Esophageal cancer （EC） is a highly prevalent malignant tumor in China. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway， as one of the key oncogenic pathways， can promote the cell cycle progression， proliferation， migration， and invasion， induce chemoresistance， and inhibit apoptosis and autophagy of EC cells. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， with the advantages of targeting multiple points with multiple components to delay cancer progression， can target the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway for EC treatment. This article preliminarily discusses the molecular mechanism and role of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in EC and elaborates on the specific targets and efficacy of TCM in treating EC through intervention in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the past five years. TCM materials and extracts inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in EC include Borneolum， spore powder of Ganoderma lucidum without spore coat， extract of Celastrus orbiculatus， root extract of Taraxacum， and Bruceae Fructus oil emulsion. TCM active ingredients exerting the effect include flavonoids， terpenoids， saponins， phenols， polysaccharides， alkaloids， and other compounds. TCM compound prescriptions with such effect include Qige San， Huqi San， Xuanfu Daizhetang， Tongyoutang and its decomposed prescriptions， Liujunzi Tang， and Xishenzhi Formula. In addition， TCM injections such as Compound Kushen Injection and Kang'ai injection also inhibit the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in EC. This paper summarizes the role of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in EC and the TCM interventions， aiming to provide reference for the research and clinical application of new drugs for EC.

ObjectiveThis study focused on the marketed Chinese patent medicines for the treatment of Functional Diarrhea （FDr） in China and their prescription characteristics， in order to provide support for the clinical application and research and development of anti-FDr Chinese patent medicines. MethodsCollect the information of Chinese patent medicines that have been marketed to treat FDr， use Microsoft Excel 2021 software to conduct preliminary data collation and statistical analysis， and use the ancient and modern medical record cloud platform （V2.3.9） to analyze the standardized Chinese patent medicine prescriptions from the aspects of drug nature and taste， medication characteristics and prescription rules. Results147 kinds of FDr Chinese patent medicines were included in this study. There are a total of 40 varieties of FDr Chinese patent medicines suitable for children； The distribution of dosage forms is mainly pills， tablets， and capsules. 110 prescriptions were screened， among which the proportion of Chinese patent medicines for the treatment of spleen deficiency syndrome was the highest； The top three drug use frequency were licorice， Atractylodes macrocephala， and Poria cocos； The medicinal properties are mainly warm and flat， and the medicinal taste is mostly pungent， sweet and bitter， and most of them belong to the two meridians of the spleen and stomach； The association rules analysis obtains 20 strong association pairing sets； Three drug combinations were obtained by cluster analysis. ConclusionFDr Chinese patent medicine shows unique value in clinical application， especially in the field of children. However， there are still problems such as strong professionalism in the indication expression of drug instructions， limited coverage of the medical insurance catalog， and lack of high-level evidence-based medicine and pharmacoeconomic evidence. To this end， in the future， efforts should be made to build a multi-level evidence-based evidence system， improve medication compliance， and deepen research on syndrome-based medication laws， so as to enhance the clinical application value and scientific connotation of FDr Chinese patent medicines.

BACKGROUND:Osteoarthritis is pathologically characterized by progressive degeneration of the articular cartilage and abnormal deformation of the subchondral bone.In recent years,with the deepening of medical research,it has been found that the mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK)signaling pathway has a regulatory role in inflammatory cell infiltration,inflammatory factor release,and chondrocyte proliferation,which is particularly important for the treatment of osteoarthritis.OBJECTIVE:To briefly review the main research progress in the mechanism of MAPK signaling pathway regulating osteoarthritis in recent years,aiming to provide new ideas for the treatment of osteoarthritis.METHODS:CNKI,WanFang and PubMed databases were searched for relevant literature using the search terms of"mitogen-activated protein kinases,osteoarthritis,extracellular signal-regulated MAP kinases,p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases,JNK mitogen-activated protein kinase"in Chinese and English.Relevant literature published from January 2019 to November 2024 was searched,and 108 articles were finally included for summary analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Various stimuli inside and outside the cells activate the MAPK signaling pathway,regulate gene transcription and protein synthesis,and promote the release of inflammatory factors,such as tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-1β,and interleukin-6.The release of these inflammatory factors aggravates the progression of osteoarthritis.(2)The active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine,mainly saponins and flavonoids,as well as Chinese herbal formulas and preparations with the main effects of activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis,tonifying the liver and kidney,can play a therapeutic role in osteoarthritis by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway,regulating the release of matrix metalloproteinases,balancing the homeostatic state of osteogenesis and osteoblastogenesis,attenuating the synovial inflammation,decreasing the release of inflammatory factors and inflammatory vesicles,decreasing cellular pyroptosis,promoting autophagy,and ameliorating oxidative stress.(3)Although traditional Chinese medicine has become popular in the treatment of osteoarthritis by virtue of its own advantages of multi-components,multi-targets,multi-pathways,and low side effects,the use of MAPK signaling pathway to guide the treatment of individual osteoarthritis is the difficulty of the technology,which needs to be continuously researched and explored.(4)Therefore,further development of relevant herbal inhibitors that can modulate the MAPK signaling pathway may be a potential drug strategy for the treatment of osteoarthritis in the future.

