Breast cancer has become the malignant tumor with the highest incidence rate among women， seriously threatening the life and health of women all over the world. The pathogenic factors and development mechanisms of breast cancer are complex and diverse. The development of breast cells from ordinary hyperplasia to atypical hyperplasia， and from pre-cancerous lesions to cancerous lesions， is a long-term progressive process. Therefore， early screening and prevention of breast cancer is particularly important. Western medicine has a relatively mature treatment program for breast cancer， which is mainly based on surgery and systemic treatment， whereas the ensuing complications and adverse reactions often bring a heavy burden to patients. For the precancerous lesions of breast cancer， surgery is also the mainstay of treatment. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has increasingly highlighted its advantages in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Increasing studies have shown that in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and pre-cancerous lesions， TCM compound prescriptions， single herbs or herb pairs， and active components are able to regulate a variety of intracellular signaling pathways through multi-targets to inhibit the proliferation and invasion， promote the apoptosis and autophagy of tumor cells， and regulate the cell cycle and the immune microenvironment， thus exerting anti-tumor effects. At the same time， they can significantly attenuate the toxic side effects of radiotherapy and drug resistance of patients. However， the specific mechanisms of TCM in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and precancerous lesions have not been fully clarified. The available studies are tanglesome regarding the TCM inhibition of tumor development through the regulation of classical signaling pathways such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， Wnt/β-catenin， and Notch， which still need to be verified by a large number of clinical and experimental studies. Therefore， this paper reviews the research progress in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and precancerous lesions by TCM through interfering with the relevant signaling pathways in recent years， aiming to summarize the possible mechanisms of TCM in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and provide references for subsequent studies.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential mechanism by which Juanxiao decoction improves bronchial asthma （hereinafter referred to as “asthma”） based on the nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome signaling pathway. METHODS Female SD rats were randomly assigned to normal group， model group and Juanxiao decoction low-， medium- and high-dose groups （0.36， 0.72 and 1.44 g/kg， calculated based on crude drug weight）， as well as positive control group （Dexamethasone acetate tablets， 0.2 mg/kg）， with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， asthma models were established in the remaining groups via intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin combined with aluminum hydroxide， followed by nebulized inhalation of ovalbumin. On day 14 of the experiment， rats in each group received intragastric administration of the corresponding solution or normal saline， once a day， for 7 consecutive days. Following the final administration， the following parameters were measured in each group： lung function indexes （forced vital capacity， forced expiratory volume in 0.3 second， peak expiratory flow）， serum levels of inflammatory markers （interleukin-1β， interleukin- 18）， and the percentages of inflammatory cells （lymphocytes， eosinophils， neutrophils） in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Histopathological changes in lung tissue were observed， and the protein and mRNA expressions of nuclear factor-kappa B （NF- κB）， NLRP3 and caspase-1 in lung tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with the normal group， pathological changes such as alveolar wall thickening and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in rats in the model group. All pulmonary function indicators were significantly reduced in rats in the model group and the administration groups. The levels of inflammatory markers， the percentages of inflammatory cells， and the protein and mRNA expressions of NF-κB， NLRP3 and caspase-1 were significantly elevated or up-regulated （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， pathological changes in rats in each dosage group of Juanxiao decoction were significantly alleviated， and all quantitative indicators showed dose-dependent improvements （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Juanxiao decoction can reduce airway inflammatory responses in asthmatic rats， alleviate lung function impairment， and improve pathological changes such as inflammatory cell infiltration. Those effects may be related to the inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the action mechanism by which Banxia Xiexintang （BXT） inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） in chronic atrophic gastritis （CAG） rats by regulating the interleukin-17（IL-17）/extracellular regulated protein kinases（ERK）/CCAAT enhancer binding protein β（C/EBPβ）signaling pathway， thereby providing new theoretical evidence for the treatment of CAG with classic traditional Chinese medicine formulas. MethodsA CAG rat model was established by using the combined factor method. After successful modeling， the rats were randomly divided into the model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （0.549， 1.098， 2.196 g·kg^-1， respectively） of BXT， and the positive drug group （vitacoenzyme， 0.3 g·kg^-1）. A normal control group was also set up. After 8 weeks of intervention， the pathological changes of gastric tissue were evaluated. