Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）， the predominant subtype of primary liver cancer， ranks among the top in both incidence and mortality rates of malignant tumors in China. In its early stages， the disease may present with subtle or nonspecific symptoms， often leading to poor clinical prognosis and low patient survival rates， which makes it a significant public health concern. The pathogenesis is associated with multiple factors， including hepatitis virus infection， alcohol consumption， obesity， drug-induced liver injury， and immune disorders， which may interact synergistically to promote disease development. Currently， mainstream therapeutic approaches for HCC in modern medicine encompass surgical resection， liver transplantation， radiofrequency ablation， radiotherapy， and chemotherapy， but they all have certain limitations， such as large side effects and poor prognosis， imposing substantial psychological distress and financial strain on affected individuals. With a rich historical background in hepatic malignancy management， traditional Chinese medicine offers therapeutic benefits characterized by multi-targeted mechanisms， multi-level regulation， minimal adverse effects， and reduced likelihood of disease recurrence. It can not only enhance the curative effect， but also reduce the side effects of radiotherapy， chemotherapy， and surgery. Thus， it has attracted widespread attention. Extensive research has demonstrated that traditional Chinese medicine exhibits significant antitumor properties， along with notable anti-inflammatory and oxidative stress-reducing capabilities， and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） signaling pathway， which can affect multiple stages of hepatocarcinogenesis， such as cell proliferation， invasion， metastasis， and apoptosis. The mechanism of NF-κB signaling pathway in traditional Chinese medicine for HCC treatment has emerged as one of the pivotal research directions in current oncology studies. Based on the existing research foundation， a systematic literature review method was adopted to retrieve and analyze relevant Chinese and English literature in recent years. Integrating the molecular regulatory mechanisms of the NF-κB signaling pathway and its pivotal role in HCC pathogenesis and progression helped further explore the latest research advances in traditional Chinese medicine interventions targeting this pathway for HCC treatment. This approach may provide novel theoretical foundations and translational strategies for the prevention and management of HCC using traditional Chinese medicine.

Intestinal barrier damage is a prominent feature of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） and serves as a critical factor driving the progression from simple fatty liver to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH）， fibrosis， and cirrhosis. The "turbid pathogenic factors entering the blood" theory integrates classical traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） principles with contemporary disease evolution trends and research findings. It posits that endogenous turbid pathogenic factors within the body infiltrate the blood vessels， leading to impure and viscous blood quality， thereby triggering various diseases. Based on this theory， this article elucidated the pathogenic mechanism of NAFLD-associated intestinal barrier damage. It argued that in NAFLD， the liver loses its dredging function， and the spleen becomes obstructed and dysfunctional. Moreover， essential nutrients fail to be properly transformed， resulting in the internal generation of turbid pathogenic factors. This subsequently initiates a series of pathological changes， namely， "infiltration of phlegm-turbidity into the blood， eroding the intestinal mucosa"， "infiltration of glucose-turbidity into the blood， macerating and eroding the intestinal mucosa"， "infiltration of heat-turbidity into the blood， scorching and eroding the intestinal mucosa"， and "infiltration of stasis-turbidity into the blood， stagnating and eroding the intestinal mucosa"， ultimately causing intestinal barrier damage. Furthermore， guided by the "turbid pathogenic factors entering the blood" theory， this article explored TCM intervention strategies： employing medicinals targeting the liver meridian to address the root cause and reduce the generation and deposition of turbid pathogenic factors in the liver， administering blood-system medicinals to clear the blood and purge turbidity， thereby intercepting the progression of the disease mechanism， and applying tonifying medicinals to bolster healthy Qi and defend against turbid invasion， allowing the damaged intestinal mucosa to gradually heal. This article presented novel theoretical and medicinal perspectives for analyzing NAFLD-associated intestinal barrier damage based on the "turbid pathogenic factors entering the blood" theory， aiming to provide new entry points and broader horizons for related research and clinical practice.