely related to the cultivation practices employed. Chinese crude drugs produced through wild nurturing， simulated wild planting， ecological cultivation， and other similar methods demonstrate quality levels comparable to those of wild Chinese crude drugs. Based on the analysis results， it is recommended to explicitly specify the cultivation practices and cultivation period of cultivated Chinese crude drugs in comparative studies of the quality between wild and cultivated Chinese crude drugs. Multiple technical approaches， including characteristics， microscopy， non-targeted metabolomics combined with quantitative analysis of differential components， and bioefficacy evaluation， should be employed to comprehensively assess the quality disparities between wild and cultivated Chinese crude drugs. Moreover， research efforts should be intensified to investigate the changes in pharmacodynamic effects resulting from differences in plant cell wall composition， primary metabolites， and secondary metabolites， in order to guide the production of high-quality Chinese crude drugs.

The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanism by which triptolide(TP)ameliorates inflammation in adjuvant arthritis(AA)rats by inhibiting pyroptosis through the lncRNA GAS5/miR-21/TLR4 signaling axis.Rats were divided into 4 groups:normal control group(NC),model control group(MC),triptolide group(TP)and methotrexate group(MTX),with 6 rats in each group.The AA rat model was established,and the general state,right foot-plantar swelling and arthritis index were observed;HE staining was used to detect the histopathological morphology of synovial joints of rats in each group;ELISA was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β,IL-6,IL-18 and TNF-α;fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of Caspase-1,IL-1β,NLRP3,GSDMD,GAS5,TLR4,NF-κB and miR-21;and Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of Caspase-1,NLRP3,GSDMD,NF-κB,Caspase-4 and TLR4 proteins.Compared with the NC group,rats in the MC group showed significantly higher levels of swelling,arthritis index(P<0.05)and inflammatory cell infiltration;compared with the MC group,the levels of IL-1β,IL-6,IL-18 and TNF-α were decreased in the TP and MTX groups(P<0.05),and the levels of Caspase-1,IL-1β,NLRP3,GSDMD,TLR4,NF-κB,miR-21 mRNA expression decreased,GAS5 mRNA expression increased(P<0.05),and the protein levels of Caspase-1,NLRP3,GSDMD,NF-κB,Caspase-4 and TLR4 decreased(P<0.05);compared with the MTX group,the TP group showed lower levels of IL-1β,IL-6,IL-18,TNF-α(P<0.05),and lower expression levels of Caspase-1,IL-1β,NLRP3,GSDMD,TLR4,NF-κB and miR-21 mRNA(P<0.05).In conclusion,triptolide may inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory factors and inhibit pyroptosis through the lncRNA GAS5/miR-21/TLR4 signaling axis,thus ameliorate inflammation in AA rats.

ObjectiveIn order to understand the quality differences between wild and cultivated Bupleurum chinense（BC）， modern analytical techniques were used to systematically compare the quality of wild and cultivated BC in terms of appearance characteristics， primary and secondary metabolites. MethodSamples of wild and cultivated BC were collected from the main production areas of Shanxi， Shaanxi and Hebei， and images of BC were collected and their length and diameter were measured using vernier caliper to compare and analyze the characteristics of the two. Referring to the method under extract of CP in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia， the extract contents of the two species were determined. The cellulose， hemicellulose and lignin compositions of both were determined using fiber analyzer. Quantitative determination of representative saikosaponins， flavonoids and saccharides in BC by ultra performance liquid chromatography（UPLC）， headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（HS-GC-MS） was used to determine the types and relative contents of volatile components， and UPLC-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS） coupled with multivariate statistical analysis was used to screen and identify the differential compounds between wild and cultivated BC. ResultThere were significant differences in the appearance characteristics between wild and cultivated BC， the wild BC had a large root head， twisted and thick axial root， rough epidermis， and often had a stem base and lateral root with dark color and strong odor. However， the cultivated BC has long and straight taproots， delicate epidermis， few lateral roots， light root color and light smell. In terms of primary and secondary metabolites， the contents of alcohol-soluble extract and lignin of wild BC was significantly higher than those of cultivated BC， while the contents of water soluble extract and quercitrin was higher than those of cultivated BC， but the difference was not significant. The contents of cellulose， five saikosaponins， rutin， narcissoside and isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside in cultivated BC were significantly higher than those of wild BC， and the total water-soluble polysaccharides， sucrose， hemicellulose and starch of cultivated BC were higher than those of wild BC， but the difference was not significant. The results of HS-GC-MS identification showed that a total of 67 volatile components were identified in wild and cultivated BC， 59 in wild BC and 51 in cultivated BC， with a total of 43 compounds in both， and the screening based on variable importance in the projection（VIP） value>1 revealed that the differential components were mainly concentrated in the aromatic and fatty acid compounds. The results of UPLC-Q-TOF-MS-based non-targeted metabolomics combined with multivariate statistical analysis showed that the two were significantly different in saikosaponins and the differential compounds had higher response values in cultivated BC. ConclusionThere are significant differences in the appearance， primary and secondary metabolite contents between wild and cultivated BC. At present， the quality evaluation system of cultivated BC is not perfect， and this study provides theoretical references for updating and revising the quality evaluation standard of cultivated BC and guiding the production of high-quality BC.

Objective To improve the performance of auto-segmentation of prostate target area and organs-at-risk in online magnetic resonance image and enhance the efficiency of magnetic resonance imaging-guided adaptive radiotherapy(MRIgART)for prostate cancer.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 40 patients who underwent MRIgART for prostate cancer,including 25 in the training set,5 in the validation set,and 10 in the test set.The planning CT images and corresponding contours,along with online MR images,were registered and input into a deep learning network for online MR image auto-segmentation.The proposed method was compared with deformable image registration(DIR)method and single-MR-input deep learning(SIDL)method.Results The overall accuracy of the proposed method for auto-segmentation was superior to those of DIR and SIDL methods,with average Dice similarity coefficients of 0.896 for clinical target volume,0.941 for bladder,0.840 for rectum,0.943 for left femoral head and 0.940 for right femoral head,respectively.Conclusion The proposed method can effectively improve the accuracy and efficiency of auto-segmentation in MRIgART for prostate cancer.