Background/Aims: Systemic Inflammation (SI) is considered a key mechanism in disease progression and development of complications in decompensated liver cirrhosis. SI is mainly driven by portal hypertension and bacterial translocation. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) insertion represents an effective treatment for portal hypertension. This study aims to investigate the impact of TIPS insertion on SI and bacterial translocation. Methods: We prospectively included 59 cirrhotic patients undergoing TIPS insertion. Blood samples were collected at TIPS insertion and follow-up (FU) 1, 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter. At all time points, we performed a comprehensive analysis of SI including 43 soluble inflammatory markers (SIMs), and surrogates of bacterial translocation (sCD14, sCD163). To investigate long-term kinetics of SI, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells (WBC) were retrospectively analyzed in a cohort of 177 patients up to 3 years after TIPS insertion. Results: At TIPS insertion, 30/43 SIMs, sCD14, and sCD163 measured significantly higher in cirrhotic patients compared to healthy controls. By FU6 25 SIMs and sCD14 measured at significantly lower levels compared to baseline. Interestingly, in patients with TIPS indication of refractory ascites, IL-6 decreased to levels documented in earlier stages of cirrhosis. In long-term follow-up, CRP levels significantly decreased after TIPS insertion, which translated into lower mortality in Cox regression analysis (HR 0.968, p=0.042). Notably, patients with residual ascites post-TIPS showed significantly higher CRP and IL-6 levels across all follow-ups compared to patients with resolved ascites. Conclusions Decreasing portal hypertension via TIPS insertion leads to a significant attenuation of SI and bacterial translocation over time.

Background/Aims: Systemic Inflammation (SI) is considered a key mechanism in disease progression and development of complications in decompensated liver cirrhosis. SI is mainly driven by portal hypertension and bacterial translocation. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) insertion represents an effective treatment for portal hypertension. This study aims to investigate the impact of TIPS insertion on SI and bacterial translocation. Methods: We prospectively included 59 cirrhotic patients undergoing TIPS insertion. Blood samples were collected at TIPS insertion and follow-up (FU) 1, 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter. At all time points, we performed a comprehensive analysis of SI including 43 soluble inflammatory markers (SIMs), and surrogates of bacterial translocation (sCD14, sCD163). To investigate long-term kinetics of SI, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells (WBC) were retrospectively analyzed in a cohort of 177 patients up to 3 years after TIPS insertion. Results: At TIPS insertion, 30/43 SIMs, sCD14, and sCD163 measured significantly higher in cirrhotic patients compared to healthy controls. By FU6 25 SIMs and sCD14 measured at significantly lower levels compared to baseline. Interestingly, in patients with TIPS indication of refractory ascites, IL-6 decreased to levels documented in earlier stages of cirrhosis. In long-term follow-up, CRP levels significantly decreased after TIPS insertion, which translated into lower mortality in Cox regression analysis (HR 0.968, p=0.042). Notably, patients with residual ascites post-TIPS showed significantly higher CRP and IL-6 levels across all follow-ups compared to patients with resolved ascites. Conclusions Decreasing portal hypertension via TIPS insertion leads to a significant attenuation of SI and bacterial translocation over time.

Background/Aims: Systemic Inflammation (SI) is considered a key mechanism in disease progression and development of complications in decompensated liver cirrhosis. SI is mainly driven by portal hypertension and bacterial translocation. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) insertion represents an effective treatment for portal hypertension. This study aims to investigate the impact of TIPS insertion on SI and bacterial translocation. Methods: We prospectively included 59 cirrhotic patients undergoing TIPS insertion. Blood samples were collected at TIPS insertion and follow-up (FU) 1, 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter. At all time points, we performed a comprehensive analysis of SI including 43 soluble inflammatory markers (SIMs), and surrogates of bacterial translocation (sCD14, sCD163). To investigate long-term kinetics of SI, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells (WBC) were retrospectively analyzed in a cohort of 177 patients up to 3 years after TIPS insertion. Results: At TIPS insertion, 30/43 SIMs, sCD14, and sCD163 measured significantly higher in cirrhotic patients compared to healthy controls. By FU6 25 SIMs and sCD14 measured at significantly lower levels compared to baseline. Interestingly, in patients with TIPS indication of refractory ascites, IL-6 decreased to levels documented in earlier stages of cirrhosis. In long-term follow-up, CRP levels significantly decreased after TIPS insertion, which translated into lower mortality in Cox regression analysis (HR 0.968, p=0.042). Notably, patients with residual ascites post-TIPS showed significantly higher CRP and IL-6 levels across all follow-ups compared to patients with resolved ascites. Conclusions Decreasing portal hypertension via TIPS insertion leads to a significant attenuation of SI and bacterial translocation over time.