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a self-developed micro-normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) system (micro-perfusion device) for preserving isolated porcine limbs. Methods Five healthy Landrace pigs were selected, and their left and right forelimbs were randomly divided into the NMP group and static cold storage (SCS) group. The NMP group was perfused with the self-developed micro-perfusion device and polymerized hemoglobin perfusate for 32 hours at normothermia, while the SCS group was preserved at 4 ℃. Hemodynamic parameters such as perfusion pressure and flow were monitored. The pH value, partial pressure of oxygen (PO₂), lactic acid (Lac), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the perfusate were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to assess the muscle tissue structure, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling was employed to evaluate muscle cell apoptosis, and immunohistochemistry staining was applied to detect the expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6. A mixed-effects model was used to analyze the effects of time and treatment methods on tissue structure, cell apoptosis and inflammatory factors. Results The device could stably maintain a perfusion pressure of (69±15) mmHg and a flow rate of (117±42) mL/min. The pH value and electrolytes of the perfusate were generally stable, with PO₂ maintained at a high level. Lac was maintained at 5.38(3.81, 6.45) mmol/L, while CK and LDH increased over time. After 32 hours of perfusion in the NMP group, both the myocyte spacing and apoptosis rate were better than those in the SCS group. Mixed-effects model analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the effects of NMP treatment and SCS treatment on myocyte spacing and apoptosis rate per unit time (both P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in TNF-α and IL-6 between the two groups, and mixed-effects model analysis showed no statistically significant differences in the effects of NMP treatment and SCS treatment on TNF-α and IL-6 per unit time (both P > 0.05). Conclusions The micro-perfusion device used in this study may achieve 32-hour normothermic preservation in a porcine limb amputation model, maintain basic metabolism and ionic homeostasis, reduce muscle structural damage and cell apoptosis without inducing additional inflammatory responses. This technology is expected to significantly extend the time window for replantation of amputated limbs in disaster rescue and long-distance transportation, providing an important technical basis for clinical translation and subsequent replantation research.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of cordycepin in delaying the transformation from acute kidney injury （AKI） to chronic kidney disease （CKD） （short for “AKI-CKD”）. METHODS Network pharmacology and bioinformatics were used to analyze and predict the signaling pathways of cordycepin in delaying AKI-CKD progression and its relationship with the ferroptosis pathway. Cell experiments were performed to verify the predicted results. Human renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells were divided into blank group， cordycepin group， model group， and H 2 O 2 +cordycepin group. Except for the blank group and cordycepin group， all other groups were treated with 150 μmol/L H 2 O 2 for 72 h to induce persistent oxidative stress injury in cells. After 72 h of cordycepin （40 μmol/L） intervention， the protein and mRNA expression levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4）， long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 （ACSL4），nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2（Nrf2）， and heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） in cells were detected. Furthermore， the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 was added on the basis of H 2 O 2 +cordycepin to verify the role of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. RESULTS Network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis showed that there were 42 overlapping genes related to AKI-CKD and ferroptosis that interact with cordycepin ferroptosis， among which 38 were annotated as ferroptosis-related genes. HO-1 and Nrf2 might be important targets for cordycepin to inhibit ferroptosis. The binding energies of cordycepin with Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins were －8.5 and －6.7 kcal/mol， respectively. Cell experiments showed that compared with the model group， the protein and mRNA expression levels of GPX4， Nrf2 and HO-1 were significantly increased （ P ＜0.05），while the protein and mRNA expression levels of ACSL4 were significantly decrease d （ P ＜0.05） in the H 2 O 2 +cordycepin group. After the addition of the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385， the effects of cordycepin on the above proteins and mRNA were significantly reversed （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Cordycepin can inhibit ferroptosis by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway， reduce persistent oxidative stress injury of renal tubular epithelial cells， and delay the progression of AKI-CKD.

Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RAS) and conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) in hiatal hernia repair. Methods PubMed, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Web of Science, VIP, and Wanfang databases were searched to collect literature comparing the efficacy and safety of RAS and CLS for hiatal hernia repair published from their inception to November 7, 2023. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies, and RevMan 5.4.1 software was used for meta-analysis. Results A total of 15 retrospective cohort studies with 18239 patients were finally included. The NOS scores of the included literature were all ≥7 points. Meta-analysis results showed that RAS was superior to CLS in terms of postoperative complications as the primary outcome [OR=0.56, 95%CI (0.42, 0.77), P<0.01]. There was no statistical difference between the two methods in terms of average operation time [MD=−0.74, 95%CI (−12.99, 11.51), P=0.91], average intraoperative blood loss [MD=−24.47, 95%CI (−54.80, 5.87), P=0.11], intraoperative complications [OR=0.76, 95%CI (0.29, 2.01), P=0.58], average postoperative hospital stay [MD=−0.24, 95%CI (−0.75, 0.27), P=0.36], postoperative GERD score [MD=−0.04, 95%CI (−0.41, 0.33), P=0.81], and 30-day readmission rate [OR=0.60, 95%CI (0.30, 1.20), P=0.15]. The cost of CLS surgery was less than that of RAS [SMD=1.59, 95%CI (1.16, 2.01), P<0.01]. Conclusion RAS has comparable efficacy and safety to CLS in hiatus hernia repair.