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the contents of IL-17， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2）， and C/EBPβ in serum， as well as the contents of EMT markers in gastric mucosal tissue including E-cadherin， N-cadherin， and vimentin. The immunohistochemistry method was employed to determine the localization and protein expression levels of IL-17， p-ERK， and C/EBPβ in gastric mucosal tissue. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and its phosphorylated form （p）-ERK in gastric mucosa. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was applied to measure the mRNA expression levels of ERK， COX-2， and C/EBPβ in gastric mucosa. ResultsCompared with those in the normal control group， the rats in the model group showed gastric mucosal glandular atrophy and inflammatory cell infiltration. The protein and their related mRNA expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and p-ERK in gastric mucosa were significantly increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IL-17， TNF-α， COX-2， and C/EBPβ in serum were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The contents of N-cadherin and vimentin in gastric mucosal tissue were significantly increased， while the content of E-cadherin was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， after intervention with different doses of BXT， the pathological damage of the gastric mucosa was improved to varying degrees. The protein and mRNA expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and p-ERK in gastric mucosa were significantly reduced （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IL-17， TNF-α， COX-2， and C/EBP β in serum were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The contents of N-cadherin and vimentin in gastric mucosa tissue were decreased， while the content of E-cadherin was increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionBXT can effectively improve the pathological damage of gastric mucosal tissue in CAG rats. Its action mechanism may be related to reducing the levels of IL-17 and TNF-α in serum， regulating the IL-17/ERK/C/EBPβ signaling pathway and inhibiting the EMT process.

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and disease burden of liver cancer in Guangdong Province in 2020, and to provide a scientific foundation for the development of regionalized prevention and control strategies for liver cancer. Methods According to the cancer registry data of Guangdong Province, the incidence, mortality and age-standardized rate by Chinese standard population in 2020 were calculated to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of liver cancer. The disability adjusted life years (DALYs), year of life loss (YLL), year of lived with disability (YLD), and cause-eliminated life expectancy were used to assess the disease burden of liver cancer. Results In 2020, the crude incidence rate and the age-standardized incidence rate of liver cancer in Guangdong Province were 27.79/100 000 and 20.84/100 000，respectively, and the crude mortality rate and the age-standardized mortality rate of liver cancer were 25.49/100,000 and 17.64/100 000, respectively. The total DALY and DALY rate of liver cancer in Guangdong Province were 515 311 person-years and 513.83/100 000, respectively. After eliminating the causes of death from liver cancer, the life expectancy in Guangdong Province increased from 84.60 years to 84.99 years. All indicators consistently demonstrated that the burden of liver cancer was higher in males than that in females, and the burden of liver cancer was higher in rural areas than that in urban areas. Conclusion Liver cancer in Guangdong Province exhibits a high incidence, mortality and disease burden level in 2020. There are obvious differences of gender, age and region in cancer burden. It is necessary to strengthen liver cancer screening and diagnosis and treatment in men, the elderly and those in rural areas to reduce the burden of liver cancer gradually in Guangdong Province.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms by which the combination of berberine （BBR） and baicalin （BAI） ameliorates type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） due to internal accumulation of dampness-heat from the perspectives of gut microbiota and metabolomics. MethodsAntibiotics were used to induce pseudo-sterile mice. Thirty pseudo-sterile mice were randomized into a normal fecal microbiota transplantation group （n=10） and a T2DM （syndrome of internal accumulation of dampness-heat） fecal microbiota transplantation group （n=20）. The mice were then administrated with suspensions of fecal microbiota from healthy volunteers and a patient with T2DM due to internal accumulation of dampness-heat by gavage， respectively. Each mouse received 200 µL suspension every other day for a total of 15 times to reshape the gut microbiota. The T2DM model mice were then assigned into a model group （n=8） and a BBR-BAI group （n=11）. BBR was administrated at a dose of 200 mg·kg^-1， and BAI was administrated in a ratio of BBR-BAI 10∶1 based on preliminary research findings. The administration lasted for 8 consecutive weeks. Fasting blood glucose （FBG）， glycated hemoglobin （HbA1c）， insulin （INS）， triglycerides （TG）， total cholesterol （CHOL）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， and alanine aminotransferase （ALT） levels were measured to evaluate the effects of the BBR-BAI combination on glucose and lipid metabolism and liver function in T2DM mice. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe pathological changes in the colon tissue. The expression of claudin-1， zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1）， and occludin in the colon tissue was determined by Western blot. