ObjectiveTo optimize and validate the optimal sequential alcohol-water extraction process of modified Banxia Xiexintang（MBXT） based on pharmacodynamic evaluation， combined with the G1-entropy weight method and Box-Behnken response surface methodology， and to systematically and comprehensively analyze the material basis of this formula， providing a scientific basis for its quality control and industrial production. MethodsRats were randomly divided into the normal group， model group， metformin group， and MBXT water extraction， water extraction and ethanol precipitation， sequential ethanol-water extraction groups. Except for the normal group， a polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance（PCOS-IR） model was established in all rats via a high-fat diet combined with letrozole induction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） biochemical assay kits and hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining were used to compare sex hormone levels in serum and ovarian histopathology， thereby screening extraction process routes. Based on this， a comprehensive score was constructed using the G1-entropy weight method based on the transfer rates of index components（berberine hydrochloride and baicalin） and the dry extract rate. Box-Behnken response surface methodology was then utilized to optimize the extraction process parameters. Finally， the chemical constituents of the sample from the optimal process were qualitatively analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS）. ResultsPharmacodynamic findings revealed that compared with the normal group， serum testosterone（T） and luteinizing hormone（LH） levels were significantly elevated in the model group， while estradiol（E₂） and follicle-stimulating hormone（FSH） levels were significantly decreased（P<0.01）， with polycystic changes observed in ovarian tissues. Compared with the model group， all treatment groups significantly reversed the changes in sex hormone levels， with the sequential ethanol-water extraction group showing the optimal effect in improving the aforementioned indicators and pathological morphology， followed by subsequent process optimization. The optimized process involved adding 12 times the amount of 70% ethanol for extracting twice， each lasting 120 min， and adding 12 times the amount of water for extracting thrice， each lasting 90 min. Validation test results showed that under optimal process conditions， the average transfer rates of berberine hydrochloride and baicalin were 76.05% and 93.38%， respectively. MS analysis identified a total of 377 compounds， including 112 flavonoids， 41 terpenoids， 28 organic acids， 22 coumarins， and 8 alkaloids， while elucidating the cleavage patterns of key components. ConclusionThe optimized sequential ethanol-water extraction process is stable and feasible， effectively preserving the material basis of MBXT for treating PCOS-IR. It further clarifies the main chemical composition of this formula， providing a scientific basis for the development and quality control of its preparations.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the therapeutic effects of modified Banxia Xiexintang（MBXT） on polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance（PCOS-IR） rats and reveal its potential mechanisms based on the integrated analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics. MethodsFemale SD rats were selected， and a PCOS-IR model was established by intragastric administration of letrozole combined with a high-fat diet for 21 days. The modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group， MBXT low-， medium-， and high-dose groups（6.62， 13.23， 26.46 g·kg^-1）， and metformin group（0.158 g·kg^-1）， with a normal group set up separately. After 14 days of administration， the estrous cycle was observed， ovarian morphology was examined by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining， and the levels of testosterone（T）， estradiol（E₂）， follicle-stimulating hormone（FSH）， and luteinizing hormone（LH） in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. Serum metabolites and ovarian tissue gene expression were detected using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic orbitrap mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS） and RNA-Seq technology， respectively， followed by multi-omics integrated analysis. ResultsPharmacodynamic findings revealed that all MBXT dose groups could reversed abnormal estrous cycles in PCOS-IR rats， improve polycystic ovarian lesions， and normalize dysregulated serum hormone levels（T， LH， E₂， FS， P<0.05， P<0.01）. Metabolomic analysis revealed that compared with the model group， MBXT reversed 278 differential metabolites such as estrone and S-formylglutathione， mainly involving