Objective To investigate the effects of Xuetong capsule on blood lipids and liver lesion in hyperlipidemic model animals. Methods Sixty ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups. The normal control group was fed with normal diet, the other groups were fed with high-fat diet to induce hyperlipidemia. After four weeks feeding, the three groups were given low, middle, and high doses of Xuetong capsules （0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/kg） by gavage, and the positive drug control group was given atorvastatin calcium （1.5 mg/kg） by gavage. The model group was given solvent （0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium）. After treatment for 8 weeks, the body weight, organ index, blood lipids, blood glucose and liver function index were measured. The liver oil red staining was used to determine the lipid droplet content, and quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Results The body weight, the weight of liver and spleen were significantly increased by high-fat diet. High-fat diet increased the organ indexes of the liver and spleen, the degree of liver oil red staining, and also significantly increased the levels of glucose, triglyceride （TG）, cholesterol （CHOL）, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） in serum. Compared with the model group, the level of TG has no significant change in low, middle and high doses groups. The level of CHOL in serum was reduced by Xuetong capsule with a dose dependent manner. There were significant difference between the model group and middle, high doses groups. The results of LDL-C were similar, the level of LDL-C was significantly reduced by middle and high doses groups [middle dose (0.55±0.21) mmol/L, high dose (0.52±0.22) mmol/L vs (0.81±0.29) mmol/L in model group, P<0.05]. Compared with the normal control, there was no significant difference in HDL-C levels between the high-fat model and each drug-treated group. Liver function showed that Xuetong capsules significantly reduced the degree of liver oil red staining and decreased the level of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） induced by high-fat diet. The body weight, the weight and organ indexes of liver and spleen were significantly reduced by positive drug control group. The levels of CHOL, LDL-C, and TG, and the degree of liver oil red staining were also significantly reduced in positive drug control group. Further studies have shown that high dose of Xuetong capsules significantly reduced the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 induced by high-fat diet （P<0.05）, while the reduction of IL-1β was not so significant （P>0.05）. Conclusion Xuetong capsules significantly reduced the body weight of animals with high fat, liver size, fat deposition, inflammatory damage and also significantly reduced blood lipid CHOL and LDL-C levels and transaminase elevation. The above effects may be related to Xuetong capsules reducing the expression of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-6 in the liver.

Objective To investigate the effects of Xuetong capsule on blood lipids and liver lesion in hyperlipidemic model animals. Methods Sixty ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups. The normal control group was fed with normal diet, the other groups were fed with high-fat diet to induce hyperlipidemia. After four weeks feeding, the three groups were given low, middle, and high doses of Xuetong capsules （0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/kg） by gavage, and the positive drug control group was given atorvastatin calcium （1.5 mg/kg） by gavage. The model group was given solvent （0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium）. After treatment for 8 weeks, the body weight, organ index, blood lipids, blood glucose and liver function index were measured. The liver oil red staining was used to determine the lipid droplet content, and quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Results The body weight, the weight of liver and spleen were significantly increased by high-fat diet. High-fat diet increased the organ indexes of the liver and spleen, the degree of liver oil red staining, and also significantly increased the levels of glucose, triglyceride （TG）, cholesterol （CHOL）, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） in serum. Compared with the model group, the level of TG has no significant change in low, middle and high doses groups. The level of CHOL in serum was reduced by Xuetong capsule with a dose dependent manner. There were significant difference between the model group and middle, high doses groups. The results of LDL-C were similar, the level of LDL-C was significantly reduced by middle and high doses groups [middle dose (0.55±0.21) mmol/L, high dose (0.52±0.22) mmol/L vs (0.81±0.29) mmol/L in model group, P<0.05]. Compared with the normal control, there was no significant difference in HDL-C levels between the high-fat model and each drug-treated group. Liver function showed that Xuetong capsules significantly reduced the degree of liver oil red staining and decreased the level of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） induced by high-fat diet. The body weight, the weight and organ indexes of liver and spleen were significantly reduced by positive drug control group. The levels of CHOL, LDL-C, and TG, and the degree of liver oil red staining were also significantly reduced in positive drug control group. Further studies have shown that high dose of Xuetong capsules significantly reduced the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 induced by high-fat diet （P<0.05）, while the reduction of IL-1β was not so significant （P>0.05）. Conclusion Xuetong capsules significantly reduced the body weight of animals with high fat, liver size, fat deposition, inflammatory damage and also significantly reduced blood lipid CHOL and LDL-C levels and transaminase elevation. The above effects may be related to Xuetong capsules reducing the expression of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-6 in the liver.

