ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Astragali Radix-mediated changes in gut microbiota on treating type 2 diabetes （T2DM）. MethodsA 12-week randomized， placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled eighty patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and poor glycemic control in the Qi deficiency type. All patients received insulin therapy. The observation group （40 cases） was administered with Astragali Radix Granules， while the control group （40 cases） received a placebo. Both treamtents were taken orally twice daily. Changes in gut microbiota were assessed by 16s rDNA sequencing. Serum glucagon-like peptide-1 （GLP-1） levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Glucose metabolism indicators including fasting blood glucose （FPG）， 2-hour postprandial blood glucose （2 h PG），glycated albumin（GA）， and glycated hemoglobin （HbA1c） were evaluated. Pancreatic function was evaluated using fasting C-peptide （FCP）， 2-hour postprandial C-peptide （2 h CP）， and C-peptide area under the curve （AUC_cp）. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， clinical efficacy， and safety indicators were also observed. ResultsIn terms of glucose metabolism indicators， compared with the baseline， both groups exhibited significantly lower FPG， 2 h PG， GA and HbA1C （P<0.01），while FCP， 2 h CP and AUC_cp were significantly higher （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group after the treatment， the observation group showed significantly lower FPG， 2 h PG， GA and HbA1C（P<0.05， P<0.01），and significantly higher FCP， 2 h CP and AUC_cp （P<0.05， P<0.01）， indicating that Astragali Radix can improve glucose metabolism. In terms of the diversity of gut microbiota， no significant differences were detected in the Chao1， Shannon and Simpson indexes of the two groups compared with their respective baselines. However， compared with the post-treatment control group， the observation group demonstrated significant increases in the Chao1， Shannon and Simpson indexes （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The β-diversity analysis showed significant separation in gut microbiota composition before and after treatment in both groups， indicating that Astragali Radix can significantly alter the structure and improve the diversity of gut microbiota. At the phylum level， compared with the baseline， both groups showed a significant increase in the relative abundance of Bacteroidota（P<0.01）. The relative abundance of the potentially harmful phylum Proteobacteria was significantly lower in the observation Group after treatment （P<0.01）. Compared with the post-treatment control group， the observation group had a significantly higher relative abundance of Bacteroidota（P<0.01）. No significant difference was found in Firmicutes/Bacteroidota （F/B） ratio between the two groups after treatment， and other phyla showed no significant differences. At the genus level， compared with the baseline， the observation group exhibited a significant increase in Bacteroides （P<0.01） and a significant decrease in Escherichia-Shigella （P<0.01）， whereas no significant difference was seen in the control group . Compared with the control group after treatment， the observation group after treatment had a significantly higher relative abundance of Bacteroides （P<0.01）. No significant differences were seen in other genera. Linear discriminant analysis （LDA） identified potential characteristics taxa： in the observation group， Bacteroidota at the phylum level and Bacteroides and Dubosiella at the genus level， in the control group， Proteobacteria at the phylum level as well as Barnesiella and Staphylococcus at the genus level. Correlation analysis based on a heatmap revealed that GLP-1 levels were positively correlated with Firmicutes， F/B ratio and Fusobacterium， and negatively correlated with Bacteroidota， Proteobacteria， Bacteroides and Escherichia-Shigella. In terms of clinical efficacy， compared with the control group， the total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher （P<0.05）. Compared with the baseline， the scores for shortness of breath， fatigue， weakness， spontaneous sweating and reluctance to speak significantly decreased in both groups （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the score for weakness was significantly lower in the observation group （P<0.01），indicating that Astragali Radix could improve clinical symptoms and alleviate weakness symptoms. In terms of safety， compared with the baseline， alanine aminotransferase （ALT） levels significantly decreased in both groups （P<0.05，P<0.01），indicating that Astragali Radix did not induce any significant abnormalities in liver and kidney functions. ConclusionAstragali Radix demonstrates the potential to significantly improve the gut microbiota environment in patients of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes with Qi deficiency. The therapeutic effect may contribute to glycemic control， possibly mediated by an elevation in GLP-1 level. These findings may support its further clinical investigations and potential applications.