BACKGROUND:Osteoarthritis is pathologically characterized by progressive degeneration of the articular cartilage and abnormal deformation of the subchondral bone.In recent years,with the deepening of medical research,it has been found that the mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK)signaling pathway has a regulatory role in inflammatory cell infiltration,inflammatory factor release,and chondrocyte proliferation,which is particularly important for the treatment of osteoarthritis.OBJECTIVE:To briefly review the main research progress in the mechanism of MAPK signaling pathway regulating osteoarthritis in recent years,aiming to provide new ideas for the treatment of osteoarthritis.METHODS:CNKI,WanFang and PubMed databases were searched for relevant literature using the search terms of"mitogen-activated protein kinases,osteoarthritis,extracellular signal-regulated MAP kinases,p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases,JNK mitogen-activated protein kinase"in Chinese and English.Relevant literature published from January 2019 to November 2024 was searched,and 108 articles were finally included for summary analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Various stimuli inside and outside the cells activate the MAPK signaling pathway,regulate gene transcription and protein synthesis,and promote the release of inflammatory factors,such as tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-1β,and interleukin-6.The release of these inflammatory factors aggravates the progression of osteoarthritis.(2)The active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine,mainly saponins and flavonoids,as well as Chinese herbal formulas and preparations with the main effects of activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis,tonifying the liver and kidney,can play a therapeutic role in osteoarthritis by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway,regulating the release of matrix metalloproteinases,balancing the homeostatic state of osteogenesis and osteoblastogenesis,attenuating the synovial inflammation,decreasing the release of inflammatory factors and inflammatory vesicles,decreasing cellular pyroptosis,promoting autophagy,and ameliorating oxidative stress.(3)Although traditional Chinese medicine has become popular in the treatment of osteoarthritis by virtue of its own advantages of multi-components,multi-targets,multi-pathways,and low side effects,the use of MAPK signaling pathway to guide the treatment of individual osteoarthritis is the difficulty of the technology,which needs to be continuously researched and explored.(4)Therefore,further development of relevant herbal inhibitors that can modulate the MAPK signaling pathway may be a potential drug strategy for the treatment of osteoarthritis in the future.

Based on the theory of "spleen functions as wei qi"， this paper believes that the disease mechanism of allergic rhinitis （AR） in children is the nasal dysfunction caused by the loss of spleen's wei qi. The root cause of AR is the failure of splenic transportation as well as its inability to properly distribute nutrients. The inducement of AR is the invasion of pathogenic qi coupled with insecurity of the wei exterior. The key to AR recurrence lies in the deficiency of healthy qi and lingering of pathogenic qi， with pathogenic qi lodging inside the body. The treatment should adhere to the principle of helping the spleen restore wei qi. During the acute phase， the treatment should dispel wind， conso-lidate the wei qi， and relieve stuffy orifices， and the modified Qufeng Tongqiao Decoction （祛风通窍汤） is used. During the remission phase， the treatment should fortify the spleen， raise the clear， and harmonize the wei qi， and the modified Yuhan Decoction （御寒汤） is applied. During the recovery phase， the treatment should reinforce the healthy qi， consolidate the constitution， and strengthen the wei qi， and the modified Huangqi Jianzhong Decoction （黄芪建中汤） is employed.

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.