Global public health faces substantial challenges from malignant tumors and infectious diseases. Vaccination provides an approach for treating and preventing these diseases. Oral vaccinations are particularly advantageous in disease treatment and prevention due to their non-invasive nature, high patient compliance, convenience, cost-effectiveness, and capacity to stimulate comprehensive and adaptive immune responses. However, the overwhelming majority of oral vaccines remain in experimental development, struggling with clinical and commercial translation due to their suboptimal efficacy. Thus, enhancing scientists' understanding of the interaction between vaccines and gastrointestinal immune system, creating antigen delivery systems suitable for the gut mucosal environment, developing more potent antigenic epitopes, and using personalized combination therapies are critical for advancing the next generation of oral vaccines. This article explores the fundamental principles and applications of current oral anti-tumor and anti-infective vaccines and discusses considerations necessary for designing future oral vaccines.

Aging involves the accumulation of various forms of molecular and cellular damage over time. Key features of aging, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, dysbiosis, and oxidative stress, are closely linked and largely driven by inflammation. This study examines the role of succinate, a key metabolite produced and utilized by cells of both host and microbes, and its receptor, succinate receptor 1 (SUCNR1), in age-related oral dysbiosis and inflammation. We examined young and aged wild-type (WT) and SUCNR1 knockout (KO) mice for this analysis. Our findings revealed significant aging-associated alveolar bone loss and succinate elevation in aged WT mice, along with notable changes in the oral microbiome. Conversely, aged KO mice showed reduced bone loss, lower succinate levels, less inflammation, and better-maintained microbial function. These results suggest that SUCNR1 is crucial in influencing aging-related succinate elevation, oral dysbiosis, and inflammation. Analysis of gene families and pathways in the oral microbiome demonstrated distinct aging-related changes between WT and KO mice, with the functional potential being preserved in the KO-aged group. This study underscores the importance of succinate elevation and signaling through SUCNR1 in regulating inflammation, alveolar bone loss, and shifts in the oral microbiome, offering potential targets for therapeutic interventions in age-related oral health issues.
Animals ; Dysbiosis/metabolism* ; Mice ; Succinic Acid/metabolism* ; Mice, Knockout ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism* ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Aging ; Alveolar Bone Loss/metabolism* ; Mouth/microbiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Microbiota

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study assessed the methodological quality of systematic reviews (SRs) of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) published in Chinese between Jan 2021 and Sep 2022. METHODS: Chinese language CHM SRs were identified through literature searches across 3 international and 4 Chinese databases. Methodological quality was appraised using A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2. Logistic regressions were used to explore associations between bibliographical characteristics and quality. RESULTS: Analyses of methodological quality found that among the 213 sampled SRs, 69.5% were of critically low quality, 30.5% were of low quality, and none achieved high or moderate quality. Common shortcomings included the failure to identify the studies excluded from the analysis, failure to disclose funding sources, and limited evaluation of the potential impact of bias on conclusions. Logistic regressions revealed that SRs led by corresponding authors affiliated with universities or academic institutions tended to be of lower quality than SRs led by authors affiliated with hospitals or clinical facilities. CONCLUSION Recent Chinese language CHM SRs exhibited limited methodological quality, making them unlikely to support the development of clinical practice guidelines. Urgent initiatives are needed to enhance training for researchers, peer-reviewers and editors involved in the preparation and publication of SRs. Adoption of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines in Chinese language journals is crucial to improve the relevance of SRs for Chinese medicine development. Addressing deficiencies in methodology and reporting is essential for promoting evidence-based practices and informed clinical decisions in Chinese medicine. Please cite this article as: Jiang Y, Zhong CC, Wang BH, Xu SS, Ho FF, Kwong MH, Ho L, Zhou JHS, Lam KC, Liu JP, Zhang BT, Chung VCH. Methodological quality of systematic reviews on orally administered Chinese herbal medicine published in Chinese between 2021 and 2022: A cross-sectional study. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):492-501.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Systematic Reviews as Topic/standards* ; Humans ; China ; Administration, Oral ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

