Fresh-cut processing constitutes a pivotal technique in the origin processing of Chinese medicinal materials， with a long history documented in multiple materia medica. In recent years， it has garnered national policy support for its ability to prevent component loss and low processing efficiency associated with traditional drying-before-cutting methods. As of August 2025， 26 provinces and municipalities nationwide have cumulatively published 789 species for fresh-cut processing. Among these， 78 were included in the 2025 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. However， the practice continues to face common challenges and difficulties， including ambiguous scientific understanding， fragmented standards， limited quality control approaches， and poor process stability. Based on this， this paper synthesises years of research findings to systematically elucidate the core mechanisms of fresh-cut processing. These encompass alterations to herbal tissue structure during cutting， post-processing changes in constituents， and physiological-biochemical processes such as plant stress responses and shifts in endogenous enzyme activity. It also summarises influencing factors， including inherent herbal properties， cutting timing and methods， and environmental conditions like temperature， humidity， and microbial presence. Based on this overview of fresh-cutting mechanisms， subsequent research should advance in four directions：Clarifying the scientific principles of fresh-cutting， overcoming technical bottlenecks， upgrading intelligent equipment， and establishing quality standards and evaluation systems. This study provides a theoretical foundation and scientific basis for future research on fresh-cutting in traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）， promoting its deeper practical application within the industry and contributing to the high-quality development of TCM industry and the modernization of TCM.

Objective To investigate the factors affecting the distribution of Pomacea and project the trends in the spread of suitable distribution areas of Pomacea in 2050 and 2070 in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, so as to provide insights into Pomacea control in the prefecture. Methods The longitudes and latitudes of Pomacea sampling sites were captured based on Pomacea field survey data in 12 cities (counties) of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture from 2023 to 2024. A total of 19 climatic factors (annual mean temperature, mean diurnal range, isothermality, temperature seasonality, maximum temperature of the warmest month, minimum temperature of the coldest month, temperature annual range, mean temperature of the wettest quarter, mean temperature of the driest quarter, mean temperature of the warmest month, mean temperature of the coldest month, annual precipitation, precipitation of the wettest month, precipitation of the driest month, precipitation seasonality, precipitation of the wettest quarter, precipitation of the driest quarter, mean temperature of the warmest quarter, and mean temperature of the coldest quarter) and representative concentration pathways (RCPs) were retrieved from the world climate database (www.worldclim.org). All climatic variables were employed to create a maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model. The predictive accuracy of the model was assessed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), and the contributions of these 19 climatic factors to the distribution of Pomacea were analyzed in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture using Jackknife test. In addition, the suitable distribution areas of Pomacea were predicted with the MaxEnt model in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in 2024 and in 2050 and 2070 under RCP4.5. Results Data pertaining to 91 Pomacea sampling sites were captured. ROC analysis revealed the MaxEnt model had an AUC value of 0.885 ± 0.088 for predicting the suitable distribution areas of Pomacea in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. Of the 19 climatic factors, the maximum temperature of the warmest month had the highest contribution to the distribution of Pomacea in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, followed by mean temperature of the driest quarter, mean temperature of the wettest quarter and minimum temperature of the coldest month. The suitable distribution area of Pomacea was predicted to be 14 555.69 km² in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in 2024, and would expand gradually to the southeastern part of the prefecture in the future due to climatic factors. The suitable distribution areas of Pomacea were projected to expand to 21 475.61 km² in 2050 and 25 782.52 km² in 2070 in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, respectively. Conclusions Temperature is an important contributor to the distribution of Pomacea in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, and the suitable distribution area of Pomacea will gradually expand to the southeastern part of the prefecture in 2050 and 2070.