Objective To summarize the clinical efficacy of modified Morrow surgery in the treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy treated with modified Morrow surgery at Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University from 2020 to 2023. Results A total of 318 patients were enrolled, including 156 males and 162 females, with an average age of (55.6±13.1) years. Preoperative echocardiography showed a mean interventricular septal thickness of (18.1±3.8) mm, peak left ventricular outflow tract pressure difference of (86.4±24.9) mm Hg. The surgery time was (162.3±51.0) min, extracorporeal circulation time was (80.9±31.0) min, and aortic occlusion time was (44.8±20.8) min. After the surgery, transesophageal echocardiography showed that the interventricular septal thickness was (11.0±1.8) mm and left ventricular outflow tract peak pressure difference was (9.4±5.1) mm Hg. The incidence rate of postoperative complete left bundle branch block was 45.3%, Ⅲ° atrioventricular block was 3.8%, and postoperative newly developed atrial fibrillation was 3.1%. The postoperative hospital stay was (6.6±4.9) days, and one perioperative death occurred, with a mortality rate of 0.3%. The follow-up time was (10.3±9.4) months, during which the transthoracic echocardiography revealed a ventricular septal thickness of (12.9±2.9) mm and a peak left ventricular outflow tract pressure difference of (13.9±10.0) mm Hg. Conclusion The modified Morrow procedure for the treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy is safe and effective, with good results in the short and medium term.

Objective To explore the safety of Yttrium-90 resin microsphere selective internal radiation therapy (⁹⁰Y-SIRT) on malignant liver tumors. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 64 patients with malignant liver tumors who underwent ⁹⁰Y-SIRT from February 2023 to November 2024 at Weifang People’s Hospital. The clinical characteristics of the patients and the occurrence of adverse reactions after treatment were analyzed to assess the safety of ⁹⁰Y-SIRT. Results Among the 64 patients, there were 52 males (81.25%) and 12 females (18.75%); the average age was (56.29±11.08) years. Seven patients (10.94%) had tumors with maximum diameter of less than 5 cm, 38 patients (59.38%) had tumors with maximum diameter of 5-10 cm, and 19 patients (29.68%) had tumors with maximum diameter of greater than 10 cm. There were 47 cases (73.44%) of solitary lesions and 17 cases (26.56%) of multiple lesions; 53 cases (82.81%) were primary liver cancers and 11 cases (17.19%) were metastatic liver cancers. Of the 64 patients, 63 successfully completed the Technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin (^99mTc-MAA) perfusion test and received the ⁹⁰Y-SIRT; one patient received ⁹⁰Y-SIRT after the second ^99mTc-MAA perfusion test due to a work error. The most common adverse reactions included grade 1 alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation in 26 cases (40.62%) and grade 2 in 2 cases (9.37%), grade 1 aspartate aminotransferase (AST) elevation in 27 cases (42.18%) and grade 2 in 7 cases (10.93%); grade 1 nausea in 17 cases (26.56%) and grade 2 in 6 cases (9.37%); grade 1 abdominal pain in 12 cases (18.75%), grade 2 in 5 cases (7.81%), and grade 3 in 1 case (1.56%); grade 1 vomiting in 11 cases (17.18%), grade 2 in 5 cases (7.81%), and grade 3 in 1 case (1.56%). Conclusion The adverse reactions of ⁹⁰Y-SIRT for treating malignant liver tumors are mild, indicating good safety.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of Jinkui shenqi pill and its potential mechanism on diabetic nephropathy-related osteoporosis （DNOP） in rats. METHODS The rats were randomly divided into blank control group， control group， model group， Jingui shenqi pill low-， medium- and high-dose groups （0.62， 1.24， 2.48 g/kg）， and positive control group （denosumab 3 mg/ kg）， with 12 cases in each group. Except for the blank control group and the control group， models of DNOP were constructed in the remaining groups by high-glucose and high-fat forage， 3% fructose solution for feeding+intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin solution. At 2 d after successful molding， Jingui shenqi pill low-， medium- and high-dose groups， and positive control group were given intragastric administration or subcutaneous injection of the corresponding drugs， once a day， for consecutive 8 weeks. After the last administration， bone mineral density （BMD） and serum bone metabolism-related indexes [osteocalcin （OC）， calcium， phosphorus， alkaline phosphatase （ALP）， tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase （TRAP）] were detected. The pathological changes of right femoral tissues were observed， and the expressions of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand （RANKL）/receptor activator of NF-κB （RANK）/osteoprotegerin （OPG） pathway-related mRNAs and proteins in left femoral tissues were detected. RESULTS Compared with the blank control group and the control group， there was rupture of bone trabecula and severe structural damage in the model group， and tissue space was obvious. BMD and ALP activities， mRNA and protein expressions of OPG were significantly decreased or down-regulated， while the levels of OC， calcium and phosphorus， TRAP activity， mRNA and protein expressions of RANKL and RANK were significantly increased or up-regulated （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， the number of bone trabeculae was increased in all Jingui shenqi pill groups， and the arrangement of bone trabeculae was more regular and dense. The above indexes generally were improved in a certain dose-dependent manner （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Jingui shenqi pill can promote osteogenesis and regulate the balance of bone metabolism in DNOP rats， which may be related to down-regulating the expressions of RANKL and RANK， and up-regulating the expression of OPG.