pathways such as steroid hormone biosynthesis， glutathione metabolism， and lipid peroxidation regulation. Transcriptomic analysis identified 434 differentially expressed genes， and enrichment analysis revealed that MBXT significantly regulated lipid peroxidation defense systems， including glutathione metabolism， peroxisome function， and fatty acid metabolism， thereby intervening in ferroptosis processes. It also engaged in inflammation-related pathways such as the chemokine signaling pathway. Integrated analysis revealed that both metabolomics and transcriptomics co-enriched metabolic pathways associated with ferroptosis and fatty acid metabolism. And key Hub genes［such as Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 2 gene（Rac2） and Fas ligand gene（Faslg）］ showed significant correlations with differential metabolites. ConclusionMBXT can effectively ameliorate reproductive dysfunction and metabolic disorders in PCOS-IR rats. Its mechanism may be related to remodeling the immune-metabolism network， particularly by regulating MHC-mediated immune responses， inhibiting local ovarian ferroptosis， and enhancing steroid hormone synthesis pathways.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of modified Banxia Xiexintang（MBXT） in improving ovarian dysfunction in polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance（PCOS-IR） rats by inhibiting ferroptosis through the adenosine monophosphate（AMP）-activated protein kinase（AMPK）/fatty acid synthase（FASN）/glutathione peroxidase 4（GPX4） signaling pathway. MethodsSeventy-six female SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group（n=13） and a modeling group（n=63）. The modeling group established a PCOS-IR model by intragastric administration of letrozole combined with a high-fat diet for 21 days. After successful modeling， these rats were randomly divided into the model group， MBXT low-， medium-， and high-dose groups（6.62， 13.23， 26.46 g·kg^-1）， metformin group（0.158 g·kg^-1）， and high-dose of MBXT combined with ferroptosis inducer Erastin group（15 mg·kg^-1）， with 10 rats in each group. After 14 days of intervention， ovarian pathological morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining， the mitochondrial ultrastructure of granulosa cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy（TEM）， ovarian reactive oxygen species（ROS） levels were detected by dihydroethidium（DHE） probe， biochemical methods were used to detect Fe²⁺， malondialdehyde（MDA）， glutathione（GSH） and other indicators in ovarian tissues， serum sex hormone and insulin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）， and the protein expressions of AMPK， FASN， acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4（ACSL4）， GPX4， and solute carrier family 7 member 11（SLC7A11） in ovarian tissues were detected by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed polycystic changes in the ovaries， with atrophy of mitochondria in granulosa cells and increased membrane density. Serum levels of testosterone（T）， luteinizing hormone（LH）， and insulin were significantly increased（P<0.01）. The levels of ROS， MDA， 4-hydroxynonenal（4-HNE）， and Fe²⁺ in ovarian tissues were significantly elevated（P<0.01）， while adenosine triphosphate（ATP）， GSH， and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate （NADPH） levels were significantly decreased（P<0.01）. The phosphorylation levels of AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase （ACC）， as well as the protein expressions of SLC7A11， GPX4， and ferroptosis suppressor protein 1（FSP1） were significantly downregulated（P<0.01）， whereas the expressions of FASN， ACSL4， and nuclear receptor coactivator 4（NCOA4） were significantly upregulated（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， MBXT intervention at various doses improved the above pathological changes and biochemical indicators in a dose-dependent manner， with the high-dose group showing the most significant effect（P<0.01）. Compared with the MBXT high-dose group， the high-dose of MBXT combined with ferroptosis inducer Erastin group restored ovarian ferroptosis characteristics in rats， with increased ROS and lipid peroxidation products， and altered expressions of key proteins（P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionMBXT can effectively improve ovarian function and metabolic disorders in PCOS-IR rats. Its mechanism may be related to activating the AMPK/ACC signaling pathway， downregulating FASN and ACSL4 to reduce lipid peroxidation substrates， and restoring glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase/phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase（G6PD/PHGDH） metabolic flux to enhance the GPX4/FSP1 antioxidant defense system， thereby inhibiting ferroptosis in ovarian granulosa cells.