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） was employed to assess the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and interleukin-6 （IL-6） in the colon tissue. The fecal microbiota composition and differential metabolites were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-Q-TOF-MS）， respectively. ResultsThe BBR-BAI combination lowered the FBG， HbA1c， and INS levels （P<0.05， P<0.01） and alleviated insulin resistance （P<0.01） in T2DM mice. Additionally， BBR-BAI elevated the levels of ZO-1， occludin， and claudin-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and down-regulated the expression levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 in the colon （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The results of 16S rRNA sequencing showed that BBR-BAI increased the relative abundance of Ligilactobacillus， Phascolarctobacterium， and Akkermansia （P<0.05）， while significantly decreasing the relative abundance of Alistipes， Odoribacter， and Colidextribacter （P<0.05）. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS identified 28 differential metabolites， which were primarily involved in arachidonic acid metabolism and α-linolenic acid metabolism. ConclusionBBR-BAI can ameliorate T2DM due to internal accumulation of dampness-heat by modulating the relative abundance of various bacterial genera in the gut microbiota and the expression of fecal metabolites.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) released the "2024 ESC guidelines for the management of elevated blood pressure and hypertension" on August 30, 2024. This guideline updates the 2018 "Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension." One notable update is the introduction of the concept of "elevated blood pressure" (120-139/70-89 mm Hg). Additionally, a new systolic blood pressure target range of 120-129 mm Hg has been proposed for most patients receiving antihypertensive treatment. The guideline also includes numerous additions or revisions in areas such as non-pharmacological interventions and device-based treatments for hypertension. This article interprets the guideline's recommendations on definition and classification of elevated blood pressure and hypertension, and cardiovascular disease risk assessment, diagnosing hypertension and investigating underlying causes, preventing and treating elevated blood pressure and hypertension. We provide a comparison interpretation with the 2018 "Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension" and the "2017 ACC/AHA guideline on the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults."

Electromagnetic fields can regulate the fundamental biological processes involved in bone remodeling. As a non-invasive physical therapy, electromagnetic fields with specific parameters have demonstrated therapeutic effects on bone remodeling diseases, such as fractures and osteoporosis. Electromagnetic fields can be generated by the movement of charged particles or induced by varying currents. Based on whether the strength and direction of the electric field change over time, electromagnetic fields can be classified into static and time-varying fields. The treatment of bone remodeling diseases with static magnetic fields primarily focuses on fractures, often using magnetic splints to immobilize the fracture site while studying the effects of static magnetic fields on bone healing. However, there has been relatively little research on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis using static magnetic fields. Pulsed electromagnetic fields, a type of time-varying field, have been widely used in clinical studies for treating fractures, osteoporosis, and non-union. However, current clinical applications are limited to low-frequency, and research on the relationship between frequency and biological effects remains insufficient. We believe that different types of electromagnetic fields acting on bone can induce various “secondary physical quantities”, such as magnetism, force, electricity, acoustics, and thermal energy, which can stimulate bone cells either individually or simultaneously. Bone cells possess specific electromagnetic properties, and in a static magnetic field, the presence of a magnetic field gradient can exert a certain magnetism on the bone tissue, leading to observable effects. In a time-varying magnetic field, the charged particles within the bone experience varying Lorentz forces, causing vibrations and generating acoustic effects. Additionally, as the frequency of the time-varying field increases, induced currents or potentials can be generated within the bone, leading to electrical effects. When the frequency and power exceed a certain threshold, electromagnetic energy can be converted into thermal energy, producing thermal effects. In summary, external electromagnetic fields with different characteristics can generate multiple physical quantities within biological tissues, such as magnetic, electric, mechanical, acoustic, and thermal effects. These physical quantities may also interact and couple with each other, stimulating the biological tissues in a combined or composite manner, thereby producing biological effects. This understanding is key to elucidating the electromagnetic mechanisms of how electromagnetic fields influence biological tissues. In the study of electromagnetic fields for bone remodeling diseases, attention should be paid to the biological effects of bone remodeling under different electromagnetic wave characteristics. This includes exploring innovative electromagnetic source technologies applicable to bone remodeling, identifying safe and effective electromagnetic field parameters, and combining basic research with technological invention to develop scientifically grounded, advanced key technologies for innovative electromagnetic treatment devices targeting bone remodeling diseases. In conclusion, electromagnetic fields and multiple physical factors have the potential to prevent and treat bone remodeling diseases, and have significant application prospects.

