Ulcerative colitis （UC） is a common digestive disease characterized by recurrence and remission alternation，which seriously affects the life quality and physical and mental health of patients. The pathogenesis of UC is complex，and studies have shown that the occurrence and development of UC are closely related to the transduction of multiple signaling pathways. The current western medicine treatment has many problems，such as single action target，more adverse reactions，poor patient tolerance，and easy recurrence after stopping the medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine has the advantages such as multi-targets，multi-pathways， and fewer adverse reactions， elucidating that the action mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of UC is the focus of current research. Therefore， this paper conducted a systematic review on how traditional Chinese medicine exerts therapeutic effects by regulating the signaling pathways related to UC in recent years，and it was found that traditional Chinese medicine can regulate nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB），adenylate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR），Janus tyrosine protein kinase （JAK）/signal transducer and activator of transcription （STAT），phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K） /protein kinase B （Akt），NOD-like receptor thermoprotein structural domain-related protein 3 （NLRP3）/cysteine protease-1 （Caspase-1），nuclear respiratory factor 2 （Nrf2）/heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）， and several other pathways，thereby inhibiting oxidative stress and cellular pyroptosis，regulating the Tregs/Th17 cellular balance， promoting autophagic response and M2-type macrophage polarization，restoring the diversity and abundance of intestinal flora，promoting the repair of intestinal mucosal barrier function，and alleviating the inflammatory damage of UC colonic tissues. The holistic concept and evidence-based treatment of traditional Chinese medicine were combined with the modern molecular mechanism research of traditional Chinese medicine， and the traditional Chinese medicine combinations with different mechanisms， following regulation， were formulated into compound formulas or pairs of medicines according to the pattern of evidence. It is expected to achieve better therapeutic efficacy and to provide ideas and references for the modification of classic compound formulae of traditional Chinese medicine in UC treatment and clinical translation.

Background With China's socio-economic development, the dietary structure of Chinese residents has gradually shifted from a traditional Eastern pattern characterized by high carbohydrate intake to a relatively high-fat Western dietary model, alongside a growing burden of chronic diseases. However, dietary changes may vary across different occupational groups. Objective To analyze the long-term trends in dietary energy and three major macronutrient intake among various occupational groups aged 18-59 years in nine provinces of China from 1989 to 2018, providing a scientific basis for developing occupation-specific dietary intervention strategies. Methods Based on 11 waves of data (1989–2018) from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), 57458 employed individuals aged 18-59 years were selected as observation subjects after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Joinpoint regression was used to analyze temporal trends by calculating the annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC) with 95% confidence intervals. The analysis covered the energy supply ratio from the three major macronutrients and the proportion of the participants within the acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges (AMDR) for the total occupational population and specific occupational group. Results From 1989 to 2018, the dietary structure of the occupational population in the nine provinces gradually Westernized. The carbohydrate energy supply ratio showed a decreasing trend (AAPC=−0.77%, 95%CI: −1.00%, −0.55%, P<0.05), while the fat energy supply ratio increased (AAPC=1.42%, 95%CI: 1.07%, 1.77%, P<0.05). The protein energy supply ratio remained largely unchanged (AAPC=−0.19%, 95%CI: −0.08%, 0.46%, P>0.05), and the total energy intake declined (AAPC=−0.62%, 95%CI: −0.94%, −0.30%, P<0.05). Among the occupational groups studied, white-collar workers were the first to show characteristics of dietary Westernization. Using the AMDR as the criterion, their average fat energy supply ratio first exceeded the AMDR upper limit (30%) in 1993, and their average carbohydrate energy supply ratio first fell below the AMDR lower limit (50%) in 2006, both time points being earlier than other occupational groups. Agricultural workers lagged in this transition (their average fat energy supply ratio first reached ≥30% in 2011), but their rate of increase in the fat energy supply ratio was the fastest among all occupational groups (AAPC=1.59%, 95%CI: 0.90%, 2.30%, P<0.05; P for trend comparison between groups<0.05). The other three occupational groups (blue-collar workers, service workers, and others) generally fell between these two extremes. Taking the fat energy supply ratio as an example, their AAPCs of increase were 1.02% (95%CI: 0.73%, 1.32%, P<0.05) for blue-collar workers, 0.85% (95%CI: 0.61%, 1.09%, P<0.05) for service workers, and 0.88% (95%CI: 0.58%, 1.17%, P<0.05) for others. Conclusion From 1989 to 2018, the macronutrient structure of the occupational population aged 18-59 years in nine China provinces is gradually Westernized. The energy supply ratios of carbohydrates and proteins primarily face issues of potential inadequacy, while the fat energy supply ratio is excessively high. Furthermore, the patterns of change vary among different occupational groups. It is recommended to propose personalized dietary advice tailored to specific occupations.