The medicinal use of Malvae Semen has a long history. In this paper， by consulting the ancient materia medica， prescription， agronomy， literature and other aspects of the classics， the name， origin， evolution of scientific name， quality， harvesting and processing， functions and indications and others of Malvae Semen were systematically sorted out and verified， so as to provide a basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. According to the textual research， Shennong Bencaojing began to use Dongkuizi as the correct name， which was used in the past dynasties， and there were also aliases such as Kuicaizi， Huacai， and Kuizi. Through the original research， it can be seen that Kuicai is the mainstream original plant of Malvae Semen， that is， Malva verticillata var. crispa， the Alcea rosea and M. cathayensis are also used. In modern times， the seeds of Abutilon theophrasti have been passed off as Malvae Semen， while the seeds of M. verticillata var. crispa have rarely been used in medicine. And Abutili Semen has been another medicinal material with different efficacy since the collection of Newly Revised Materia Medica in the Tang dynasty. Since the Ming and Qing dynasties， the cultivation of Kuicai has been decreasing， while A. theophrasti is more common and easy to obtain， and Abutili Semen and Malvae Semen are similar in morphology and confused， which should be corrected. In addition， Malvae Fructus is a Mongolian customary medicinal herb， which is different from the traditional use of seeds in traditional Chinese medicine. Kuicai， as an important vegetable in history， was widely cultivated and gradually shrunk after the Song dynasty， it is now mainly produced in southern provinces. The quality evaluation of Malvae Semen is better for those with dry bodies， full grain， grayish brown color， no mud， and no impurities. The harvesting is generally in the autumn and winter. After drying， it is seeded， sieved peel and impurities， mashed， or slightly stir-fried to yellow-white color with gentle fire. It is sweet， cold and slippery in nature and taste， with the main effects of laxation， diuresis， lactation and elimination of swelling. The efficacy of Abutili Semen is clearing heat and removing toxicity， promoting diuresis and removing nebula， the efficacy is quite different from that of Malvae Semen. Based on the results of textual research， it is suggested that M. verticillata var. crispa should be used as the medicinal source of Malvae Semen in the development of famous classical formulas， the corresponding processing methods should be selected according to the requirements of drug processing in the formulas， while the raw products are recommended to be used if the processing is not specified.

The medicinal use of Malvae Semen has a long history. In this paper， by consulting the ancient materia medica， prescription， agronomy， literature and other aspects of the classics， the name， origin， evolution of scientific name， quality， harvesting and processing， functions and indications and others of Malvae Semen were systematically sorted out and verified， so as to provide a basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. According to the textual research， Shennong Bencaojing began to use Dongkuizi as the correct name， which was used in the past dynasties， and there were also aliases such as Kuicaizi， Huacai， and Kuizi. Through the original research， it can be seen that Kuicai is the mainstream original plant of Malvae Semen， that is， Malva verticillata var. crispa， the Alcea rosea and M. cathayensis are also used. In modern times， the seeds of Abutilon theophrasti have been passed off as Malvae Semen， while the seeds of M. verticillata var. crispa have rarely been used in medicine. And Abutili Semen has been another medicinal material with different efficacy since the collection of Newly Revised Materia Medica in the Tang dynasty. Since the Ming and Qing dynasties， the cultivation of Kuicai has been decreasing， while A. theophrasti is more common and easy to obtain， and Abutili Semen and Malvae Semen are similar in morphology and confused， which should be corrected. In addition， Malvae Fructus is a Mongolian customary medicinal herb， which is different from the traditional use of seeds in traditional Chinese medicine. Kuicai， as an important vegetable in history， was widely cultivated and gradually shrunk after the Song dynasty， it is now mainly produced in southern provinces. The quality evaluation of Malvae Semen is better for those with dry bodies， full grain， grayish brown color， no mud， and no impurities. The harvesting is generally in the autumn and winter. After drying， it is seeded， sieved peel and impurities， mashed， or slightly stir-fried to yellow-white color with gentle fire. It is sweet， cold and slippery in nature and taste， with the main effects of laxation， diuresis， lactation and elimination of swelling. The efficacy of Abutili Semen is clearing heat and removing toxicity， promoting diuresis and removing nebula， the efficacy is quite different from that of Malvae Semen. Based on the results of textual research， it is suggested that M. verticillata var. crispa should be used as the medicinal source of Malvae Semen in the development of famous classical formulas， the corresponding processing methods should be selected according to the requirements of drug processing in the formulas， while the raw products are recommended to be used if the processing is not specified.