Background The neck, shoulders, and lower back are the primary affected areas of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. In manual tasks, combinations of hand functional height (defined as working height below the waist), awkward postures, and cognitive load are common risk factors. However, there is limited literature documenting how these factors specifically alter biomechanical load on the neck, shoulders, and lower back when working at hand functional height. Objective To explore quantitative differences in biomechanical load on the neck, shoulders, and lower back of workers performing manual tasks at hand functional height under different postures and cognitive load combinations. Methods A 3x2 within-subject design was implemented, with three postures (squat, kneeling, and stoop) and two levels of cognitive load (with cognitive load induced by a 2back task and without cognitive load). Ten male university students were recruited to perform a predetermined assembly task (a sequence of loosening and tightening screws) at hand functional height. Surface electromyography (sEMG) and 3D motion capture system were employed to assess the participants’ trunk biomechanical load in executing the tasks. Additionally, subjective perception, including fatigue, muscle pain, and cognitive load, were evaluated using scales. Results Significant variations in biomechanical load were observed across the three postures (P<0.05). The stoop posture exhibited the lowest muscle activation in most target muscles, except for the sternocleidomastoid, and showed the fastest decline in instantaneous median frequency (IMF) of the erector spinae, with a rate of (-0.050±0.008) Hz per unit time (0.128 s), and the greatest trunk flexion angle (35.14°±4.40°). Performing the task by squatting resulted in the highest muscle activation, especially in the upper trapezius, where maximum voluntary contraction percentage reached 20.07%±1.26%. In addition, the squatting posture also resulted in larger joint angles in the sagittal plane for the neck (−7.03°±2.70°), shoulders (60.20°±7.89°), and lower back (34.42°±4.20°). The kneeling posture showed intermediate muscle activation, the slowest IMF decline for the erector spinae in the lower back (−0.005±0.008) Hz per unit time (0.128s), and the joint angles were closest to neutral. The task performance results were also superior in the kneeling posture. Regarding cognitive load, no significant differences were found for most biomechanical indicators, except for subjective cognitive load scores, neck flexion, and shoulder external rotation angles. Conclusion In assembly tasks performed at hand functional height, kneeling results in moderate biomechanical load on the neck, shoulders, and lower back while also improves task performance compared to squatting and forward bending. Additionally, no significant effects of cognitive load under the 2back condition on biomechanical load are observed.

Egg freezing and transfer technology play an important role in addressing the issues of aging and low birthrate. However， current laws adopt a “medical model” that strictly limits this technology to medical purposes.The legal system should shift from a “medical model” to a “social model，” granting women the right to autonomously choose to freeze their eggs for non-medical indications. In conjunction with the implementation of the “social model”， it is necessary to reconstruct the principle of public welfare based on the concept of solidarity， ensuring the accessibility and fairness of technology. Meanwhile， the principle of the best interests of future generations should be prioritized to protect their well-being， and systematic supervision should be improved through the risk-monitoring model. In terms of specific rules， a pre-consultation system should be constructed to guarantee that women are fully informed and have complete self-determination in social egg freezing； the right to know the genetic origins of offspring should be confirmed to ensure that children have the right to access their genetic information； as well as an independent reproductive medicine ethics committee should be established to configure special ethical review rules suitable for egg freezing and transfer， to avoid the risk of technological abuse.