Background With the progression of industrialization, an increasing number of emerging contaminants are entering aquatic environments, posing significant threats to the safety of drinking water. Therefore, establishing a system for identifying unknown hazardous factors and implementing safety warning mechanisms for drinking water is of paramount importance. Among these efforts, non-target screening plays a critical role, but its effectiveness is largely constrained by the scope of coverage of sample pre-treatment methods. Objective To integrate modern chromatography/mass spectrometry techniques with advanced data mining methods to develop a non-discriminatory sample pre-treatment method for comprehensive enrichment of unknown contaminants in drinking water, laying a technical foundation for the discovery and identification of unknown organic hazardous factors in drinking water. Methods A non-discriminatory pre-treatment method based on supramolecular and solid-phase extraction was developed. The final target compounds including 333 pesticides, 194 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and 59 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were used for optimizing the pre-treatment method, confirming its coverage. The impacts of different eluents on the absolute recovery rates of target compounds were compared to select the conditions with the highest recovery for sample pre-treatment. The effects of different supramolecular solvents and salt concentrations on target compound recovery were also evaluated to determine the most suitable solvent and salt concentration. Results The solid-phase extraction elution solvents, supramolecular extraction solvents, and salt concentrations were optimized based on the target compound recovery rates. The optimal recovery conditions were achieved using 2 mL methanol, 2 mL methanol (containing 1% formic acid), 2 mL ethyl acetate, 2 mL dichloromethane, hexanediol supramolecular solvent, and 426 mg salt. The detection method developed based on these conditions showed a good linear relationship for all target compounds in the range of 0.1-100.0 ng·mL⁻¹, with R² > 0.99. The method’s limit of detection ranged from 0.01 ng⁻¹ to 0.95 ng⁻¹, and 95% of target compounds were recovered in the range of 20%-120%, with relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 30%, indicating good precision. Conclusion The combined pre-treatment method of solid-phase extraction and supramolecular solvent extraction can effectively enrich contaminants in drinking water across low, medium, and high polarities, enabling broad-spectrum enrichment of diverse trace contaminants in drinking water. It provides technical support for broad-spectrum, high-throughput screening and identification of organic pollutants in drinking water, and also serves as a reference for establishing urban drinking water public safety warning systems.

BACKGROUND: Death burden of stroke is severe with over one-third rural residents in China, but there is still a lack of specific national and high-quality reports on the urban-rural differences in stroke burden, especially for subtypes. We aimed to update the understanding of urban-rural differences in stroke deaths. METHODS: This is a descriptive observational study. Data from the national mortality surveillance system, which covers 323.8 million with 605 disease surveillance points (DSPs) across all 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China. All deaths from stroke as the underlying cause from 2015 to 2020 according to DSPs. Crude mortality rate and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) were estimated through DSPs. Average annual percentage change was used to explain the change in mortality rate. RESULTS: From 2015 to 2020, the majority of deaths from all stroke subtypes occurred in rural areas. There were significant differences between the changes of urban and rural ASMRs. On the whole, the changes in urban areas were evidently better, and the ASMR differences were basically expanding. Stroke ASMR in urban China decreased by 15.5%. The rural ASMR of ischemic stroke increased by 12.9%. The rural and urban ASMRs of intracerebral hemorrhage decreased by 24.9% and 27.4%, and those of subarachnoid hemorrhage decreased by 29.5% and 40.4%, respectively. The highest ASMRs of all stroke subtypes and the increasing trend of ischemic stroke ASMR make rural males the focus of stroke management. CONCLUSIONS The death burden of stroke varies greatly between urban and rural China. Rural residents face unique challenges.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Stroke/mortality* ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Male ; Female ; Urban Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Adult

Natural medicines (NMs) demonstrate distinct advantages in the clinical management of chronic diseases. Recent years have seen growing recognition of the gut microbiota's role in the efficacy and synergy of NMs, providing new impetus for elucidating the material basis and mechanisms of NMs and their path toward modernization. A fundamental question that has emerged is how NM-microbiota interactions integrate into the multi-target holistic mechanisms of NMs, the answer to which may also illuminate new avenues for drug discovery. Metabolic regulation via small-molecule metabolites has been increasingly implicated in host-microbe interaction. This review presents an integral metabolic perspective on NMs-microbiota interaction in host health and disease. It highlights the emerging understanding of gut microbiota-related metabolic signals implicated in NM components' local and systemic actions. Additionally, it discusses key issues and prospects related to drug development and the translational study of NMs.