CRISPR/Cas9-based therapeutics face significant challenges in penetrating the dense microenvironment of solid tumors, resulting in insufficient gene editing and compromised treatment efficacy. Current nanostrategies, which mainly focus on the paracellular pathway attempted to improve gene editing performance, whereas their efficiency remains uneven in the heterogenous extracellular matrix. Here, the nanoCRISPR system is prepared with self-cascading mechanisms for gene editing-mediated robust apoptosis and transcellular penetration. NanoCRISPR unlocks its self-cascade capability within the matrix metallopeptidase 2-enriched tumor microenvironment, initiating the transcellular penetration. By facilitating cellular uptake, nanoCRISPR triggers robust apoptosis in edited malignancies, promoting further transcellular penetration and amplifying gene editing in neighboring tumor cells. Benefiting from self-cascade between robust apoptosis and transcellular penetration, nanoCRISPR demonstrates continuous gene transfection/tumor killing performance (transfection/apoptosis efficiency: 1st round: 85%/84.2%; 2nd round: 48%/27%) and homogeneous penetration. In xenograft tumor-bearing mice, nanoCRISPR treatment achieves remarkable anti-tumor efficacy (∼83%) and significant survival benefits with minimal toxicity. This strategy presents a promising paradigm emphasizing transcellular penetration to enhance the effectiveness of CRISPR-based antitumor therapeutics.

Mesangial cell proliferation is an early pathological indicator of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Growing evidence highlights the pivotal role of paired-related homeobox 1 (Prrx1), a key regulator of cellular proliferation and tissue differentiation, in various disease pathogenesis. Notably, Prrx1 is highly expressed in mesangial cells under DN conditions. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that Prrx1 overexpression promotes mesangial cell proliferation and contributes to renal fibrosis in db/m mice. Conversely, Prrx1 knockdown markedly suppresses hyperglycemia-induced mesangial cell proliferation and mitigates renal fibrosis in db/db mice. Mechanistically, Prrx1 directly interacts with the Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP) promoter, leading to the upregulation of YAP expression. This upregulation promotes mesangial cell proliferation and exacerbates renal fibrosis. These findings emphasize the crucial role of Prrx1 upregulation in high glucose-induced mesangial cell proliferation, ultimately leading to renal fibrosis in DN. Therefore, targeting Prrx1 to downregulate its expression presents a promising therapeutic strategy for treating renal fibrosis associated with DN.

Objective To quantitatively measure the morphological parameters of type Ⅱ accessory navicular(AN)in CT images and analyze the mechanical changes in the foot caused by painful type Ⅱ AN.Methods The CT images of 51 patients with type Ⅱ AN were analyzed retrospectively;According to whether the medial foot was painful,we divided the data into two groups,including the pain type Ⅱ AN group(case group)and the non-pain type Ⅱ AN group(control group).The measured data included the navicular and medial joint space(MeJS),middle joint space(MiJS),lateral joint space(LJS),talar-accessory navicular distance(TAND),the maximum diameter(MaD)and minimum diameter(MiD)of AN,and the difference of the relevant data using independent sample t-test was measured.Results Compared with the control group,the MeJS,MiJS,and LJS in the case group showed that the joint space of painful type Ⅱ AN was widened,and there was a significant difference(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the TAND,MaD,and MiD of the case group had no significant change,and there was no significant difference(P＞0.05).Conclusion In pain-ful type Ⅱ AN foot,the posterior tibial tendon(PTT)is attached to AN,which destroys the balance of force on the foot,resulting in the widening of the distance between the navicular and AN.