ObjectiveTo characterize the seasonal patterns of influenza in Kunming City, Yunnan Province before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide scientific evidence for optimizing influenza prevention and control strategies. MethodsInfluenza-like illness (ILI) and etiological surveillance data for influenza from the 14^th week of 2010 to the 13^th week of 2024 in Kunming City of Yunnan Province were collected. Harmonic regression models were constructed to analyze the epidemic characteristics and seasonal patterns of influenza before (2010/2011‒2019/2020 influenza seasons), during (2020/2021‒2022/2023 influenza seasons), and after (2023/2024 influenza season) the COVID-19 pandemic. ResultsBefore the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza in Kunming City mainly exhibited an annual cyclic pattern without a significant semi-annual periodicity, peaking from December to February of the next year, with an epidemic duration of 20‒30 weeks. During the pandemic, influenza seasonality shifted, with an increase in semi-annual periodicity and an approximate one month delay in annual peaks. However, after the pandemic, the annual amplitude of influenza increased compared with that before the pandemic, and the epidemic duration extended by about one month. Although the annual peak largely reverted to the pre-pandemic levels, the annual peaks for different influenza subtypes/lineages had not fully recovered. ConclusionInfluenza seasonality in Kunming City underwent substantial alterations following the COVID-19 pandemic and has not yet fully reverted to pre-pandemic levels. Continuous surveillance on different subtypes/lineages of influenza viruses remains essential, and prevention and control strategies should be adjusted and optimized in a timely manner based on current epidemic trends.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of roxadustat versus recombinant human erythropoietin （rHuEPO）， each combined with intravenous iron supplementation， in the treatment of renal anemia （RA） in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis （MHD）. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 152 patients diagnosed with RA and receiving MHD at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University between January 2022 and June 2024. According to the treatment regimen， patients were divided into observation group （n＝72） and control group （n＝80）. Both groups of patients received MHD and intravenous iron therapy， with the observation group additionally receiving roxadustat and the control group receiving rHuEPO， both for a treatment duration of 12 weeks. Changes in anemia indicators， iron metabolism parameters， inflammatory markers， cardiac function parameters， quality of life scores before and after therapy， and adverse events during treatment were compared between the two groups. RESULTS After 12 weeks of treatment， both groups showed significant increase in hemoglobin， red blood cell count， hematocrit， serum iron， transferrin， total iron binding capacity， transferrin saturation， left ventricular ejection fraction， E/A ratio， cardiac output， 36-Item Short Form Health Survey score， and Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form score compared to baseline （P＜0.05）. Conversely， the levels of ferritin， C-reactive protein， interleukin-6， tumor necrosis factor-α， brain natriuretic peptide， and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were significantly reduced （P＜0.05）. The improvements in the observation group were significantly greater than those in the control group （P＜ 0.05）. Moreover， the incidence of adverse events was significantly lower in the observation group compared to the control group （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Compared to rHuEPO combined with intravenous iron supplementation， roxadustat combined with intravenous iron supplementation is more effective in improving anemia， iron metabolism， inflammatory status， cardiac function， and quality of life in patients with RA undergoing MHD. Additionally， it demonstrates a better safety profile.

ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of empagliflozin combined with donafenib or lenvatinib on the pharmacokinetic parameters of each drug， and to provide a reference for combined medication in clinical practice. MethodsA total of 48 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 8 groups： empagliflozin group 1 and 2， donafenib group， lenvatinib group， donafenib pretreatment+empagliflozin group， lenvatinib pretreatment + empagliflozin group， empagliflozin pretreatment+donafenib group， and empagliflozin pretreatment+lenvatinib group， with 6 rats in each group. The doses of empagliflozin， donafenib， and lenvatinib were 2.5 mg/kg， 40 mg/kg， and 1.2 mg/kg， respectively. The rats in the empagliflozin group， donafenib group， and lenvatinib group were given a blank solvent by gavage for 7 consecutive days， followed by a single dose of empagliflozin， donafenib， or lenvatinib on day 7 after the administration of the blank solvent； the rats in the pretreatment groups were given the pretreatment drug by gavage for 7 consecutive days， followed by a single dose of drug combination on day 7 after administration of the pretreatment drug. Blood samples were collected at different time points， and plasma was separated to measure the concentration of each drug. A validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was used to measure the plasma concentrations of donafenib， lenvatinib， and empagliflozin， and a non-compartmental model was used to calculate the main pharmacokinetic parameters of each drug （area under the plasma concentration-time curve ［AUC］， time to peak ［T_max］， peak concentration ［C_max］， and half-life time ［t_1/2］）. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups. ResultsCompared with the empagliflozin group， the donafenib pretreatment+empagliflozin group had significant increases in the AUC_0-t and AUC_0-∞ of empagliflozin （P=0.011 and 0.008）， while the lenvatinib pretreatment+empagliflozin group had no significant change in the AUC of empagliflozin， with a slightly shorter T_max （P=0.019）. Compared with the donafenib group， the empagliflozin pretreatment+donafenib group had significant increases in the AUC_0-t and AUC_0-∞ of donafenib （P=0.027 and 0.025）， as well as a significant increase in C_max （P=0.015） and significant reductions in CLz/F and Vz/F （P=0.005 and 0.004）； compared with the lenvatinib group， the empagliflozin pretreatment+lenvatinib group had a reduction in the t_1/2 of lenvatinib by approximately 5 hours （P=0.002）， with a trend of reduction in AUC_0-t （P0.05）. ConclusionEmpagliflozin combined with donafenib may alter the pharmacokinetic parameters of both drugs， leading to a significant increase in the exposure levels of both drugs， and efficacy and adverse reactions should be monitored during co-administration. There are no significant changes in the exposure levels of empagliflozin and lenvatinib during co-administration.