BACKGROUND:Ilizarov bone transport is very effective in the treatment of open large tibial bone defects,but there are still complications,among which the difficulty of junction healing is one of the difficult points in treatment. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of Ilizarov bone transport combined with antibiotic bone cement on junction healing after operation of open large tibial bone defect. METHODS:Totally 51 patients with open large tibial bone defect(bone defect>4 cm)admitted to Binzhou Medical University Hospital from August 2010 to January 2022 were selected,of which 28 received Ilizarov bone transport alone(control group)and 23 received Ilizarov bone transport combined with antibiotic bone cement treatment(trial group).External fixation time,bone healing time,bone healing index,visual analog scale score during bone removal,bone defect limb function,junction healing and complications at the final follow-up were statistically compared between the two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)All the 51 patients were followed up for a mean of(22.53±5.77)months.External fixation time,bone healing time,bone healing index,postoperative infection rate,and non-healing rate of junction were less in the trial group than those in the control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference between the two groups in visual analog scale scores at 6 months after the second surgery and in the functional excellence and good rate of limb with bone defect at the final follow-up(P>0.05).(2)These findings indicate that compared with the Ilizarov bone transport alone,Ilizarov bone transport combined with antibiotic bone cement treatment can promote the healing of open tibial fracture junction and increase the rate of bone healing.

BACKGROUND:When performing percutaneous minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion to implant an intervertebral cage,due to the narrow operating range of the approach,there is a risk of nerve root injury or poor position of cage. To solve the above problems,a novel mechanical deformable press-fit cage (YP-cage) was invented.OBJECTIVE:To preliminarily evaluate the mechanical strength characteristics of this new lumbar fusion device YP-cage.METHODS:Static axial compression and torsion tests were conducted on 9,11,and 13 mm YP-cages (n=9) and poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK)-cages (n=9). The force-displacement curves were collected to calculate yield displacement and load,ultimate load displacement and stiffness,yield angular displacement and torque,ultimate load and angle displacement torque and stiffness for comparative analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) In the static axial compression test,YP-cage was superior to PEEK-cage in terms of stiffness,yield load,ultimate displacement,and load limit in three groups of tests (9,11,13 mm) (P<0.01),but the yield displacement of YP-cage was smaller than that of PEEK-cage (P<0.05). (2) In the static torsion test,there was no significant difference in the ultimate torsion angle between YP-cage and PEEK-cage in 9 mm group. YP-cage was lower thanPEEK-cage in yield torque,yield torsion angle,and ultimate torque (P<0.01),while YP-cage torsional stiffness was greater than PEEK-cage in 9 mm group and 11 mm group (P<0.01). (3) The results show that the novel press-fit mechanical lumbar cage has higher compressive strength than PEEK cage,but the torsional strength is not as good as PEEK-cage.