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Humans ; Biological Products/metabolism* ; Animals

Cardiovascular disease is a health hazard to humans and systolic heart failure due to myocardial infarction is a major cause of death.It was previously thought that myocardial cells of the adult mammalian heart possess a limited ability to proliferate and self-renew.However,it has been widely reported that mammals have the ability to regenerate the myocardium,which is restricted to early postnatal life,and that it is strong enough to repair damaged heart tissue.The discovery of myocardial regeneration in neonatal hearts has provided an ideal animal model to investigate the mechanisms that affect myocardial regeneration,and many mechanisms that reverse myocardial cell cycle arrest and promote myocardial regeneration have been revealed.In this article,we review the factors affecting gene expression for myocardial regeneration(e.g.,ncRNAs and transcription factors),myocardial regeneration-related signaling pathways,and the regulation of myocardial regeneration by non-myocardial cells(e.g.,extracellular matrix,immune response,and epicardium)to provide directions for achieving myocardial regeneration after myocardial injury in adult mammals.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by recurrent thrombotic events,pregnancy complications and persistent positive antiphospholipid antibodies.As a systemic disease,antiphospholipid syndrome can affect multiple organs and systems,including the cardiovascular system.Antiphospholipid syndrome-related cardiovascular diseases can cause serious threats to patients'lives.In the updated ACR/EULRA classification criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome issued in 2023,valvular disease has been included in the clinical criteria of antiphospholipid syndrome,which highlights the importance of considering cardiovascular diseases associated with antiphospholipid syndrome.This article reviews the research progress on the phenotype and mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases associated with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Nuanxinkang Powder(aka.NXK,composed of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra and Ilex Pubescens Radix)on improving ventricular remodeling in post-infarction mice based on the"metabolic-inflammatory"network regulating macrophage polarization.Methods ①Thirty C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into three groups:sham-operation group,model group,and NXK group(1.65 g·kg-1),with 10 mice in each group;the mouse model of myocardial infarction was replicated using left anterior descending coronary artery ligation;and the drug was administered by gavage once a day for 4 consecutive weeks.Masson staining was used to detect collagen deposition in myocardial tissue;ultrasound was used to detect cardiac function in mice:left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular anterior wall thickness at end-systole(LVAWS)and left ventricular anterior wall thickness at end-diastole(LVAWD);flow cytometry was used to detect distribution of cardiac macrophages in mice;qPCR was used to detect mRNA expressions of lactate dehydrogenase A(LDHA),carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1(CPT-1),glucose transport protein 4(GLUT4),isocitrate dehydrogenase(IDH),and succinate dehydrogenase(SDHa)in heart tissue.②NXK was given 1.15 g·kg-1 NXK suspension to rats by gavage twice a day for 5 consecutive days to prepare NXK-containing serum.Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells were used to construct a pro-inflammatory macrophage model.The cells were grouped into the following groups:blank serum control group(medium containing 5%blank serum+5%fetal bovine serum),NXK drug-containing serum group(medium containing 5%NXK drug-containing serum+5%fetal bovine serum),lipopolysaccharide group(medium containing 5%blank serum+5%fetal bovine serum+200 μg·mL-1 lipopolysaccharide),NXK drug-containing serum+ lipopolysaccharide group(medium containing 5%NXK drug-containing serum+5%fetal bovine serum+200 μ g·mL-1 lipopolysaccharide),all the groups were intervened for 16 hours.Glycolysis stress test was used to detect the level of glycolysis in RAW 264.7 cells;qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of mitochondrial pyruvate carrier(MPC1)in RAW 264.7 cells;and MitoSox Red fluorescent staining was used to detect the level of oxidative stress damage in mitochondria of RAW 264.7 cells.Results ①Compared with the sham-operation group,the blue-stained area of cardiac