Background and aims The mechanism of cholestatic liver injury (CLI) is unclear, and effective therapies are lacking. While peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) agonists show potential hepatoprotective effect and pyroptosis is implicated in hepatocellular damage, how PPARα activation mitigates lithocholic acid (LCA)-induced pyroptosis remains unknown. Methods The hepatoprotective effect of PPARα agonists was evaluated in a mouse model of intrahepatic cholestasis induced by LCA. Liver injury was assessed via serum biochemistry, hematoxylin and eosin and TUNEL staining, and electron microscopy. Pyroptosis pathways were analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and co-immunoprecipitation. Results Combined morphological, histopathological, and biochemical analyses confirmed that PPARα activation protects against CLI. Compared with LCA treatment alone, PPARα activation significantly attenuated the elevation of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the increased TUNEL-positive cells, and the formation of hepatocyte membrane pores. Mechanistically, PPARα activation suppressed both NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis and apoptosis protease-activating factor-1 (APAF-1)/CASPASE-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis. Furthermore, PPARα agonist pretreatment inhibited activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) signaling pathways. Conclusions PPARα protects against LCA-induced CLI by inhibiting both NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis associated with NF-κB and APAF-1/CASPASE-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis associated with the FOXO1 signaling pathway.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from the stems and leaves of Dendrobium formosum Roxb.ex Lindl.and their biological activities.METHODS The 95％ethanol extract from the stems and leaves of D.formosum was isolated and purified by silica gel,Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.Their inhibitory activities onα-glucosidase were determined by PNPG method,and their in vitro anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by RAW264.7 model.RESULTS Fifteen compounds were isolated and identified as coniferyl p-coumarate(1),(-)-pinoresinol(2),2,5,7-trihydroxy-4-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene(3),naringenin(4),spiropreussomerin A(5),7-hydroxy-14-de-O-methyl-lasiodiplodin(6),(4S,5S,6Z,8E)-5-hydroxydeca-6,8-dien-4-olide(7),(6S,9R)-blumenol C(8),p-hydroxybenzoic acid(9),m-hydroxybenzoic acid(10),p-hydroxy benzenepropanoic acid(11),5,7-dihydroxy-isobenzofuran(12),2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethanol(13),β-sitostenone(14),β-sitosterol(15).The IC50 values of compounds 1 and 4 on α-glucosidase inhibition were(65.60±3.31)and(98.95±2.53)μmol/L,respectively.Compound 3 presented inhibitory activity on NO production in RAW 264.7 cells,with IC50 value of(3.97±0.12)μmol/L.CONCLUSION Compounds 5-6,8 and 12 are isolated from Orchidacae family for the first time,and 2-15 are first isolated from this plant.Compounds 1 and 4 have α-glucosidase inhibitory activities,and 3 has anti-inflammatory activity.

With the increasing emphasis on patient-centered care and psychosocial support in modern healthcare systems,the role of medical social workers has evolved from auxiliary support to comprehensive participation.They serve as crucial liaisons for the healthcare service,delivering humanistic care for patients.Specially,their service has extended beyond traditional psycho-social counseling and doctor-patient communication to encompass whole-course care,community resource coordination,and pa-tient empowerment across multiple domains.As policies promoting humanistic healthcare and holistic well-being are progressively implemented,the scope of work for medical social workers has deepened and broadened in terms of role positioning and service demands.However,they also encounter significant challenges,including role ambiguity,interprofessional collaboration barriers,and insufficient institutional support mechanisms.To address these challenges,enhanced interprofessional education,evidence-based practice implementation,and policy-driven mechanisms are essential for strengthening their clinical competencies,delinea-ting professional boundaries,and optimizing resource allocation.These synergistic approaches collectively reinforce medical social workers'integral role in advancing humanistic care models while elevating their professional stature within the evolving healthcare ecosystem.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from the stems and leaves of Dendrobium formosum Roxb.ex Lindl.and their biological activities.METHODS The 95％ethanol extract from the stems and leaves of D.formosum was isolated and purified by silica gel,Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.Their inhibitory activities onα-glucosidase were determined by PNPG method,and their in vitro anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by RAW264.7 model.RESULTS Fifteen compounds were isolated and identified as coniferyl p-coumarate(1),(-)-pinoresinol(2),2,5,7-trihydroxy-4-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene(3),naringenin(4),spiropreussomerin A(5),7-hydroxy-14-de-O-methyl-lasiodiplodin(6),(4S,5S,6Z,8E)-5-hydroxydeca-6,8-dien-4-olide(7),(6S,9R)-blumenol C(8),p-hydroxybenzoic acid(9),m-hydroxybenzoic acid(10),p-hydroxy benzenepropanoic acid(11),5,7-dihydroxy-isobenzofuran(12),2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethanol(13),β-sitostenone(14),β-sitosterol(15).The IC50 values of compounds 1 and 4 on α-glucosidase inhibition were(65.60±3.31)and(98.95±2.53)μmol/L,respectively.Compound 3 presented inhibitory activity on NO production in RAW 264.7 cells,with IC50 value of(3.97±0.12)μmol/L.CONCLUSION Compounds 5-6,8 and 12 are isolated from Orchidacae family for the first time,and 2-15 are first isolated from this plant.Compounds 1 and 4 have α-glucosidase inhibitory activities,and 3 has anti-inflammatory activity.