Background With China's socioeconomic development, significant lifestyle changes have occurred among occupational groups, leading to alterations in cardiovascular metabolic risk factors. However, few studies have examined the secular trends of these risk factors in China's working population. Objective To analyze the trends in cardiovascular metabolic risk factors among the occupational population in nine provinces of China from 2009 to 2018, and to explore the associations between different occupational types and these risk factors, along with their clustering patterns, thereby providing evidence for targeted interventions. Methods This study utilized data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) in 2009, 2015, and 2018. The dataset covered 13274 employed individuals aged 18-59 years. Only participants with complete blood test results and physical measurement data were included in the final analysis. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) in the positive rates of risk factors was calculated using Joinpoint regression to analyze temporal trends. Multinomial logistic regression and binary logistic regression models were employed to examine the cross-sectional associations between occupational types (categorized as white-collar workers, agricultural workers, blue-collar workers, service workers, and others) and nine cardiovascular metabolic risk factors and their clustering (defined as having ≥2 risk factors) in 2018. Results A total of 8451 participants were included. From 2009 to 2018, significant increasing trends (AAPC>0, P<0.05) were observed for overweight, obesity, central obesity, borderline elevated triglycerides (TG), borderline elevated to elevated total cholesterol (TC), borderline elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), elevated blood pressure and hypertension, diabetes. The most rapid increases were found for obesity (AAPC=6.07%, 95%CI: 3.42%, 8.88%), hypertension (AAPC=4.10%, 95%CI: 0.62%, 7.77%), and central obesity (AAPC=3.27%, 95%CI: 1.24%, 5.36%). The clustering rate of risk factors increased from 62.3% in 2009 to 73.2% in 2018 (AAPC=1.87%, 95%CI: 1.02%, 2.73%). The cross-sectional analysis in 2018, after adjusting for confounders, showed that compared with white-collar workers, blue-collar workers had a significantly lower risk of overweight (OR=0.67, 95%CI: 0.48, 0.95), central obesity (OR=0.65, 95%CI: 0.45, 0.92), and borderline high TG (OR=0.54, 95%CI: 0.35, 0.82). In contrast, agricultural workers had a higher risk of hypertension (OR=1.76, 95%CI: 1.14, 2.72). Conclusion Between 2009 and 2015, the burden of most cardiometabolic risk factors increases significantly among the Chinese occupational population, with the rate of increase slowing by 2018. Risks vary across occupational types, among which blue- collar workers report lower target outcomes. Targeted interventions focusing on the rapidly increasing risk factors and high-risk occupational groups are recommended.