ObjectiveTo investigate the lower limb muscle synergy patterns during jumping in patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). MethodsFrom March to November, 2022, 23 patients after ACLR were enrolled as observation group, and 24 healthy ones matched in height, body mass and exercise level were recruited as control group at Wuhan Sports University. Surface electromyography (sEMG) data of lower limb muscles were collected during a single-leg vertical jump task. Non-negative matrix factorization was applied for synergy analysis. The number of synergies, variance accounted for, synergy structure (muscle weight) and activation coefficient were extracted. ResultsThree types of muscle synergy patterns were identified on the affected side and contralateral side of the observation group, and the control group. For Synergy 1, the weight of biceps femoris was higher on both the affected and contralateral sides than in the control group (P < 0.01); the weight of semitendinosus was higher on the affected side than on the contralateral side (P < 0.05). For Synergy 2, the weight of lateral gastrocnemius and soleus were higher on both sides of the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). For Synergy 3, the weight of gluteus maximus was lower on the affected side than on the contralateral side and in the control group (P < 0.05); the weight of tibialis anterior was higher on the affected side than on the contralateral side and in the control group (P < 0.001); the weight of vastus lateralis was lower on the contralateral side than on the affected side and in the control group (P < 0.001). In the observation group, the peak activation time and stop time of Synergy 3 were delayed bilaterally (P < 0.05). ConclusionPatients after ACLR exhibit altered structural and temporal characteristics of lower limb muscle synergy during jump task. The hamstrings show increased participation during the pre-activation phase, and calf muscles undertake more stabilizing functions during the landing phase.

ObjectiveHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents 90% of all primary liver cancers. The main risk factors associated with HCC include viral hepatitis (B and/or C), alcohol abuse, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which progressively advance to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately evolve into HCC. Surgical resection represents the most effective treatment for HCC, while recent advances in immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies, have provided improved treatment prospects for patients with unresectable HCC. However, the complex metabolic heterogeneity of HCC limits the therapeutic efficacy. Metabolic intermediates acyl-CoA not only provide energy and substrates for numerous biochemical reactions but also serve as donors for protein lysine acylation, a major class of post-translational modification (PTM). Therefore, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying protein lysine acylation and hepatocarcinogenesis is urgently needed. MethodsThe levels of protein lysine acylation and silence information regulator 5 (SIRT5) expression levels in clinical HCC samples were analyzed by Western blot. Quantitative malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples were analyzed by antibody-based affinity enrichment coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The proliferation of HCC cells was analyzed with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, the apoptosis was quantified by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining coupled with flow cytometry, and the ability of cells to migrate was assayed by Transwell assays. The enzymatic activity of glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) was quantified. Transgenic mice with hepatic overexpression of SIRT5 were constructed using CRISPR-Cas9, and primary hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by administration of diethylnitrosamine. ResultsWestern blot analysis indicated that the expression level of SIRT5 was elevated in clinical samples from HCC patients, and the levels of lysine malonylation, glutarylation, and succinylation were significantly reduced in HCC tissues. Knockout of SIRT5 in MHCC-97H and MHCC-97L hepatoma cells suppressed cell proliferation, and increased the percentage of apoptotic cells significantly. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of the differentially malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples revealed significant enrichment in two major classes of biological processes: core energy metabolism (e.g., glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, tricarboxylic acid metabolic process, fatty acid beta oxidation) and detoxification and oxidative stress response (e.g., response to toxic substance, chemical carcinogenesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS)). SIRT5 removes malonylation from lysine residues in GSTM1 and restores its detoxification activity, which is crucial for the survival of hepatocytes under stressed conditions. More importantly, in vivo experiment indicated that hepatic-specific overexpression of SIRT5 in mice accelerated diethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis, indicating the critical role of SIRT5 in HCC progression. ConclusionThis study highlights the previously unrecognized SIRT5-GSTM1 axis as a key regulator in hepatocarcinogenesis, and suggests a potential target for the treatment of patients with HCC.