Objective:To predict the mechanism of Panacis Quinquefolii Radix- Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (PQ-AT) in the treatment of diabetes encephalopathy (DE) using network pharmacology combined with molecular docking; To conduct experimental verification.Methods:The active components and targets of PQ and AT were screened by TCMSP database. The GeneCards and Disgenet were used to collect DE related target genes. String database and Cytoscape software were used to structure PPI network and perform visualization analysis. The common targets were imported into Metascape platform for GO annotation and KEGG enrichment analysis. Molecular docking was used to verify the binding ability of active components to core targets. Rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, and a low-dose group of PQ-AT (1.08 g/kg), a high-dose group of PQ-AT (2.16 g/kg), and a metformin group (0.18 g/kg) using a random number table. To establish the rat model of diabetes encephalopathy, intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin was used in addition to the blank group. After a 12-week drug intervention, TNF-α and Cyclooxygenase-2 (PTGS2) protein expression in the cerebral cortex of rats was detected using Western blot.Results:A total of 26 active components in PQ-AT and 107 related targets of DE were obtained, mainly including TNF, JUN, and PTSG2, which were mainly concentrated in TNF signaling pathway, cancer and other signal pathways. Molecular docking showed that the main active components of PQ-AT had relatively stable binding activity with TNF-α and PTGS2. Western blot results shows that compared with the model group, the expressions of PTGS2 and TNF-α significantly decreased in each administration group ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion:PQ-AT can act on TNF, CASP3, JUN, STAT3, PTGS2 and other core targets to regulate signal pathways such as TNF, and inhibit inflammatory reaction to achieve the effect of treating DE.

Objective:To summarize the best evidence for exercise intervention in elderly patients with sarcopenia in intensive care unit (ICU) through literature search, and provide a reference for clinical implementation of early exercise intervention in this population through evidence-based practice.Methods:① Summary of best evidence: relevant literature on exercise intervention for elderly patients with sarcopenia in ICU, including guideline, evidence summary, expert consensus, systematic review, and original study [quasi-experiment and randomized controlled trial (RCT)] from UpToDate Clinical Advisor, Ovid database, National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Cochrane Library, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed/Medline, SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP, and Yimai Tong Guideline Network were systematically searched. The search period covered from the establishment of these databases up to August 24, 2023. The quality of the literature was evaluated by two researchers with methodological expertise in evidence-based medicine, and the evidences were extracted and summarized. ② Evidence-based practice: the elderly patients with high risk of sarcopenia who had been hospitalized in the ICU for more than 7 days from January to April 2024 were enrolled as the research subjects, and they were divided into a control group and an intervention group using convenience sampling method. The control group received routine intensive care nursing. The intervention group implemented exercise intervention based on the actual situation of the patients, the baseline review was conducted before evidence application, and the effectiveness of evidence application at 7 days and 14 days was evaluated.Results:① A total of 19 pieces of literature were included, including 4 guidelines, 1 summary of evidence, 4 expert consensuses, 4 systematic reviews, and 6 original studies (1 quasi-experiment, 5 RCT). After literature quality evaluation, all 19 articles were enrolled. Finally, 31 pieces of best evidence were extracted from eight aspects, including assessment and diagnosis, multidisciplinary cooperation, indication, preparation before intervention, intervention program, safety monitoring, post-intervention evaluation, and special task. ② Finally, a total of 30 patients were enrolled in the intervention group, of which 17 completed 14 days of rehabilitation exercise, and 13 completed 7 days of rehabilitation exercise. Twenty-seven patients were enrolled in the control group, of which 17 completed 14 days of monitoring, and 10 completed 7 days of monitoring. Clinical evidence application results showed that the patients in the intervention group did not experience adverse events such as increased heart rate, extubation, or physical discomfort. The skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) in both groups was gradually decreased with the prolongation of intervention duration, but the 7-day SMI in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (kg/m 2: 8.61±2.66 vs. 6.65±1.50, P < 0.01). Conclusion:By summarizing the best evidence and evidence-based practice of exercise intervention for elderly patients with sarcopenia in ICU, this study confirmed the feasibility due to safe and effective of implementing early exercise intervention for elderly sarcopenia patients in ICU.