collagen fibres in mice of the model group was significantly increased,accompanied by thinning of the ventricular wall and enlargement of the left ventricular cavity;cardiac function indexes,such as LVEF,LVAWS,LVAWD,etc.,were all significantly reduced(P＜0.01,P＜0.001);the mRNA expressions of LDHA and CPT-1 were significantly up-regulated in the cardiac tissues of mice(P＜0.05),and the mRNA expressions of GLUT4,IDH and SDHa were significantly down-regulated(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and CD86 staining positive cell was significantly increased(P＜0.001).Compared with the model group,mice in the NXK group showed a significant decrease in cardiac collagen fiber deposition and an increase in the thickness of the ventricular wall;cardiac function indexes such as LVEF,LVAWS and LVAWD were significantly increased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01,P＜0.001);and the mRNA expressions of LDHA and CPT-1 in the cardiac tissues of the mice were significantly down-regulated(P＜0.01,P＜0.001),mRNA expressions of GLUT4,SDHa and IDH were significantly up-regulated(P＜0.01),and the number of CD86 positive cells was significantly reduced(P＜0.001).②Compared with the blank serum control group,the cytosolic glycolysis level and ROS level of macrophages in the NXK serum-containing group did not change significantly(P＞0.05),whereas the glycolysis level and ROS level of macrophages in the lipopolysaccharide group were significantly increased(P＜0.01),and the mRNA expression of MPC1 was significantly down-regulated(P＜0.001).Compared with the lipopolysaccharide group,the macrophage glycolysis level and ROS level were significantly reduced in the NXK serum-containing + lipopolysaccharide group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and mRNA expression of MPC1 was significantly up-regulated(P＜0.001).Conclusion NXK can reduce myocardial fibrosis and ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction and improve cardiac function in mice,and its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of mRNA expression of LDHA in cardiac tissues,the up-regulation of mRNA expression of GLUT4,the improvement of cardiac glucose uptake after myocardial infarction,the inhibition of pro-inflammatory macrophage glycolysis,the increase in the expressions of SDHa and IDH to alleviate the accumulation of succinate and citrate,and the reduction of reactive oxygen species(ROS)generation,thereby reducing pro-inflammatory macrophage hyperpolarisation.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of neonatal chylothorax.Methods:The clinical data of newborns diagnosed with chylothorax from June 2016 to June 2023 in Neonatal Center of Beijing Children's Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, and divided into congenital group and acquired group according to the pathogenesis of chylothorax. The clinical characteristics, treatment methods and prognosis of the two groups were compared.Results:A total of 23 cases were included, including 17 cases (73.9%) in the congenital group and 6 cases (26.1%) in the acquired group. There was no significant difference in gender, gestational age and birth weight between the two groups ( P>0.05). Compared with the acquired group, the proportion of lymphocytes (97.0% vs. 85.0%), the use of erythromycin (7/17 vs. 1/6) and octreotide (9/17 vs. 1/6) and special formula milk feeding (13/17 vs. 2/6) were higher in the congenital group; the proportion of right hydrothorax (1/17 vs. 3/6), invasive mechanical ventilation (6/17 vs. 6/6) and breastfeeding (0/17 vs. 3/6) were lower in the congenital group ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in terms of the white blood cell count in pleural fluid and plasma protein content, incidence of bilateral and left pleural fluid, proportion of closed thoracic drainage, maximum daily drainage volume, drainage duration, total drainage volume, albumin utilization rate, length of stay and survival rate between the two groups ( P>0.05). 18 cases of pleural effusion absorption without recurrence after conservative treatment; 5 cases died, of which 4 cases died after their parents abandoned treatment, and 1 case died of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis after thoracic duct ligation surgery. Conclusions:Congenital chylothorax and acquired chylothorax were similar in severity, course of disease and overall prognosis. The utilization rate of erythromycin and octreotide in congenital chylothorax was higher than that in acquired chylothorax. The neonatal chylothorax is usually with an overall good prognosis.