Objective:To investigate the impacts of total salvianolic acid(TSA)on macrophage polarization and mesenchymal macrophage infiltration in liver cancer bearing mice by regulating the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)pathway.Methods:Mice were randomly separated into liver cancer group,TSA low concentra-tion group,TSA medium concentration group,TSA high concentration group,TSA high concentration+TLR4 inhibitor(TAK242)group and control group,with 12 mice in each group.Except for control group,mice in all other groups were injected subcutaneously into the right axilla to construct liver cancer models by intraperitoneal transmission of third-generation H22 cell suspension.After suc-cessful modeling,administration was carried out once a day for 2 weeks.Changes in tumor weight,tumor volume,spleen index and thymus index were detected.Immunofluorescence was applied to detect proportions of CD86 and CD206 positive cells in tumor tissue.ELISA was applied to detect levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),IL-6 and IL-10 in tumor tissues.Flow cytometry was ap-plied to detect proportion of CD11b+F4/80+in tumor tissue.Western blot was applied to detect TLR4,p-NF-κB P65 and MyD88 pro-teins in tumor tissue.The life quality and survival rate of mice were observed.Results:Compared with control group,spleen index,thymus index,proportion of CD86 positive cells in tumor tissue,levels of iNOS and IL-6,and expressions of TLR4,p-NF-κB P65 and MyD88 proteins were reduced in liver cancer group,while proportion of CD206 positive cells and level of IL-10 in tumor tissue were increased(P<0.05).Compared with liver cancer group,tumor weight and volume of mice in TSA low,medium,high concentration groups were decreased,while survival rate,spleen index,thymus index,proportion of CD86 positive cells in tumor tissue,levels of iNOS and IL-6,and expressions of TLR4,p-NF-κB P65 and MyD88 proteins were increased,proportion of CD206 positive cells,level of IL-10,and proportion of CD11b+F4/80+in tumor tissue decreased(P<0.05).TAK242 reversed the effects of high concentration TSA on macrophage polarization and myeloid macrophage infiltration in liver cancer bearing mice.Conclusion:TSA may promote M1 polari-zation of macrophages in liver cancer bearing mice and inhibit myeloid macrophage infiltration by activating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Luofuoshan-Baicao oil (LBO) and wind medicated oil for the treatment of Aedes albopictus bites. Methods:A paired self-controlled study was conducted. Thirty-six healthy volunteers were recruited from Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 2023 to March 2023. Each participant's forearms were subjected to Aedes albopictus bites, with 3 bites on each arm. For the first 18 participants, LBO was applied to the left arm, and wind medicated oil to the right arm; for the latter 18 participants, wind medicated oil was applied to the left arm, and LBO to the right arm. The observation period was 24 hours. Within the first 3 hours after the mosquito bites, the topical agents were applied once every other hour for a total of 3 sessions, with an applicator centered on the bite site at a dose of approximately 50 μl, covering a skin area of about 2 cm in diameter; after 3 hours, participants applied the topical agents themselves until symptoms subsided or the 24-hour observation period ended. All subjects were followed up at the occurrence of skin lesions after mosquito bites, 0 to 3 hours after the first treatment, as well as 24 hours after the first treatment. During the follow-up, the effects of both topical agents on pruritus, erythema, papules, or wheals were evaluated, differences in treatment frequency were analyzed, and treatment-related adverse events were recorded. The time to disappearance of pruritus after treatment was statistically analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and intergroup differences were analyzed using the log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test. Two independent samples t-test was used for comparisons of other measurement data, and Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used for comparisons of count data between groups. Results:Within 3 hours after the first treatment, the time to initial disappearance of pruritus was significantly shorter in the LBO group (20.71 ± 1.92 min) than in the wind medicated oil group (28.30 ± 2.20 min, P < 0.05). The cumulative pruritus rate (the proportion of participants with pruritus among all participants) over time showed an overall stable fluctuation, and the cumulative pruritus rates at all observation points were significantly lower in the LBO group than in the wind medicated oil group ( P<0.05). After 3 hours of treatment, the mean values of changes in erythema diameters were 25.83 mm in the LBO group and 26.24 mm in the wind medicated oil group, while the mean values of changes in papule or wheal diameters were 8.25 mm in the LBO group and 9.18 mm in the wind medicated oil group; within 24 hours after the first treatment, the average time to disappearance of papules or wheals was 71.85 minutes in the LBO group and 73.01 minutes in the wind medicated oil group, while the average time to disappearance of erythema was 82.27 minutes in the LBO group and 84.86 minutes in the wind medicated oil group; there were no significant differences in the above observational indices between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The number of pruritus episodes within 24 hours of treatment was 56 in both the LBO group and wind medicated oil group, and the treatment frequency was 107 in both two groups; there were also no significant differences in the frequencies of pruritus episodes or treatment (both P > 0.05). No adverse events or reactions occurred during the trial. Conclusion:LBO was more effective than wind medicated oil in reducing the time to disappearance of pruritus after Aedes albopictus bites, with a high safety profile.

To investigate the correlation between vitamin D nutritional status and insulin resistance in pubertal adolescents.