The patient was a 56-year-old man who presented with abnormal urinalysis findings of over one month’s duration. Serological tests revealed an elevated serum free light chain κ/λ ratio, and immunofixation electrophoresis detected an IgG-κ monoclonal band. Renal biopsy demonstrated membranous nephropathy, with electron-dense deposits observed in the subepithelial space and mesangium on electron microscopy. Immunofluorescence confirmed glomerular deposits of IgG_1/IgG₃-κ. Based on clinical manifestation, bone marrow flow cytology, and lymph node pathology, the patient was diagnosed with small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), and membranous nephropathy with light chain-restricted deposition (IgG₁/IgG₃-κ) secondary to SLL. After receiving obinutuzumab treatment, the patient’s proteinuria partially remitted, the lymph nodes significantly shrank, and clinical remission was achieved.

It is considered that "latent wind in stomach collaterals" is the core pathogenesis underlying the inflammation-caner transformation of helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis （HpAG）. The concept of "latent wind in stomach collaterals" integrates stomach wind theory， latent pathogen theory， and collateral disease theory， referring to wind pathogen deeply hidden in the stomach collaterals， characterized by both external and internal wind pathogen as well as latent pathogen that remain concealed and may be triggered under certain conditions. Accordingly， the Correa cascade is reclassified into four stages including the prodromal stage， progressive stage， transitional stage and carcinogenic stage. In the prodromal stage， the fundamental pathogenesis is described as "wind toxin invading externally with collateral deficiency and stirring of wind". In the progressive stage， wind is accompanied by qi constraint， fire pathogen， and dryness pathogen， manifesting as "wind pathogen complicated by constraint" "wind-fire agitation" and "wind-dryness interaction". In the transitional stage， "wind transforming into phlegm-drool and stomach collaterals being obstructed by stasis" is identified as a critical window for disease reversal. In the carcinogenesis stage， "wind-qi hyperactivity leading to pathological transformation， and collateral damage resulting in abdominal masses" drives tumor progression and metastasis. This paper proposes the treatment principle of "wind-dispelling throughout the entire process and stage-based treatment"， according to the pathological evolution of "collateral deficiency-collateral stagnation-collateral accumulation". In the prodromal stage， it is suggested to dispel wind and resolve toxin， fortify spleen and tonify collaterals； in the progressive and transitional stage， the method of dispelling wind pathogen， clearing phlegm and eliminating stasis should be used； in the carcinogenesis stage， it is suggested to expel wind and remove pathogens from collaterals， disperse concretions and eliminate tumors.