Objective To explore the efficiency improvement in segmenting neural network with the application of Transformer + U-Net artificial intelligence (AI) and modeling with the application of Python scripts in three-dimensional (3D) printing brachytherapy. Methods A Transformer + U-Net AI neural network model was constructed, and Adam optimizer was used to ensure rapid gradient descent. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging data of patients were standardized and processed as self-made data sets. The training set was used to train AI and the optimal result weight parameters were saved. The test set was used to evaluate the AI ability. Python programming language was used to write an automated script to obtain the output segmentation image and convert it to the STL file for import. The source applicator and needle could be automatically modeled. The time of automatic segmentation and modeling and the time of manual segmentation and modeling were entered by two people, and the difference was verified by paired t-test. Results Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), mean intersection over union (MIOU), and Hausdorff distance (HD95) were used for evaluation. DSC was 0.9341, MIOU was 0.8762, and mean HD95 was 2.516. The mean time of manual segmentation was 1187 s, and the mean time of AI segmentation was 145 s (P < 0.01). The mean time of manual modeling was 321 s, and the mean time of modeling with Python automated scripts was 18 s (P < 0.01). Conclusion The application of Transformer + U-Net automatic segmentation and Python automated scripts can effectively improve work efficiency in the 3D printing brachytherapy for cervical cancer.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical clinical condition characterized by rapid renal function decline, with high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown potential effects on mitigating oxidative stress and programmed cell death in AKI models. Scutellaria barbata D. Don (SB) and Scleromitrion diffusum (Willd.) R. J. Wang (SD), a classic TCM herbal pair exhibited anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Using advanced chromatographic separation technology, we enriched the effective fractions of water extracts from SB-SD, obtaining self-assembled herbal nanoparticles (SB and SD nanoparticles, SSNPs) rich in flavonoids and terpenoids. These SSNPs demonstrated robust antioxidant properties in vitro and mitigated AKI progression in vivo by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. Oral administration of SSNPs in mice resulted in absorption into the bloodstream, formation of a protein corona, reduced macrophage phagocytosis, and enhanced bioavailability and renal targeting. Furthermore, we investigated the self-assembly principle of SSNPs using representative flavonoids and terpenoids. Kinetic studies and in situ transmission electron microscopy (in situ TEM) revealed that these compounds self-assemble via supramolecular forces like hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions, forming stable nanostructures. This study elucidates the renoprotective effects and mechanisms of SB and SD, and provides a novel approach for the development of TCM-based nanomedicines, highlighting the potential of nano-TCM in AKI treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of curcumin on lipid metabolism in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of curcumin (0-70 μmol/L) on proliferation of A549 and H1299 cells was assessed using MTT assay, and 20 and 40 μmol/L curcumin was used in the subsequent experiments. The effect of curcumin on lipid metabolism was evaluated using cellular uptake assay, wound healing assay, triglyceride (TG)/free fatty acid (NEFA) measurements, and Oil Red O staining. Western blotting was performed to detect the expressions of PGC-1α, PPAR-α, and HIF-1α in curcumin-treated cells. Network pharmacology was used to predict the metabolic pathways, and the results were validated by Western blotting. In a nude mouse model bearing A549 cell xenograft, the effects of curcumin (20 mg/kg) on tumor growth and lipid metabolism were assessed by measuring tumor weight and observing the changes in intracellular lipid droplets. RESULTS: Curcumin concentration-dependently inhibited the proliferation of A549 and H1299 cells and significantly reduced TG and NEFA levels and intracellular lipid droplets. Western blotting revealed that curcumin significantly upregulated PGC-1α and PPAR‑α expressions in the cells. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis predicted significant involvement of the HIF-1 signaling pathway in curcumin-treated NSCLC, suggesting a potential interaction between HIF-1α and PPAR‑α. Western blotting confirmed that curcumin downregulated the expression of HIF-1α. In the tumor-bearing mice, curcumin treatment caused significant reduction of the tumor weight and the number of lipid droplets in the tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS Curcumin inhibits NSCLC cell proliferation and lipid metabolism by downregulating the HIF-1α pathway.