[摘 要] 目的：探讨解偶联蛋白2（UCP2）抑制剂京尼平（GEN）对人下咽癌FaDu细胞增殖及线粒体功能的影响。方法：使用不同浓度的GEN作用于FaDu细胞24 h，实验分为GEN 0（对照）、50、100、200和400 μmol/L组。采用CCK-8法检测各组细胞增殖能力，DCFH-DA探针及JC-1染色联合流式细胞术检测GEN对FaDu细胞活性氧（ROS）含量及线粒体膜电位的影响，激光共聚焦显微镜观察GEN对FaDu细胞线粒体膜通透性转换孔的影响，可见分光光度法检测细胞中乳酸的含量，WB法检测细胞中UCP2蛋白的表达变化。结果：与对照组相比，GEN可显著抑制FaDu细胞的增殖活力（P<0.05或P<0.01）、细胞中UCP2蛋白的表达（P<0.05），降低线粒体膜电位（P<0.05或P<0.01）、乳酸含量（P<0.000 1），改变细胞线粒体膜孔道通透性，提高细胞中ROS水平（P<0.05或P<0.01）。结论：GEN通过调节细胞中UCP2的表达水平进而影响细胞的氧化还原能力及线粒体功能，从而发挥抑制人下咽癌FaDu细胞增殖并诱导细胞凋亡的作用。

[摘 要] 目的：探究野生型水疱性口炎病毒印第安纳株（VSV-IN）对小鼠三阴性乳腺癌4T1细胞移植模型小鼠的免疫调节及肿瘤转移的影响。方法：VSV以MOI=1、MOI=10、MOI=100感染4T1细胞12、24、48 h后，CCK-8法检测4T1细胞死亡率，划痕愈合实验检测细胞迁移能力，qPCR检测细胞中E-cadherin、MMP-2、MMP-9 mRNA的表达。于雌性BALB/c小鼠脂肪垫接种1×106个/mL的4T1细胞0.1 mL，构建4T1细胞荷瘤小鼠模型，待小鼠肿瘤体积达200 mm3，分别向移植瘤内注射PBS、紫杉醇（TAX）（15 mg/kg）、VSV-IN（1×106 pfu/只），每周1次。给药4次后，处死小鼠、剥离完整移植瘤组织，测量肿瘤体积及质量，肺组织病理切片经H-E染色后观察肿瘤肺部转移结节，流式细胞术检测脾组织中T细胞亚群比例，ELISA法检测小鼠血清IL-6及TNF-α水平，利用GEPIA在线分析乳腺肿中迁移相关蛋白mRNA的表达，免疫组化法检测肿瘤中MMP-2、MMP-9与E-cadherin的表达，利用蛋白-蛋白对接技术预测VSV-IN的G蛋白、M蛋白与ERK2、E-cadherin的亲和力。结果：经MOI=10、100的VSV-IN处理48 h后，4T1细胞死亡率显著高于对照组（均P<0.01）；与对照组相比，VSV-IN组（MOI=10）细胞迁移率明显降低（P<0.01），MMP-9 mRNA的相对表达量明显降低（P<0.05）；与对照组小鼠相比，VSV-IN组移植瘤生长较对照组减缓且终点体积显著减小（P<0.05），VSV-IN组小鼠肺转移结节数量显著减少[（12.86±1.86） vs （24±3.67）个，P<0.01]，脾内CD4+ T、CD8+ T细胞比例显著升高（均P<0.05），血清TNF-α、IL-6含量显著升高（均P<0.01）；GEPIA分析发现在乳腺癌中E-cadherin、MMP-9表达水平均高于癌旁组织（P<0.05）；VSV-IN组小鼠肿瘤细胞内MMP-9表达明显低于对照组（P<0.05）；VSV-IN的G、M蛋白与ERK2的结合自由能分别为–11.7 kcal/mol、–6.4 kcal/mol。结论：野生型VSV-IN可抑制4T1细胞荷瘤小鼠的移植瘤生长及转移，这可能与其促进抗肿瘤免疫及调控迁移相关蛋白表达有关。

Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists ; Consensus ; Cardiovascular System ; Cardiology ; Asia