Based on the theory of "shaoyang（少阳） resembling the pivot" and collateral diseases， this article proposes that pulmonary fibrosis （PF） can be divided into three stages including wind bi （痹）， constraint bi， and atrophy bi. The core pathogenesis of PF is the obstruction of the pivot and pulmonary collateral obstruction. In terms of treatment， the basic principles are to harmonize and regulate the pivot， and to promote the circulation of the lung collaterals. Depending on the different characteristics of the "essence-attribute-function"， treatment methods such as harmonizing and regulating the pivot， resolving phlegm and removing stasis， supplementing deficiency and harmonizing collaterals are suggested. This approach ensures the regulation of the pivot， smooth circulation of qi and blood， unblocking of the lung collaterals and nourishing the lung body， achieving the goals of balancing the ascending and descending of qi， removing phlegm and stasis， and relieving cough and wheezing.

While cranial radiotherapy effectively kills tumor cells and significantly prolongs patient survival, it often leads to progressive cognitive decline. To date, the specific mechanisms underlying radiation-induced cognitive decline have not been fully elucidated, which greatly limits the development of related therapeutic strategies. Therefore, this article provides a comprehensive analysis of post-radiation changes in neurogenesis, neuronal synaptic plasticity, myelin injury plasticity, and parenchymal cells such as microglia in the brain, systematically elucidates the potential mechanisms of radiation-induced cognitive decline, and summarizes feasible therapeutic approaches. These findings provide a solid foundation for developing novel strategies to mitigate radiation-induced cognitive decline.

AIM To observe the effects of Yiqi Jiedu Tongluo Formula(YQJDTL)on renal microvascular endothelial function and prevention of renal injury in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).METHODS The SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group and a model group.The model group was administered with high-fat diet combined with a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ to establish the T2DM model.The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group,the canagliflozin group(9 mg/kg),and the low-dose and high-dose YQJDTL groups(4.77,9.45 g/kg).The corresponding doses of the drug were administered by gavage for a total of 12 weeks,during which the rats underwent observation of their general condition and blood glucose changes.After the end of administration,the rats had their levels of renal index,24-hour UP,serum SCr,BUN,TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,ET-1 and NOS measured;their changes in renal microvasculature and the degree of renal fibrosis observed using HE staining,Masson staining,PAS staining,and PASM staining;their ultrastructure of the glomeruli observed using transmission electron microscopy;their renal protein expressions of TGF-β,SMAD2,SMAD3,Col-1,VEGFA and PKC detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot;and their renal mRNA expressions of VEGFA,TGF-β,SMAD2 determined by RT-qPCR.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the high-dose YQJDTL group showed decreased levels of renal index,blood glucose,TG,TC,HDL,24 h UP,BUN,SCr and ET-1(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);increased LDL and NOS levels(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);reduced renal inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis degree,inhibited fusion of foot processes and thickening of basement membrane;decreased renal protein expressions of TGF-β,SMAD2,SMAD3,VEGFA,PKC and Col-1(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and decreased mRNA expressions of VEGFA,TGF-β and SMAD2(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION In the rat models of T2DM,YQJDTL can reduce their levels of blood glucose and lipids by improving the renal indices levels and the renal microvascular endothelial functions to alleviate renal fibrosis and microangiopathy as well,and the mechanism may be associated with the down-regulated expressions of TGF-β/SMAD and VEGF pathway-related proteins.

Objective To observe the change patterns of functional connectivity(FC)of basal forebrain subregions in Alzheimer disease(AD)patients.Methods Totally 42 AD patients(AD group)and 41 healthy controls(HC group)were retrospectively enrolled.Seed-based FC analysis was performed on basal forebrain subregions(Ch123 and Ch4)based on their resting-state functional MRI data and compared between groups.Results Compared with HC group,FC between left Ch4 and left hippocampus as well as left posterior cingulate gyrus significantly decreased,but between right Ch4 and right precentral gyrus,as well as right postcentral gyrus increased in AD group(GRF correction,voxel level P＜0.001,cluster level P＜0.05).Meanwhile,FC between left Ch123 and left superior temporal gyrus,left insula,between right Ch123 and left superior temporal gyrus,left temporal pole significantly increased,while between right Ch123 and right orbital superior frontal gyrus,right orbital inferior frontal gyrus significantly decreased in AD group(GRF correction,voxel level P＜0.001,cluster level P＜0.05).Conclusion FC changes of different basal forebrain subregions in AD patients were various.

