This study aims to explore the impact of host plants on the quality of Taxilli Herba and provide a theoretical basis for the quality control of Taxilli Herba. The components of Taxilli Herba from three different host plants(Morus alba, Salix babylonica, and Cinnamomum cassia) and its 3 hosts(mulberry branch, willow branch, and cinnamon branch) were detected by widely targeted metabolomics based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS). Principal component analysis(PCA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), and Venn diagram were employed for analysis. A total of 717 metabolites were detected in Taxilli Herba from the three host plants and the branches of these host plants by UPLC-MS/MS. The results of PCA and OPLS-DA of Taxilli Herba from the three different host plants showed an obvious separation trend due to the different effects of host plants. The Venn diagram showed that there were 32, 8, and 26 characteristic metabolites in samples of Taxilli Herba from M. alba host, S. babylonica host, and C. cassia host, respectively. It was found by comparing the characteristic metabolites of Taxilli Herba and its hosts that each host transmits its characteristic components to Taxilli Herba, so that the Taxilli Herba contains the characteristic components of the host. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway analysis showed that the differential metabolites of Taxilli Herba from the three hosts were mainly enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways. Furthermore, the differential metabolites enriching pathways of Taxilli Herba from the three hosts were different depending on the host. In a word, host plants have a significant impact on the metabolites of Taxilli Herba, and it may be an important factor for the quality of Taxilli Herba.
Metabolomics/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Quality Control ; Salix/chemistry* ; Cinnamomum aromaticum/metabolism* ; Principal Component Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: While emotional distress, encompassing anxiety and depression, has been associated with negative clinical outcomes, its impact across various clinical departments and general hospitals has been less explored. Previous studies with limited sample sizes have examined the effectiveness of specific treatments (e.g., antidepressants) rather than a systemic management strategy for outcome improvement in non-psychiatric inpatients. To enhance the understanding of the importance of addressing mental health care needs among non-psychiatric patients in general hospitals, this study retrospectively investigated the impacts of emotional distress and the effects of early detection and management of depression and anxiety on hospital length of stay (LOS) and rate of long LOS (LLOS, i.e., LOS >30 days) in a large sample of non-psychiatric inpatients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 487,871 inpatients from 20 non-psychiatric departments of a general hospital. They were divided, according to whether they underwent a novel strategy to manage emotional distress which deployed the Huaxi Emotional Distress Index (HEI) for brief screening with grading psychological services (BS-GPS), into BS-GPS ( n = 178,883) and non-BS-GPS ( n = 308,988) cohorts. The LOS and rate of LLOS between the BS-GPS and non-BS-GPS cohorts and between subcohorts with and without clinically significant anxiety and/or depression (CSAD, i.e., HEI score ≥11 on admission to the hospital) in the BS-GPS cohort were compared using univariable analyses, multilevel analyses, and/or propensity score-matched analyses, respectively. RESULTS: The detection rate of CSAD in the BS-GPS cohort varied from 2.64% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.49%-2.81%) to 20.50% (95% CI: 19.43%-21.62%) across the 20 departments, with a average rate of 5.36%. Significant differences were observed in both the LOS and LLOS rates between the subcohorts with CSAD (12.7 days, 535/9590) and without CSAD (9.5 days, 3800/169,293) and between the BS-GPS (9.6 days, 4335/178,883) and non-BS-GPS (10.8 days, 11,483/308,988) cohorts. These differences remained significant after controlling for confounders using propensity score-matched comparisons. A multilevel analysis indicated that BS-GPS was negatively associated with both LOS and LLOS after controlling for sociodemographics and the departments of patient discharge and remained negatively associated with LLOS after controlling additionally for the year of patient discharge. CONCLUSION Emotional distress significantly prolonged the LOS and increased the LLOS of non-psychiatric inpatients across most departments and general hospitals. These impacts were moderated by the implementation of BS-GPS. Thus, BS-GPS has the potential as an effective, resource-saving strategy for enhancing mental health care and optimizing medical resources in general hospitals.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Psychological Distress ; Inpatients/psychology* ; Aged ; Anxiety/diagnosis* ; Depression/diagnosis*

ABSRACT The development of hepatocellular car-cinoma(HCC)is closely related to the formation of tumour blood vessels.VEGF-mediated angiogenesis is a major driver of the immune escape response in tumours.VEGF binds to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor2(VEGFR2)on endothelial cells,promoting endothelial cell proliferation and migration,inducing vascular changes in HCC,and thus promote the growth of hepatocellular carcino-ma cells.Anti-VEGF and its receptor-targeted mo-lecular drugs are currently effective new treat-ments for HCC.Monoclonal antibodies against VEGF and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting VEGF have been shown to block its angio-genic activity,alleviate the inhibitory effect of the tumour microenvironment,and ultimately achieve tumour regression.This article provides a review of the research progress of VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors in HCC treatment.

