ObjectiveBased on analytic hierarchy process（AHP）-criteria importance through intercriteria correlation（CRITIC） hybrid weighting method， grey relational analysis and backpropagation artificial neural network（BP-ANN）， to optimize the water extraction process of Qizhi prescription， so as to provide an experimental basis for optimization of the preparation process of this prescription and the establishment of quality standards. MethodsL₉（3⁴） orthogonal test was employed， and the AHP-CRITIC hybrid weighting method was utilized to determine the weight coefficients of the quality fractions of various components， including astragaloside Ⅳ， polygalaxanthone Ⅲ， calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside， tenuifolin， and 3，6′-disinapoylsucrose， as well as the dry extract yield. The comprehensive score of each factor level combination in the orthogonal test were calculated as evaluation indicator to select the optimal extraction process parameters. The effects of extraction times， extraction time， and solvent dosage on the aqueous extraction process of the formula were investigated through intuitive analysis， variance analysis， and grey relational analysis. Meanwhile， a BP-ANN model was established to reverse-predict the optimal extraction process parameters of Qizhi prescription， and the optimized process parameters were validated. ResultsThe weight coefficients of the five index components（astragaloside Ⅳ， tenuifolin， calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside， polygalaxanthone Ⅲ， and 3，6′-disinapoylsucrose） and dry extract yield were 25.7%， 20.82%， 16.41%， 12.45%， 15.96% and 8.67%， respectively. The optimized extraction process parameters were extracted 3 times with 8， 6， 6 times the amount of water， each time for 1 h. The network prediction results of BP-ANN test samples were consistent with the orthogonal test results， and the mean square error（MSE） of the predicted and measured values of the network was <1%. The water extraction process of Qizhi prescription analyzed and predicted by relevant mathematical models was stable and feasible， which could effectively improve the extraction efficiency of the active ingredients of Astragali Radix and Polygalae Radix， and the average comprehensive score of the validation test was 90.85 with the relative standard deviation（RSD） of 1.55%. ConclusionThis study establishes a water extraction process for compound Qizhi granules， and the optimized extraction process can effectively improve the extraction efficiency of active ingredients， which provides useful references for the optimization of preparation process and the establishment of quality standards for other clinical experience formulas.

Nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） is an important intracellular transcription factor widely involved in the processes such as immune response， inflammatory response， cell proliferation， and apoptosis. The abnormal activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in various liver diseases including chronic hepatitis， liver fibrosis， liver cirrhosis， and hepatocellular carcinoma. Extensive studies have shown that inhibiting NF-κB activity may effectively reduce inflammation and fibrosis and improve metabolic disorders. Several natural compounds， such as matrine and salvianolic acid B， have shown the potential in suppressing NF-κB activity， thereby exerting anti-inflammatory， anti-fibrotic， and anti-tumor effects. This article systematically reviews the critical role of the NF-κB signaling pathway in liver diseases and its potential as a therapeutic target， in order to highlight its potential as a therapeutic target for liver diseases and provide new directions for the treatment of liver diseases.

Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） is a malignant tumor with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide. Recent studies have shown that neutrophil extracellular traps （NETs） play an important role in the development， progression， and immune escape of HCC. NETs are released by neutrophils and mainly consist of DNA， histones， and antimicrobial molecules， and in addition to immune defense， they are also involved in the initiation， metastasis， and thrombosis of HCC. This article elaborates on the formation and regulatory mechanisms of NETs， explores their potential mechanisms in the initiation， metastasis， immune escape， and thrombosis of HCC， and discusses the prospect of NETs as a target for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC， in order to provide new ideas for the precise treatment of HCC in the future and promote the early diagnosis and effective treatment of HCC.

