OBJECTIVES: To investigate the neuroprotective effects of electroacupuncture (EA) preconditioning against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) mediated by gut microbiota modulation, Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation, and ferroptosis suppression. METHODS: Adult male SD rats were divided into sham operation group, CIRI model group, and EA preconditioning group. In the latter two groups, rat models of CIRI were established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and in EA preconditioning group, EA was applied at Baihui (DU20) and Zusanli (ST36) for 3 days before modeling. Neurological deficits, cerebral infarction, and hippocampal pathology of the rats were evaluated using behavioral tests, TTC staining, and Nissl and HE staining, and the oxidative stress markers (MDA, ROS, and SOD), apoptosis/ferroptosis-related proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, GPX4, and SLC7A11), and changes in gut microbiota were analyzed. RESULTS: EA preconditioning significantly reduced neurological deficits, decreased infarct volume, promoted hippocampal neuronal survival, and improved structural integrity of the hippocampal neurons in MCAO rats. EA preconditioning also significantly lowered MDA and ROS and increased SOD levels, upregulated Bcl-2, GPX4, and SLC7A11 expressions, and downregulated Bax expression in the hippocampal tissue of the rats, causing also activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling and improvement of gut microbiota composition. CONCLUSIONS EA preconditioning alleviates CIRI in rats by suppressing ferroptosis and apoptosis, enhancing antioxidant defenses via activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling, and regulating the gut-brain axis.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Reperfusion Injury/therapy* ; Ferroptosis ; Male ; Rats ; Brain Ischemia ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)/metabolism* ; Brain/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress ; Heme Oxygenase-1/metabolism* ; Apoptosis

The tumor microenvironment is a crucial factor in tumor occurrence and progression. The hypoxic microenvironment is widely present in tumor tissue and is a key endogenous factor accelerating tumor deterioration. The "blood stasis toxin" theory, as an emerging perspective in tumor research, is regarded as the unique "soil" in tumor progression from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) due to its dynamic evolution mechanism, which closely resembles the formation of the hypoxic microenvironment. Scientifically integrating TCM theories with the biological characteristics of tumors and exploring precise syndrome differentiation and treatment strategies are key to achieving comprehensive tumor prevention and control. This article focused on the hypoxic microenvironment of the tumor, elucidating its formation mechanisms and evolutionary processes and carefully analyzing the internal relationship between the "blood stasis toxin" theory and the hypoxic microenvironment. Additionally, it explored the interaction among blood stasis, toxic pathogens, and hypoxic environment and proposed micro-level prevention and treatment strategies targeting the hypoxic microenvironment based on the "blood stasis toxin" theory, aiming to provide TCM-based theoretical support and therapeutic approaches for precise regulation of the hypoxic microenvironment.
Humans ; Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects* ; Neoplasms/therapy* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Disease Progression ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

Heat stroke is a heat-related illness caused by an imbalance between the body's heat production and heat dissipation,which could lead to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome with a high mortality rate.Rapid and effective reduction of core body temperature is key to successful treatment.This article reviews recent progress in the treatment of heat stroke,including new understandings of organ injury mechanisms,the timing,velocity and goals of cooling treatment,evaluation and selection of traditional cooling techniques(such as cold water immersion),and scientific evaluation of new cooling technologies(such as blood purification technology and intravascular heat exchange cooling technology),aiming to promote understanding and treatment of heat stroke.

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women worldwide. Endocrine therapy is one of the important adjuvant treatment modalities, which can effectively reduce the mortality and the risk of recurrence, but at the same time patients suffer from the distress caused by treatment-related symptom clusters. Symptom clusters severely affect patients' quality of life and treatment adherence. This paper reviews the endocrine therapy-related symptom clusters and their management in breast cancer patients at home and abroad, and describes the concepts, occurrence mechanisms, theoretical models, assessment tools and management strategies of symptom clusters, with a view to providing references for the scientific management and research of endocrine therapy-related symptom clusters of breast cancer.

Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women worldwide. Endocrine therapy is one of the important adjuvant treatment modalities, which can effectively reduce the mortality and the risk of recurrence, but at the same time patients suffer from the distress caused by treatment-related symptom clusters. Symptom clusters severely affect patients' quality of life and treatment adherence. This paper reviews the endocrine therapy-related symptom clusters and their management in breast cancer patients at home and abroad, and describes the concepts, occurrence mechanisms, theoretical models, assessment tools and management strategies of symptom clusters, with a view to providing references for the scientific management and research of endocrine therapy-related symptom clusters of breast cancer.

Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired clonal hematopoietic stem cell disease caused by abnormal expression of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) on the cell membrane due to mutations in the phosphatidylinositol glycan class A(PIGA) gene. It is commonly characterized by intravascular hemolysis, repeated thrombosis, and bone marrow failure, as well as multiple systemic involvement symptoms such as renal dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, swallowing difficulties, chest pain, abdominal pain, and erectile dysfunction. Due to the rarity of PNH and its strong heterogeneity in clinical manifestations, multidisciplinary collaboration is often required for diagnosis and treatment. Peking Union Medical College Hospital, relying on the rare disease diagnosis and treatment platform, has invited multidisciplinary clinical experts to form a unified opinion on the diagnosis and treatment of PNH, and formulated the Expert Consensus of Multidisciplinary Diagnosis and Treatment for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (2024), with the hope of promoting the standardization of PNH diagnosis and treatment.

The n-butanol fraction of Alpinia oxyphylla Fructus 70% ethanol extract was separated and purified using column chromatography with MCI Gel CHP-20, Sephadex LH-20, ODS, and silica gel, combined with semi preparative liquid phase and TLC separation methods. One new halogenated 4,5-seco-eudesmane sesquiterpenoid and two new eremophilane sesquiterpenoids were isolated and purified from the n-butanol fraction of Alpinia oxyphylla Fructus. The structures of the isolated compounds were identified using modern spectroscopic methods (1D, 2D NMR, UV, IR, MS, etc.), and the absolute configuration of the new compounds were determined using the methods of calculated ECD and induced ECD.

Objective To investigate the significance of alkaline phosphatase to albumin ratio(APAR)in the diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of trauma sepsis in patients with multiple trauma.Methods A total of 130 patients with multiple trauma treated in this hospital from January 2021 to October 2023 were selected as subjects.According to the presence or absence of trauma sepsis,they were divided into sepsis group(82 cases)and non-sepsis group(48 cases).The patients with traumatic sepsis were followed up for 28 d and divided into survival group(67 cases)and death group(15 cases)according to the prognosis.The levels of alkaline phos-phatase and albumin in peripheral blood were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer,and APAR was cal-culated.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of alkaline phosphatase,albumin,and APAR for trauma sepsis in patients with multiple trauma.Multivariate Logistic re-gression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of the prognosis of trauma sepsis in patients with multiple trauma.Results The levels of alkaline phosphatase and APAR in sepsis group were higher than those in non-sepsis group,and the level of albumin was lower than that in non-sepsis group(P＜0.05).The area under the curve(95％CI)of alkaline phosphatase,albumin,and APAR for predicting traumatic sepsis in patients with multiple trauma were 0.753(0.702-0.801),0.849(0.798-0.900),and 0.901(0.850-0.952),respectively.The cut-off values were 142.12 U/L,27.89 g/L and 5.24,the specificity were 55.24％,66.16％and 85.43％,and the sensitivity were 91.67％,91.67％and 84.12％,respectively.The levels of alka-line phosphatase and APAR in the death group were higher than those in the survival group,and the level of albumin was lower than that in the survival group(P＜0.05).Compared with the survival group,the death group had significantly higher proportion of patients aged ≥ 60 years,sequential organ failure score,acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅰ(APACHEⅡ)score,and levels of C-reactive protein,blood lactic acid,and serum creatinine(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that old age(OR=2.330,95％CI 1.568-3.462),high APACHE Ⅱ score(OR=2.056,95％CI 1.448-2.921),high expression of alkaline phosphatase(OR=2.479,95％CI 1.652-3.720),low expression of albumin(OR=2.525,95％CI 1.543-3.288),and high APAR(OR=2.849,95％CI 1.848-4.394)were the influencing factors of the prog-nosis of trauma sepsis in patients with multiple trauma(P＜0.05).Conclusion APAR can be used as a bio-logical index to predict trauma sepsis in patients with multiple trauma,and the abnormal increase of APAR is associated with the prognosis of trauma sepsis.