Aim To study the mechanism of adipose mesenchymal stem cell exosomes(ASC-exo)inhibition of fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC)-induced atopic dermatitis(AD).Methods The mouse age,extrac-tion method,and the concentration of a solution of typeⅠ collagen enzyme and other conditions were compared to study the effects on the morphology and quantity of adipose mesenchymal stem cells(ASCs)after extrac-ted.FITC-induced mouse model in vivo was estab-lished and different doses of ASC-exo were given to measure ear thickness,ear weight and ear scratching times of mice.HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of ear tissue of mice.The non-toxicity of ASC-exo was detected.IgE,IL-5,IL-13 and other cytokines were detected by ELISA.The gene ex-pressions of TSLP,IL-33,occludin,Claudin-1(CLDN-1)and E-cadherin were detected by RT-qPCR.The protein expression was detected by immunohistochemis-try.Results An efficient method for extracting ASCs was established.Compared with the blank group,mice in the model group showed obvious AD symptoms.Compared with the model group,ASC-exo administra-tion group significantly reduced the number of ear scratches,epidermal thickening,inflammatory cell infil-tration and the secretion of Th2 cytokines IL-5 and IL-13.Meanwhile,ASC-exo administration group signifi-cantly increased the expression of structural proteins CLDN-1 and occludin in epithelial cells and decreased the expression of TSLP and IL-33.Conclusions ASC-exo can significantly improve Th2 skin inflamma-tion in AD mice,and its mechanism may be through in-creasing the expression of tight junction proteins and adhesion link protein in epithelial cells,repairing the skin barrier,and inhibiting the key promoters of allergy TSLP and IL-33.

Objective:Invasive pulmonary mucormycosis(PM)is a rare but highly lethal opportunistic infection.COVID-19 associated mucormycosis(CAM)is difficult to diagnose,often leading to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis,and has poor treatment outcomes.This study reports a case of successfully treated CAM and explores optimized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.Methods:A retrospective analysis of the diagnosis and treatment process in a 50-year-old female patient with COVID-19 associated with diabetic ketoacidosis(DKA)and invasive pulmonary mucormycosis was conducted.Combined with a literature review,the therapeutic efficacy of local bronchoscopic instillation in conjunction with systemic treatment using liposomal Amphotericin B(L-AmB)was specifically evaluated.Results:The patient was rapidly diagnosed with Rhizopus microsporus infection through metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS).She subsequently received antifungal treatment with intravenous L-AmB combined with local bronchoscopic instillation.After treatment,the patient was significantly improved,with imaging studies showing gradual absorption of the lesions.Follow-up at six months revealed no recurrence.A literature review suggests that early diagnosis and multimodal therapy are key to improving survival rates in patients with CAM.Conclusion:mNGS can significantly improve the early diagnosis rate of CAM.The combination of local and systemic treatment with L-AmB is valuable in improving prognosis.Early diagnosis,multimodal antifungal therapy,and individualized management are key to increasing the survival rate of patients with CAM.