Objective:To explore the current status, research hotspots, and development trends of shared decision-making in the field of cardiovascular disease nursing, and to provide a reference for future research.Methods:Relevant literature on shared decision-making in cardiovascular disease nursing published up to October 31, 2024, was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. CiteSpace 6.4.R1 software was used for visualized analysis.Results:A total of 2 748 publications were identified, including 2 446 in English and 302 in Chinese. The overall number of publications has shown an increasing trend. Research hotspots include quality of life, palliative care, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. The emerging trend involves integrating evidence-based approaches with artificial intelligence technologies to build scientific evidence frameworks that support patients in making optimal decisions.Conclusions:Research on shared decision-making in cardiovascular disease nursing has been increasing year by year but remains largely concentrated in developed countries. Future studies should draw on international research frontiers while considering China's national and cultural contexts, enhance academic exchange and collaboration, and explore effective strategies to promote shared decision-making between Medical staff and patients.

Aim To investigate the effect of circRNF13 on oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer cells and its related mechanism.Methods Cell transfection was used to overexpress circRNF13 in oxaliplatin-sensi-tive colorectal cancer cells SW620 or to inhibit cir-cRNF13 expression in oxaliplatin-resistant colorectal cancer cells SW620/OXA.Real-time quantitative fluo-rescent PCR(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the ex-pression levels of circRNF13,miR-16-5p,and mir-324-5p.Cell Count Kit 8(CCK-8)was used to meas-ure cell viability.Clonal formation experiments were used to measure clonal formation number.Western blot was used to detect CyclinD1,PCNA,Bax,Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 protein expression level.Flow cy-tometry and in situ end labeling(TUNEL)were used to detect apoptosis.Dual luciferase assay was used to verify the targeting relationship between circRNF13 and miR-16-5p and mir-324-5p.Results The expression level of circRNF13 in SW620/OXA cells was signifi-cantly higher than that in SW620 cells,while the ex-pression levels of miR-16-5p and miR-324-5p were sig-nificantly lower than those in SW620 cells(P＜0.05).Overexpression of circRNF13 significantly in-creased the IC50 of oxaliplatin against SW620 cells,and inhibition of circRNF13 expression significantly decreased the IC50 of oxaliplatin against SW620/OXA cells.Overexpression of circRNF13 significantly in-creased cell viability,clonal formation number,Cy-clinD1,PCNA and Bcl-2 levels of oxaliplatin treated SW620 cells,while significantly decreased apoptosis rate,apoptosis index,Bax and cleaved caspase-3 lev-els(P＜0.05).Inhibition of circRNF13 expression significantly decreased the cell viability,clonal forma-tion number,CyclinD1,PCNA and Bcl-2 levels of ox-aliplatin treated SW620/OXA cells,while significantly increased the apoptosis rate,apoptosis index,Bax and cleaved caspase-3 levels(P＜0.05).circRNF13 tar-geted inhibition of the expression of miR-16-5p and mir-324-5p.Conclusions circRNF13 can increase oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer cells,and the mechanism may be related to the targeted inhibition of circRNF13 on the expression of miR-16-5p,mir-324-5p and other miRNAs.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of Sheng Mai San mixed Jiawei Sheng Xian Tang on patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF)of Qi deficiency blood stasis type,and its impact on the immune inflammatory response of patients.Methods Ninety patients with HFrEF of Qi deficiency blood stasis type were selected and divided into two groups according to the treatment plan.Patients of the conventional group(42 cases)took sacubitril/valsartan sodium tablets orally.Patients of the combined group(48 cases)were treated with Sheng Mai San combined with Jiawei Sheng Xian Tang on the basis of the conventional group,one dose per day,and divided it in two servings used in the morning and evening.The symptoms of the patients were evaluated by using traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome score before and after the treatment respectively.Echocardiography technology was used to measure the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF).Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect pentaggrin 3(PTX3),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),galectin-3(Gal-3),interleukin(IL)-8,IL-6,IL-33 and angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ).N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)was detected by immunofluorescence analysis.The therapeutic effect was evaluated based on the symptoms and the New York Heart Association(NYHA)cardiac function classification in the United States.Results After treatment,the levels of TCM syndrome scores,LVEDD,TNF-α,PTX3,IL-8,IL-6,IL-33,NT-proBNP,Gal-3 and AngⅡ decreased in both groups,and those in the combined group were lower than those in the conventional group(P＜0.05).The LVEF increased,and which were higher in the combined group than those of the conventional group(P＜0.05).After the treatment,the total effective rate of the combined group was higher than that of the conventional group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The Sheng Mai San mixed Jiawei Sheng Xian Tang as adjuvant therapy can effectively reduce the levels of immune inflammatory cytokines in HFrEF patients of Qi deficiency blood stasis type,improve their clinical symptoms and enhance therapeutic effect.