ObjectiveZheng’s San Qi San (ZSQS) power, a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is used for treating soft tissue injuries involving muscles, tendons, and ligaments. However, its underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to screen and identify pharmaceutically active ingredients and their candidate biomolecule targets, and further elucidate the molecular mechanism of ZSQS in the treatment of skeletal muscle injury. MethodsNetwork pharmacology was employed to construct “ZSQS-component-target”, “protein-protein interaction (PPI)” and “active ingredient-core protein-pathway” networks to predict the key active ingredients and potential core targets of ZSQS for skeletal muscle injury. The predicted results were then validated via microarray data from the GEO database. Molecular docking was then performed to assess the binding ability between the screened active ingredients of ZSQS and the candidate core targets. Moreover, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis to verify the active components of the drug and ZSQS serum. Finally, an animal model of eccentric exercise-induced skeletal muscle injury and a myotube cell model of oxidative stress-induced injury were established to validate the effects of ZSQS and its interventional effects on the biological functions of critical targets, thereby demonstrating the potential therapeutic mechanism of ZSQS. ResultsAmong the 111 active components identified in ZSQS and their corresponding 204 targets related to the skeletal muscle injury repair process, 14 core targets (including AKT1) and 4 core active components (quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and β‑sitosterol) were screened out, while the corresponding metabolites of quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol were detected in the ZSQS serum. Among these targets, 5 candidate genes (IL-6, CASP3, HIF1A, STAT3, and JUN) overlapped with the differential expression screening results with GEO data, and IL-6 was confirmed to be enriched in the PI3K/AKT pathway. Combined with the prediction results of the AKT expression levels, these findings suggest that the phosphorylation level of AKT1 plays a core role in the therapeutic mechanism of ZSQS. Molecular docking analysis further revealed that the PH domain of AKT1 had high binding energy with all 4 core active components, as verified by LC-MS. Finally, animal model studies have shown the promoting effect of ZSQS administration on skeletal muscle injury repair and its possible antioxidant damage mechanism. Cell model studies further demonstrated that ZSQS-containing serum, core active ingredient combination therapy, and quercetin monomer could increase the phosphorylation level of AKT, promote the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, upregulate the expression of downstream antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, and GR), and inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α), thereby alleviating oxidative stress and the inflammatory response. ConclusionZSQS alleviates skeletal muscle injury mainly by activating the AKT/Nrf2 signaling pathway, enhancing cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the clinical application and modernized development of ZSQS.

This study explored the potential therapeutic targets and mechanisms of Danggui Shaoyao San(DSS) in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease(AD) through transcriptomics and metabolomics, combined with animal experiments. Fifty male C57BL/6J mice, aged seven weeks, were randomly divided into the following five groups: control, model, positive drug, low-dose DSS, and high-dose DSS groups. After the intervention, the Morris water maze was used to assess learning and memory abilities of mice, and Nissl staining and hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining were performed to observe pathological changes in the hippocampal tissue. Transcriptomics and metabolomics were employed to sequence brain tissue and identify differential metabolites, analyzing key genes and metabolites related to disease progression. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) was employed to validate the expression of key genes. The Morris water maze results indicated that DSS significantly improved learning and cognitive function in scopolamine(SCOP)-induced model mice, with the high-dose DSS group showing the best results. Pathological staining showed that DSS effectively reduced hippocampal neuronal damage, increased Nissl body numbers, and reduced nuclear pyknosis and neuronal loss. Transcriptomics identified seven key genes, including neurexin 1(Nrxn1) and sodium voltage-gated channel α subunit 1(Scn1a), and metabolomics revealed 113 differential metabolites, all of which were closely associated with synaptic function, oxidative stress, and metabolic regulation. RT-qPCR experiments confirmed that the expression of these seven key genes was consistent with the transcriptomics results. This study suggests that DSS significantly improves learning and memory in SCOP model mice and alleviates hippocampal neuronal pathological damage. The mechanisms likely involve the modulation of synaptic function, reduction of oxidative stress, and metabolic balance, with these seven key genes serving as important targets for DSS in the treatment of AD.