ObjectiveTo investigate the brain absorption components of Tianyuan Zhitong prescription and their distribution based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS）， desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging（DESI-MSI） and hyperspectral imaging techniques. MethodTen BALB/c mice were randomly divided into blank group（n=3） and administration group（n=7）， the administration group was gavaged with 0.3 mL of Tianyuan Zhitong prescription liquid at a concentration of about 5 g·mL^-1 of the raw material， and the blank group was gavaged with an equal volume of normal saline， and the whole brain of the mice were taken for the preparation of tissue homogenates and frozen sections， respectively. The tissue homogenates were qualitatively analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS for the brain absorption components in positive and negative ion modes， frozen sections were used for imaging to observe the distribution of these components in the brain. Cytoviva dark-field enhancement microscope was used to perform hyperspectral imaging scanning on the brain sections of mice from each group， and the scattered light data of at least 1 000 pixels in the visible-near-infrared（400-1 000 nm） band in the microscopic field of view were collected and average spectrum were created， which were used to compare the components in the brain tissues of mice from the blank and administration groups. ResultA total of 27 brain absorption components of Tianyuan Zhitong prescription were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS， including 10 organic acids， 5 glycosides， 4 alkaloids， 1 phenol， 4 flavonoids， 2 phthalides and 1 other compound， which were mainly derived from Gastrodiae Rhizoma， Chuanxiong Rhizoma， vinegar-processed Corydalis Rhizoma， Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and processed Morindae Officinalis Radix. A total of 14 components were identified by mass spectrometry imaging， of which ferulic acid， tetrahydropalmatine and N-methyl dehydroberberine were mainly distributed in the cerebral cortex， vitamin B₅， vemonoic acid and ricinoleic acid were mainly distributed in the hypothalamus， elemicin， octadecenic acid and octadecanoic acid were mainly distributed in the cortex and hypothalamus， while senkyunolide B， ligustilide， linoleic acid， 9，12-octadecadienoyl ethyl ester and spinosin were distributed in most regions of the brain tissues. Hyperspectral imaging showed that in the visible-near-infrared band range， the average spectrum of the brain tissues of mice in the administration group was significantly red-shifted， indicating that there were differences in the physical properties or contents of the chemical components in the brain between mice in the blank group and those in the administration group， and further verified the results of mass spectrometry imaging. ConclusionThrough the combination of UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and imaging techniques， the pharmacodynamic components of Tianyuan Zhitong prescription in the treatment of headache and the regional characteristics in brain tissue are clarified， which can provide reference for the selection of the index components of the research on the quality standard of this prescription and the research on the mechanism of the pharmacological effect.

Inflammation is closely associated with the development of cancer. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) actively participate in tumor-related inflammation and promote tumor growth and metastasis, while under certain conditions, TAM also show cytotoxicity and tumor killing activity and thus inhibit the progression of cancer. Crosstalk between TAM and neighboring cells is closely associated with the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and drug resistance during treatment. This article summarizes the role of macrophages in HCC and the crosstalk between macrophages and other cells, so as to provide new strategies for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