The triterpenoid saponins of Centella asiatica, including asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid, and madecassic acid, are pivotal bioactive compounds of the plant. These constituents exhibit a spectrum of pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, antitumor, and antidepressant effects, promotion of wound healing, and enhancement of microcirculation. Owing to these therapeutic properties, C. asiatica is widely employed in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. However, the escalating global demand for its extracts has led to potential supply shortages, prompting researchers to use multiple strategies such as multi-omics, molecular biology, and synthetic biology to conduct extensive studies. These studies encompass the elucidation of the biosynthetic pathways of triterpenoid saponins in C. asiatica, metabolic regulation, the hormonal induction of secondary metabolite synthesis, and the application of biotechnological strategies for natural product production to increase the yield of secondary metabolites in C. asiatica, or to produce active components via microbial chassis, thus satisfying market demands and promoting the sustainable exploitation of wild C. asiatica resources. This article first introduced the triterpenoid saponins of C. asiatica and their biological activities, then summarized the latest research advancements in their biosynthetic pathways, metabolic regulation, and heterologous biosynthesis, and provided an outlook on future development directions, with the aim of providing reference for comprehensive resource development and biotechnological synthesis of active components from C. asiatica.
Centella/genetics* ; Triterpenes/chemistry* ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts

Lung cancer is one of the most common and deadliest cancers globally, with its incidence and mortality rates rising each year. Therefore, finding new, safe, and effective alternative therapies poses a significant research challenge in this field. Programmed cell death refers to the process by which cells actively self-destruct in response to specific stimuli, regulated by genetic mechanisms. Modern research indicates that dysregulation of programmed cell death is widespread in the occurrence and progression of lung cancer, allowing cancer cells to evade death while continuing to proliferate and metastasize. Thus, inducing the death of lung cancer cells can be considered a novel therapeutic strategy for treating the disease. In recent years, research on traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in the field of oncology has gained widespread attention, becoming a focal point. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that TCM can inhibit the progression of lung cancer and exert anti-cancer effects by inducing apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis. This paper provided a comprehensive review of the molecular mechanisms of programmed cell death in lung cancer, along with the potential mechanisms and research advancements related to the regulation of these processes by TCM, so as to establish a theoretical foundation and direction for future basic and clinical research on lung cancer.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Animals ; Autophagy/drug effects*

Haematitum and Limonitum are two iron-containing mineral medicines included in the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. They have similar main components and major differences in their property, flavor, channel tropism, and clinical uses. In this study, we investigated the surface properties, mineral composition, mineral dissociation, elemental composition, and iron state of Haematitum and Limonitum to explore their mineralogical differences. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM), specific surface and porosity analyzer, X-ray diffractometer(XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer(XPS), and advanced mineral identification and characterization system(AMICS) were used to analyze the mineralogy of Haematitum and Limonitum. The results showed that Haematitum had an angular surface with granular attachments and a specific surface area of 17.04 m~2·g~(-1). In comparison, Limonitum had a smooth and flat surface with a bundled acicular crystal structure and a specific surface area of 46.29 m~2·g~(-1). Haematitum consists of 31 detectable minerals containing 18 elements, with the major element, iron(44.5% Fe~(2+) and 55.5% Fe~(3+)) distributed in 17 minerals, including hematite, iron oxide, knebelite, siderite, and magnesioferrite. Limonitum consists of 32 detectable minerals containing 17 elements, with the major element, iron(14.5% Fe~(2+) and 85.5% Fe~(3+)) distributed in 19 minerals, including limonite, iron oxide, chlorite, and knebelite. In summary, the elemental composition of Haematitum and Limonitum does not differ greatly, but there are large differences in the mineral composition and iron state. The large specific surface area and strong adsorption capacity of Limonitum may be one of the mechanisms of its anti-diarrheal action. The Fe_2O_3 and illite contained in Haematitum and Limonitum may be the key substances for their hemostasis effects. The mineralogical differences are expected to provide a reference for explaining the scientific connotation of mineral medicine and laying a material foundation for studying its mechanism of action.
Iron/analysis* ; Minerals/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; X-Ray Diffraction ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Photoelectron Spectroscopy