Curcumin/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism* ; Animals ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Mice, Nude ; Down-Regulation ; Mice ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; PPAR alpha/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; A549 Cells

Objective To observe the therapeutic efficacy of Jisheng Shenqi Pills combined with endocrine therapy in alleviating lower urinary tract obstruction symptoms of patients with advanced prostatecancer(PCa).Methods A total of 68 patients with advanced PCa complicated by lower uri-nary tract obstruction symptoms were randomly divided into observation group and control group,with 34 cases in each group.The control group received endocrine therapy alone,while the observation group received Jisheng Shenqi Pills on the basis of the control group.Both groups underwent a course of 3-month treatment.The total therapeutic effectiveness rate,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,maximum urinary flow rate(Qmax),residual urinary volume(RUV),International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS),prostate-specific antigen(PSA)levels,and Quality of Life(QOL)Scale scores were compared between the two groups.Results The total therapeutic effectiveness rate in the observation group was 94.12％,which was significantly higher than 82.35％in the control group(P＜0.05).After treatment,TCM syndrome scores decreased in both groups,with the obser-vation group had significantly lower scores than the control group(P＜0.05).Both groups exhibited an increase in Qmax and a decrease in RUV after treatment,with the observation group had significant-ly higher Qmax and lower RUV compared to the control group(P＜0.05).PSA level decreased signif-icantly in both groups after treatment(P＜0.05),but no significant difference was observed between the two groups(P＞0.05).IPSS score was decreased while QOL score was increased in both groups after treatment,with the observation group had significantly lower IPSS score and higher QOL score compared to the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Jisheng Shenqi Pills combined with endo-crine therapy effectively alleviates urinary obstruction symptoms,improves TCM syndromes,and en-hances quality of life in patients with advanced PCa.

Objective:To explore the surgical technique and results of three-dimensional aortic valve anatomic repair for bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) with aortic regurgitation (AR).Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. From August 2021 to December 2023, 130 consecutive patients with BAV-AR underwent aortic valve anatomic repair at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University,and the data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 115 males and 15 females, aged (38.6±11.7) years (range: 15 to 67 years). All patients received modified aortic root reconstruction, to do three-dimensional root remodeling, including the basal ring, sinus of Valsalva and sino-tubular junction simultaneously. Perioperative and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. Comparisons between groups were performed using independent samples t-test, Wilcoxon paired signed-rank test, or χ2 test. Results:No patient transferred to valve replacement during the operation. The cardiopulmonary bypass time ( M(IQR)) was 109(34) minutes (range:67 to 247 minutes), and the aortic cross-clamp time was 76(26) minutes (range: 32 to 158 minutes). Preoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed 123 patients (94.6%) presented with moderate or severe regurgitation. Immediately postoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed no regurgitation in 22 patients (16.9%), trace regurgitation in 81 patients (62.3%) and mild regurgitation in 27 patients (20.8%). Follow up was completed in all patients, with a follow-up of 5.5(9.4) months (range: 0.1 to 27.6 months). No mortality was observed during follow-up. Echocardiography was obtained in 112 patients at the latest follow-up, including no regurgitation in 4 patients (3.6%), trace regurgitation in 58 patients (51.8%), mild regurgitation in 45 patients (40.2%), moderate regurgitation in 4 patients (3.6%), and severe regurgitation in 1 patient (0.9%). Conclusion:For patients with BAV-AR who have good valve quality and no severe aortic sinus dilation, the recent outcomes of three-dimensional anatomical repair technique, focusing on overall remodeling of the aortic root, are satisfactory.