ObjectiveBased on serum pharmacochemistry and ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS） the transitional components in the serum of rats after intragastric administration of water extract of Alismatis Rhizoma（AR）and salt-processed Alismatis Rhizoma（SAR） were compared. MethodSD rats were randomly divided into blank group, AR group（10 g·kg^-1） and SAR group（10 g·kg^-1）, 3 rats in each group, the administration groups were given AR and SAR aqueous extracts by gavage, respectively, and the blank group was given an equal volume of drinking water by gavage once in the morning and once in the evening, for 3 consecutive days. Sixty minutes after the last administration, blood was collected from the eye orbits, and the serum samples were prepared. The serum samples were prepared on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column（2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.7 μm） with the mobile phase of acetonitrile（A）-0.1% formic acid aqueous solution（B） in a gradient elution（0-10 min, 10%-50% A; 10-27 min, 50%-95%A; 27-27.1 min, 95%-10% A; 27.1-30 min, 10%A）, the data were collected at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min^-1 in positive ion mode with a scanning range of m/z 100-1 200. Based on the self-constructed chemical composition library of AR, the total ion flow diagrams and secondary MS fragmentation information of the aqueous extracts of AR and SAR, as well as the administered serum and the blank serum, were compared with each other by UNIFI 1.9.2, so as to deduce the possible blood-migrating constituents and their cleavage patterns in the aqueous extracts, and the response intensity ratios of each chemical component were calculated before and after processing. ResultA total of 20 components, including 5 prototypical components and 15 metabolites, were analyzed and deduced from the serum of rats given aqueous extract of AR. And 14 components, including 5 prototypical components and 9 metabolites, were analyzed and deduced from the serum of rats given aqueous extract of SAR. Of these, 13 components were common to both of them, including 5 prototypical components and 8 metabolites. The 5 prototypical components were 16-oxoalisol A, alisol A 24-acetate, alisol A, alisol B and alisol C. The metabolites were mainly involved in phase Ⅰ metabolism（oxidation） and phase Ⅱ metabolism（glucuronidation）. There was a big change in the intensity of response of the common components before and after salt-processing, and the response intensities of the prototypical components, 16-oxoalisol A, alisol B and alisol C, were elevated, while the type and response intensity of metabolites were generally decreased, and it was hypothesized that the metabolic rate of terpenoids might be slowed down after salt-processing of AR, so that the blood-migrating constituents could participate in the metabolism of the body more in the form of prototypes. ConclusionSalt-processing of AR may promote the absorption of prototypical components into the blood by slowing down the metabolic rate of terpenoids, which can provide support for the research on material basis of AR and SAR.

Liver failure is a common end-stage liver disease syndrome in clinical practice characterized by massive necrosis of hepatocytes leading to rapid liver failure, and it is currently believed that excessive inflammation and immune response are the core mechanisms of this disease. Endogenous lipid mediators are involved in the regulation of a variety of inflammatory processes, including initiation, maintenance, and regression, and eicosanoids and pro-decomposition lipid mediators, as well as their complex metabolic pathways and transduction signals, play a key role in the regulation of these processes. This article reviews the key role of endogenous lipid mediators in the pathophysiological mechanism of inflammation and immune dysfunction in liver failure and the potential significance and new therapeutic opportunities of lipid immune pathway in liver failure, in order to provide new ideas for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of liver failure.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of microemulsion on the distribution of index components in different phases of Zexietang extract based on high performance liquid chromatography（HPLC） and phase separation process. MethodParticle size meter and transmission electron microscope were used to characterize the colloidal particles in blank microemulsion， aqueous extract of Zexietang and microemulsion extract of Zexietang. The phase separation process was established by high-speed centrifugation and dialysis， and based on this process， the aqueous extract and microemulsion extract of Zexietang were separated into the true solution phase， the colloidal phase and the precipitation phase， respectively. The contents of six components， including atractylenolide Ⅲ， atractylenolide Ⅱ， 23-acetyl alisol C， alisol A， alisol B and alisol B 23-acetate， were determined by HPLC with the mobile phase of water（A）-acetonitrile（B） for gradient elution（0-5 min， 40%-43%B； 5-20 min， 43%-45%B； 20-45 min. 45%-60%B； 45-75 min， 60%-80%B）. The solubility of the index components in water and microemulsion was determined by saturation solubility method. ResultThe colloidal particles in the aqueous extract， microemulsion extract and blank microemulsion were all spherical， and the particle size， polydispersity index（PDI） and Zeta potential of the colloidal particles were in the order of aqueous extract >microemulsion extract >blank microemulsion. The results of phase separation showed that the colloidal phase and the true solution phase could be completely separated by dialysis for 2.5 h， and the phase separation process was tested to be stable and feasible. Compared with the aqueous extract of Zexietang， the use of microemulsion as an extraction solvent could increase the contents of atractylenolide Ⅲ， 23-acetyl alisol C， atractylenolide Ⅱ ， alisol A， alisol B and alisol B 23-acetate by 3.75， 6.82， 35.47， 10.66， 35.41， 27.75-fold， and could increase the extraction efficiencies of the latter five constituents by 2.03， 1.15， 1.70， 6.43， 5.53 times. The solubility test showed that the microemulsion could significantly improve the solubility of atractylenolide Ⅱ， alisol A， alisol B and alisol B 23-acetate， but it had less effect on the solubility of atractylenolide Ⅲ and 23-acetyl alisol C. ConclusionMicroemulsion can improve the extraction efficiency and increase the distribution of the index components in the colloidal phase state of Zexietang to different degrees， providing a reference for the feasibility of microemulsion as an extraction solvent for traditional Chinese medicine.