Animals ; Alzheimer Disease/genetics* ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Metabolomics ; Transcriptome/drug effects* ; Maze Learning/drug effects* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Humans ; Disease Models, Animal ; Memory/drug effects*

ObjectiveTo establish a geographical origin identification model for Foeniculi Fructus from Haiyuan， providing a new technical reference for the protection of Haiyuan's geo-authentic medicinal materials and its designation as a national geographical indication agricultural product. MethodsSamples of Foeniculi Fructus were collected from eight producing areas， including Minqin （Gansu）， Bozhou （Anhui）， Qingdao （Shandong）， Dezhou （Shandong）， Urumqi （Xinjiang）， Nujiang （Yunnan）， Gutuo （Inner Mongolia）， and Haiyuan （Ningxia）. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry （GC-IMS） was used to detect the volatile organic compounds （VOCs） in samples from these geographic origins. VOCs were qualitatively analyzed through dual matching with the National Institute of Standards and Technology （NIST） mass spectral database and the IMS drift time database. Using the Reporter module and Gallery Plot visualization tools within the LAV analytical platform， VOC fingerprint profiles characterizing geographic origins were constructed. A non-targeted analytical strategy was adopted， and 97 VOCs detected via GC-IMS were subjected to principal component analysis （PCA） and partial least squares discriminant analysis （PLS-DA） based on their differential distribution patterns to construct an origin identification model for Foeniculi Fructus from Haiyuan region. Key discriminative markers were screened using variable importance in projection （VIP） values greater than 1. ResultsA total of 97 VOCs were identified， including alcohols， aldehydes， ketones， esters， organic acids， terpenoids， ethers， alkenes， and benzenes. The PLS-DA model， based on VOCs data obtained by GC-IMS， effectively distinguished Foeniculi Fructus in Haiyuan region from those of other origins. During cross-validation， the model achieved a prediction parameter （Q²） of 0.976 and a goodness-of-fit parameter （R²） of 0.936， with no overfitting observed in permutation testing. Twelve key flavor markers with VIP > 1 were identified as characteristic indicators of Haiyuan origin. ConclusionA stable and highly predictive origin identification model for Foeniculi Fructus from Haiyuan was successfully established using GC-IMS technology， PLS-DA， and VIP-based marker screening. This model provides a novel technical strategy for accurately distinguishing Foeniculi Fructus in Haiyuan region from other regional varieties and offers new technical support for its protection as a geo-authentic medicinal material and a nationally designated geographical indication agricultural product in China.

ObjectiveTo establish a geographical origin identification model for Foeniculi Fructus from Haiyuan， providing a new technical reference for the protection of Haiyuan's geo-authentic medicinal materials and its designation as a national geographical indication agricultural product. MethodsSamples of Foeniculi Fructus were collected from eight producing areas， including Minqin （Gansu）， Bozhou （Anhui）， Qingdao （Shandong）， Dezhou （Shandong）， Urumqi （Xinjiang）， Nujiang （Yunnan）， Gutuo （Inner Mongolia）， and Haiyuan （Ningxia）. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry （GC-IMS） was used to detect the volatile organic compounds （VOCs） in samples from these geographic origins. VOCs were qualitatively analyzed through dual matching with the National Institute of Standards and Technology （NIST） mass spectral database and the IMS drift time database. Using the Reporter module and Gallery Plot visualization tools within the LAV analytical platform， VOC fingerprint profiles characterizing geographic origins were constructed. A non-targeted analytical strategy was adopted， and 97 VOCs detected via GC-IMS were subjected to principal component analysis （PCA） and partial least squares discriminant analysis （PLS-DA） based on their differential distribution patterns to construct an origin identification model for Foeniculi Fructus from Haiyuan region. Key discriminative markers were screened using variable importance in projection （VIP） values greater than 1. ResultsA total of 97 VOCs were identified， including alcohols， aldehydes， ketones， esters， organic acids， terpenoids， ethers， alkenes， and benzenes. The PLS-DA model， based on VOCs data obtained by GC-IMS， effectively distinguished Foeniculi Fructus in Haiyuan region from those of other origins. During cross-validation， the model achieved a prediction parameter （Q²） of 0.976 and a goodness-of-fit parameter （R²） of 0.936， with no overfitting observed in permutation testing. Twelve key flavor markers with VIP > 1 were identified as characteristic indicators of Haiyuan origin. ConclusionA stable and highly predictive origin identification model for Foeniculi Fructus from Haiyuan was successfully established using GC-IMS technology， PLS-DA， and VIP-based marker screening. This model provides a novel technical strategy for accurately distinguishing Foeniculi Fructus in Haiyuan region from other regional varieties and offers new technical support for its protection as a geo-authentic medicinal material and a nationally designated geographical indication agricultural product in China.