Aim To design and synthesize a series of glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives by using glycyrrhetinic acid as the parent nucleus,screen their antitumor activ-ities,and investigate the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects and mechanisms of the most active compound.Methods MTT assay was used to screen for the com-pound with the most potent antitumor activity.MTT as-say,wound healing assay,colony formation assay and Transwell migration assay were used to evaluate the effects of the compound on tumor cell viability and mi-gration.Flow cytometry was employed to assess the im-pact of the compound on tumor cell cycle progression and apoptosis.Western blot was conducted to verify the effects on the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax,caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3.A mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma ascites tumor was estab-lished to examine the antitumor effects of the compound in vivo.Results Compound C22 was identified as having the most significant inhibitory effect on hepato-cellular carcinoma cells.C22 inhibited the viability and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner.C22 upreg-ulated the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax,caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 in hepatocellular car-cinoma cells,induced apoptosis,and arrested the cell cycle in the G0/G1 and S phases.C22 significantly re-duced the growth of mouse hepatocellular carcinoma as-cites tumors and prolonged survival.Conclusion Glycyrrhetinic acid derivative C22 significantly inhibits the viability and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo,and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Taking Xiaochaihu Decoction as an example,the application differences of classical prescriptions in modern medical context and Chinese medicine practice are compared and analyzed from the aspects of clinical application scope,understanding of pre-scription connotation,dosage specification,dosage form and decoction method.Strategies to solve the differences in efficacy are pro-posed:integrating the wisdom of classical prescriptions and reshaping the framework of Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment;transforming the results of modern pharmacology and exploring the principles of classical prescriptions;controlling drug quality stand-ards and exploring new uses and dosages of classical prescriptions;keeping pace with the times in Chinese medicine decoction and strengthening management and control to ensure efficacy.It is believed that combining the essence of Chinese medicine with modern technology can make the application of classical prescriptions maintain traditional characteristics while meeting modern clinical require-ments.This can not only improve the adaptability of classical prescriptions to modern complex diseases,but also provide a reference for the modernization of traditional medicine.

Aim To design and synthesize a series of glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives by using glycyrrhetinic acid as the parent nucleus,screen their antitumor activ-ities,and investigate the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects and mechanisms of the most active compound.Methods MTT assay was used to screen for the com-pound with the most potent antitumor activity.MTT as-say,wound healing assay,colony formation assay and Transwell migration assay were used to evaluate the effects of the compound on tumor cell viability and mi-gration.Flow cytometry was employed to assess the im-pact of the compound on tumor cell cycle progression and apoptosis.Western blot was conducted to verify the effects on the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax,caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3.A mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma ascites tumor was estab-lished to examine the antitumor effects of the compound in vivo.Results Compound C22 was identified as having the most significant inhibitory effect on hepato-cellular carcinoma cells.C22 inhibited the viability and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner.C22 upreg-ulated the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax,caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 in hepatocellular car-cinoma cells,induced apoptosis,and arrested the cell cycle in the G0/G1 and S phases.C22 significantly re-duced the growth of mouse hepatocellular carcinoma as-cites tumors and prolonged survival.Conclusion Glycyrrhetinic acid derivative C22 significantly inhibits the viability and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo,and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

AIM To observe the effects of Yiqi Jiedu Tongluo Formula(YQJDTL)on renal microvascular endothelial function and prevention of renal injury in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).METHODS The SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group and a model group.The model group was administered with high-fat diet combined with a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ to establish the T2DM model.The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group,the canagliflozin group(9 mg/kg),and the low-dose and high-dose YQJDTL groups(4.77,9.45 g/kg).The corresponding doses of the drug were administered by gavage for a total of 12 weeks,during which the rats underwent observation of their general condition and blood glucose changes.After the end of administration,the rats had their levels of renal index,24-hour UP,serum SCr,BUN,TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,ET-1 and NOS measured;their changes in renal microvasculature and the degree of renal fibrosis observed using HE staining,Masson staining,PAS staining,and PASM staining;their ultrastructure of the glomeruli observed using transmission electron microscopy;their renal protein expressions of TGF-β,SMAD2,SMAD3,Col-1,VEGFA and PKC detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot;and their renal mRNA expressions of VEGFA,TGF-β,SMAD2 determined by RT-qPCR.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the high-dose YQJDTL group showed decreased levels of renal index,blood glucose,TG,TC,HDL,24 h UP,BUN,SCr and ET-1(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);increased LDL and NOS levels(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);reduced renal inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis degree,inhibited fusion of foot processes and thickening of basement membrane;decreased renal protein expressions of TGF-β,SMAD2,SMAD3,VEGFA,PKC and Col-1(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and decreased mRNA expressions of VEGFA,TGF-β and SMAD2(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION In the rat models of T2DM,YQJDTL can reduce their levels of blood glucose and lipids by improving the renal indices levels and the renal microvascular endothelial functions to alleviate renal fibrosis and microangiopathy as well,and the mechanism may be associated with the down-regulated expressions of TGF-β/SMAD and VEGF pathway-related proteins.