Glycolysis plays an important role in the development and progression of liver diseases and shows varying degrees of enhancement in different liver diseases, and it is closely associated with mitochondrial dysfunction (oxidative phosphorylation deficiency and reactive oxygen species production), which helps to fill energy production deficiency caused by impaired oxidative phosphorylation. Therefore, it might be possible to search for potential new therapies for liver diseases through targeted regulation of the key factors in aerobic glycolysis, such as hexokinase 2, pyruvate kinase M2, and other regulatory pathways. From the perspective of the association between glycolysis and liver diseases, this article elaborates on the therapeutic significance and potential value of glycolysis in liver diseases, in order to provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the pharmacological effect of Alismatis Rhizoma （AR） and its processed product on rats with edema of kidney Yin deficiency and explore the mechanism. MethodA total of 42 male SPF SD rats were randomized into normal group （equivalent volume of distilled water）， model group （equivalent volume of distilled water）， positive medicine Liuwei Diguangwan group （1.4 g·kg^-1）， low- and high-dose AR groups （1， 4 g·kg^-1， respectively）， and low- and high-dose salt-processed AR （SAR） groups （1， 4 g·kg^-1， respectively）， with six rats in each group. Adriamycin （tail vein injection） and thyroxine （gavage） were used to induce edema of kidney Yin deficiency in rats except the normal group. The administration lasted 4 weeks for all the groups. After the last administration， histopathological changes of rat kidneys were observed based on hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Serum content of triiodothyronine （T₃）， thyroxine （T₄）， follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， and testosterone （T） was determined by radioimmunoassay， and serum content of creatinine （CREA）， urea （UREA），cholesterol （CHOL） and triglyceride （TG） by automatic biochemical analyser. The levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone （GnRH）， cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP）， and cyclic guanosine monophosphate （cGMP） in plasma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the expression of aquaporin（AQP）-1 and AQP-2 and the transcription of mRNA in kidney were measured by immunohistochemistry and real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， respectively. ResultCompared with normal group， the rats in model group showed decrease in body mass and urine volume （P<0.01）， increase in water consumption （P<0.05）， infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells and fibrous tissue proliferation in the kidney， rise of the expression and transcript levels of T₃， T₄， cAMP/cGMP， CREA， FSH， AQP-1， and AQP-2 （P<0.01）， the contents of CHOL and TG were significantly increased （P<0.05）， and reduction in the levels of GnRH and T （P<0.01）. Body mass increased in both the low- and high- dose groups of AR and SAR compared with that in model group， with significant differences between the low-dose AR group and the low-dose SAR group （P<0.01）. Moreover， compared with model group， low- and high-dose AR and SAR insignificantly increased the urine volume of rats， reduced the inflammatory cells in kidney tissues， significantly decreased the levels of T₄， cAMP/cGMP， UREA， CREA， FSH， CHOL and TG in serum （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and elevated the level of GnRH （P<0.01）， high-dose AR， low- and high-dose SAR significantly lowered the transcription levels of AQP-1 and AQP-2 mRNA in the kidneys of rats （P<0.01）. ConclusionBoth AR and SAR alleviated the edema of kidney Yin deficiency in rats by down-regulating the expression of AQP-1 and AQP-2 and correcting the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal （HPG） axis disorder.