Testicular histology based on testicular biopsy is an important factor for determining appropriate testicular sperm extraction surgery and predicting sperm retrieval outcomes in patients with azoospermia. Therefore, we developed a deep learning (DL) model to establish the associations between testicular grayscale ultrasound images and testicular histology. We retrospectively included two-dimensional testicular grayscale ultrasound from patients with azoospermia (353 men with 4357 images between July 2017 and December 2021 in The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China) to develop a DL model. We obtained testicular histology during conventional testicular sperm extraction. Our DL model was trained based on ultrasound images or fusion data (ultrasound images fused with the corresponding testicular volume) to distinguish spermatozoa presence in pathology (SPP) and spermatozoa absence in pathology (SAP) and to classify maturation arrest (MA) and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) in patients with SAP. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were used to analyze model performance. DL based on images achieved an AUC of 0.922 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.908-0.935), a sensitivity of 80.9%, a specificity of 84.6%, and an accuracy of 83.5% in predicting SPP (including normal spermatogenesis and hypospermatogenesis) and SAP (including MA and SCOS). In the identification of SCOS and MA, DL on fusion data yielded better diagnostic performance with an AUC of 0.979 (95% CI: 0.969-0.989), a sensitivity of 89.7%, a specificity of 97.1%, and an accuracy of 92.1%. Our study provides a noninvasive method to predict testicular histology for patients with azoospermia, which would avoid unnecessary testicular biopsy.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/diagnostic imaging* ; Deep Learning ; Testis/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Ultrasonography/methods* ; Sperm Retrieval ; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome/diagnostic imaging*

Investigating the correlation between micronucleus formation and male infertility has the potential to improve clinical diagnosis and deepen our understanding of pathological progression. Our study enrolled 2252 male patients whose semen was analyzed from March 2023 to July 2023. Their clinical data, including semen parameters and age, were also collected. Genetic analysis was used to determine whether the sex chromosome involved in male infertility was abnormal (including the increase, deletion, and translocation of the X and Y chromosomes), and subsequent semen analysis was conducted for clinical grouping purposes. The participants were categorized into five groups: normozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, oligoasthenozoospermia, and azoospermia. Patients were randomly selected for further study; 41 patients with normozoospermia were included in the control group and 117 patients with non-normozoospermia were included in the study group according to the proportions of all enrolled patients. Cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) screening was conducted through peripheral blood. Statistical analysis was used to determine the differences in micronuclei (MNi) among the groups and the relationships between MNi and clinical data. There was a significant increase in MNi in infertile men, including those with azoospermia, compared with normozoospermic patients, but there was no significant difference between the genetic and nongenetic groups in azoospermic men. The presence of MNi was associated with sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility, immotile spermatozoa, malformed spermatozoa, total sperm count, and total sperm motility. This study underscores the potential utility of MNi as a diagnostic tool and highlights the need for further research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of male infertility.
Humans ; Male ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; Adult ; Micronucleus Tests ; Semen Analysis ; Oligospermia/genetics* ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Sperm Count ; Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To explore and verify the effect and potential mechanism of Brucea javanica Seed Oil Emulsion Injection (YDZI) and Shengmai Injection (SMI) on peripheral microcirculation dysfunction in treatment of gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: The potential mechanisms of YDZI and SMI were explored through network pharmacology and verified by cellular and clinical experiments. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs) were cultured for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured for tube formation assay. Twenty healthy volunteers and 97 patients with GC were enrolled. Patients were divided into surgical resection, surgical resection with chemotherapy, and surgical resection with chemotherapy combining YDZI and SMI groups. Forearm skin blood perfusion was measured and recorded by laser speckle contrast imaging coupled with post-occlusive reactive hyperemia. Cutaneous vascular conductance and microvascular reactivity parameters were calculated and compared across the groups. RESULTS: After network pharmacology analysis, 4 ingredients, 82 active compounds, and 92 related genes in YDZI and SMI were screened out. β-Sitosterol, an active ingredient and intersection compound of YDZI and SMI, upregulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2, P<0.01), downregulated the expression of caspase 9 (CASP9) and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1, P<0.01) in HMECs under oxaliplatin stimulation, and promoted tube formation through VEGFA. Chemotherapy significantly impaired the microvascular reactivity in GC patients, whereas YDZI and SMI ameliorated this injury (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS YDZI and SMI ameliorated peripheral microvascular reactivity in GC patients. β-Sitosterol may improve peripheral microcirculation by regulating VEGFA, PTGS2, ESR1, and CASP9.
Humans ; Microcirculation/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Stomach Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Emulsions ; Male ; Plant Oils/administration & dosage* ; Brucea/chemistry* ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Drug Combinations ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Seeds/chemistry* ; Injections ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Aged ; Network Pharmacology