ABSRACT The development of hepatocellular car-cinoma(HCC)is closely related to the formation of tumour blood vessels.VEGF-mediated angiogenesis is a major driver of the immune escape response in tumours.VEGF binds to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor2(VEGFR2)on endothelial cells,promoting endothelial cell proliferation and migration,inducing vascular changes in HCC,and thus promote the growth of hepatocellular carcino-ma cells.Anti-VEGF and its receptor-targeted mo-lecular drugs are currently effective new treat-ments for HCC.Monoclonal antibodies against VEGF and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting VEGF have been shown to block its angio-genic activity,alleviate the inhibitory effect of the tumour microenvironment,and ultimately achieve tumour regression.This article provides a review of the research progress of VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors in HCC treatment.

ABSRACT The development of hepatocellular car-cinoma(HCC)is closely related to the formation of tumour blood vessels.VEGF-mediated angiogenesis is a major driver of the immune escape response in tumours.VEGF binds to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor2(VEGFR2)on endothelial cells,promoting endothelial cell proliferation and migration,inducing vascular changes in HCC,and thus promote the growth of hepatocellular carcino-ma cells.Anti-VEGF and its receptor-targeted mo-lecular drugs are currently effective new treat-ments for HCC.Monoclonal antibodies against VEGF and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting VEGF have been shown to block its angio-genic activity,alleviate the inhibitory effect of the tumour microenvironment,and ultimately achieve tumour regression.This article provides a review of the research progress of VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors in HCC treatment.

ABSRACT The development of hepatocellular car-cinoma(HCC)is closely related to the formation of tumour blood vessels.VEGF-mediated angiogenesis is a major driver of the immune escape response in tumours.VEGF binds to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor2(VEGFR2)on endothelial cells,promoting endothelial cell proliferation and migration,inducing vascular changes in HCC,and thus promote the growth of hepatocellular carcino-ma cells.Anti-VEGF and its receptor-targeted mo-lecular drugs are currently effective new treat-ments for HCC.Monoclonal antibodies against VEGF and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting VEGF have been shown to block its angio-genic activity,alleviate the inhibitory effect of the tumour microenvironment,and ultimately achieve tumour regression.This article provides a review of the research progress of VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors in HCC treatment.

ABSRACT The development of hepatocellular car-cinoma(HCC)is closely related to the formation of tumour blood vessels.VEGF-mediated angiogenesis is a major driver of the immune escape response in tumours.VEGF binds to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor2(VEGFR2)on endothelial cells,promoting endothelial cell proliferation and migration,inducing vascular changes in HCC,and thus promote the growth of hepatocellular carcino-ma cells.Anti-VEGF and its receptor-targeted mo-lecular drugs are currently effective new treat-ments for HCC.Monoclonal antibodies against VEGF and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting VEGF have been shown to block its angio-genic activity,alleviate the inhibitory effect of the tumour microenvironment,and ultimately achieve tumour regression.This article provides a review of the research progress of VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors in HCC treatment.

ABSRACT The development of hepatocellular car-cinoma(HCC)is closely related to the formation of tumour blood vessels.VEGF-mediated angiogenesis is a major driver of the immune escape response in tumours.VEGF binds to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor2(VEGFR2)on endothelial cells,promoting endothelial cell proliferation and migration,inducing vascular changes in HCC,and thus promote the growth of hepatocellular carcino-ma cells.Anti-VEGF and its receptor-targeted mo-lecular drugs are currently effective new treat-ments for HCC.Monoclonal antibodies against VEGF and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting VEGF have been shown to block its angio-genic activity,alleviate the inhibitory effect of the tumour microenvironment,and ultimately achieve tumour regression.This article provides a review of the research progress of VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors in HCC treatment.

ABSRACT The development of hepatocellular car-cinoma(HCC)is closely related to the formation of tumour blood vessels.VEGF-mediated angiogenesis is a major driver of the immune escape response in tumours.VEGF binds to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor2(VEGFR2)on endothelial cells,promoting endothelial cell proliferation and migration,inducing vascular changes in HCC,and thus promote the growth of hepatocellular carcino-ma cells.Anti-VEGF and its receptor-targeted mo-lecular drugs are currently effective new treat-ments for HCC.Monoclonal antibodies against VEGF and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting VEGF have been shown to block its angio-genic activity,alleviate the inhibitory effect of the tumour microenvironment,and ultimately achieve tumour regression.This article provides a review of the research progress of VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors in HCC treatment.