Objective To investigate the expression characteristics, prognostic value, and correlation with immune infiltration of vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 2 (VIPR2) in esophageal adenocarcinoma (ESAD). Methods Transcriptome data of 80 ESAD and 10 normal tissues were retrieved from the TCGA database. Immune-related differential genes were identified by integrating the ImmPort database. Cox regression analysis was applied to evaluate the prognostic significance of VIPR2. GSVA and ssGSEA were employed to assess the association between VIPR2 and immune-cell infiltration. Functional enrichment was performed using GO, KEGG, and GSEA. Results VIPR2 expression was significantly downregulated in ESAD tissues (P<0.05). High VIPR2 expression was associated with prolonged overall survival (HR=0.246, P=0.047), serving as an independent prognostic factor. Fifteen immune-cell types, including CD8⁺ T cells, NK cells, and dendritic cells, showed significantly higher infiltration in the VIPR2-high group, whereas Th17-cell abundance was decreased (P<0.05). Enrichment analyses revealed that VIPR2 participated in multiple tumor-immune pathways and was positively correlated with PD-1 and CTLA-4 expression (P<0.01). Conclusion VIPR2 may serve as a potential biomarker in the prognostic assessment and could modulate the tumor-immune microenvironment in ESAD.

Digestive system malignant tumors （DT） are one of the leading causes of death globally and carry a heavy economic burden. Gut microbiota plays a critical role in maintaining host health， including providing nutrition， defending against pathogens， and promoting immune development. In recent years， more and more studies have shown that dysbiosis of gut microbiota is closely associated with DT such as gastric cancer， liver cancer， and colon cancer. Therefore， targeted regulation of gut microbiota plays a potential role in inhibiting the growth and metastasis of DT， while its specific regulatory mechanism remains unclear. As the studies about the anti-tumor effects of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， especially the basic and clinical studies on the regulation of gut microbiota by TCM in tumor treatment， have been growing， the therapeutic effects of TCM on DT have attracted much attention. This paper provides a systematic review of the relationship between gut microbiota and DT， as well as the related studies on the modulation of gut microbiota by TCM against DT， with the aim of providing a foundation and direction for future basic and clinical studies on DT. The literature review shows that gut microbiota influence the occurrence and development of DT through multiple pathways. These pathways include triggering chronic inflammation， producing oncogenic metabolites， inducing genomic instability， regulating the immune system， and altering the tumor microenvironment. TCM can exert anti-DT effects by regulating the composition of gut microbiota， modulating gut microbiota metabolites， repairing intestinal barrier function， and influencing immune functions. Therefore， understanding the relationship between gut microbiota and DT and the regulatory mechanisms of TCM may provide new strategies for future prevention and treatment of DT.

ObjectiveTo delineate imaging findings using an imaging platform and investigate the correlation between MRI characteristics of spinal cord atrophy and clinical diagnosis in children with spinal cord injury (SCI). MethodsImaging data of 150 children with SCI admitted to Beijing Bo'ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, from January, 2002 to March, 2024 were collected and imported into the imaging platform. The anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the middle part of the spinal cord at the cross-section with the most severe atrophy were measured, and the relevant indicators of the previous normal spinal cord segment were measured as controls; the radiomic features were extracted. Clinical data of the children including gender, age, cause of injury, sensory level, motor level, spinal cord injury level, injury severity and disease course were collected. ResultsSpinal cord atrophy was identified in 81 cases (54%), among which 78 cases (96%) were American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade A and 3 cases (4%) were AIS grade C. The upper boundary of the spinal cord atrophy site strongly correlated with the injury level, motor level and sensory level (r > 0.8, P < 0.001). ConclusionMore than half of children with SCI may develop secondary spinal cord atrophy, the vast majority of whom suffer from complete spinal cord injury; the upper boundary of spinal cord atrophy is correlated with the injury level.

ObjectiveTo develop a full-process data platform of renal rehabilitation, diagnosis and quality control information. MethodsA hierarchical architectural design was proposed, adhering to clinical pathway models and standardized data protocols. The platform comprehensively covered assessment, intervention, follow-up and quality control for maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. By integrating multidisciplinary resources and standardizing rehabilitation workflows, it delivered standardized and intelligent rehabilitation services. ResultsThe platform achieved standardized and intelligent management of rehabilitation services, effectively improved the physiological function, psychological state and quality of life convenience for MHD patients, while significantly reduced the economic and care burden on patients' families and society. ConclusionThe rehabilitation service model based on a full-process data platform may provide scientific and systematic support for MHD patients.