Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), as a treasure of the Chinese nation, plays a significant role in maintaining public health. In 2019, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council proposed for the first time the establishment of a TCM registration and evaluation evidence system that integrates TCM theory, "personal experience" and clinical trials (referred to as the "Three-in-One" System) to promote the inheritance and innovation of TCM. Subsequently, the National Medical Products Administration issued several guiding principles to advance the improvement and implementation of this system. Owing to the complexity of its implementation, there are still differing understandings within the TCM industry regarding the positioning of the "Three-in-One" Registration and Evaluation Evidence System, as well as the connotation and value orientation of the "personal experience." To address this, Academician WANG Qi, President of the TCM Association, China International Exchange and Promotion Association for Medical and Healthcare and TCM master, led a group of academicians, TCM masters, TCM pharmacology experts and clinical TCM experts to convene a "Seminar on Promoting the Implementation of the ′Three-in-One′ Registration and Evaluation Evidence System for Chinese Medicinals." Through extensive discussions, an expert consensus was formed, clarifying the different roles of the TCM theory, "personal experience" and clinical trials within the system. It was further emphasized that the "personal experience" is the core of this system, and its data should be derived from clinical practice scenarios. In the future, the improvement of this system will require collaborative efforts across multiple fields to promote the high-quality development of the Chinese medicinal industry.

The therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) decoction is closely related to its decocting methods. A correct understanding of the scientific connotations of decocting methods in TCM is of great significance for guiding the application of decoctions and the development of modern TCM preparations based on decoctions. The decocting process is not only a hot water extraction process of chemical components but also accompanied by complex chemical and physical changes, forming a complex multiphase system and significantly affecting the absorption and therapeutic effect of TCM. This article reviews the research progress in scientific connotations of decocting methods in TCM from the perspectives of chemical composition changes, phase state differences,absorption behavior changes, and pharmacological and toxicological changes caused by decocting. This review is expected to provide implications for studying decocting methods and their scientific interpretation, boost the innovation and development of TCM decoctions,and promote the design and development of modern TCM preparations.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Animals

This study established the HPLC fingerprints, characteristic chromatograms, and a multi-component content determination method for Bidens bipinnata and B. biternata. The chemical pattern recognition analysis was then employed to clarify the characteristic indexes of quality differences between the two original plants of Bidentis Herba, providing a reference for establishing the quality standards of Bidentis Herba. HPLC was launched on an Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C_(18) chromatographic column(4.6 mm×250 mm, 4 μm) by gradient elution with a mobile phase of 0.1% aqueous phosphoric acid-acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.7 mL·min~(-1), detection wavelength of 270 nm, column temperature of 25 ℃, and an injection volume of 5 μL. The similarity between the fingerprints of 18 batches of Bidentis Herba samples and the common pattern(R) ranged from 0.572 to 0.933. A total of 23 chromatographic peaks were calibrated. Through comparison with the reference substances, six components(neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid B, rutin, and hyperoside) were identified and subjected to quantitative analysis. The characteristic fingerprints of B. bipinnata and B. biternata were calibrated with 20 and 17 characteristic peaks, respectively. Among them, peaks 8, 9, 22, and 23 were the characteristic peaks of B. bipinnata, and peak 7 was the characteristic peak of B. biternata, which can be used to distinguish the two original plants of Bidentis Herba. The relative standard deviation of the content of the above-mentioned six components ranged from 36% to 123%. The cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) classified the 18 batches of Bidentis Herba samples into two categories. Additionally, through the analysis of variable importance in projection(VIP) under OPLS-DA, three characteristic indexes, rutin, isochlorogenic acid A, and isochlorogenic acid B, were identified. The analytical method established in this study can comprehensively evaluate the consistency of Bidentis Herba samples derived from different original plants, specifically identify the differential components between them, and effectively distinguish the two original plants of Bidentis Herba, providing a basis for the differentiation between different original plants and the quality control of Bidentis Herba.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Quality Control ; Bidens/chemistry*

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study. METHODS: A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m ²) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m ²) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m ²) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m ² ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Adult ; Mortality ; Cause of Death ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight/mortality*

Aim To predict and validate the mechanism of wenshen xuanbi tang(WSXBT) in treatment of osteoporosis (OP) based on network pharmacology, molecular docking techniques and in vivo experimental techniques. Methods Network pharmacology was used to screen the key ingredients and core targets of WSXBT for the treatment of osteoporosis. Metascape database was used for gene ontology (GO) biological process enrichment analysis and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway enrichment analysis of core targets. AutoDockTools 1. 5. 7 software was applied in molecular docking to simulate the binding activity of key active ingredients to core targets. To study the efficacy of WSXBT on rats with osteoporosis and to verify the related targets and pathways, rat models of osteoporosis were established by excising the bilateral ovaries of rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the serum OPG, PINP and RANKL content. Biomechanical tester was applied to test the biomechanics of rat femurs. Micro-CT was applied to detect the femoral bone density. Then, Western blot was employed to measure the protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt). Results A total of 156 active ingredients of WSXBT were screened, involving 229 potential targets, 23 core targets and 145 signaling pathways. The molecular docking results showed that five key ingredients, including quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin, isobavachin and licochalcone a, possessed good binding ability to the core targets of PIK3R1 and AKT1. The results of in vivo experiments showed that WSXBT could significantly increase bone density, improve bone tissue microstructure, enhance femur biomechanics and increase PINP expression and OPG/RANKL ratio in rats with osteoporosis. Results of WB showed that WSXBT significantly increased p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt ratios. Conclusions WSXBT could improve bone mineral density in postmenopausal osteoporotic rats through PI3K/ Akt signaling pathway and increasing OPG/RANKL ratio.

Objective:To establish the animal model of cervicofacial venous malformations(VMs)by surgical reconstruction of exter-nal jugular vein in sheep.Methods:The external jugular veins of 5 sheep were dissected,and the position,course,branch and exter-nal diameter were observed and measured.The models of VMs with draining and returning veins were constructed by suturing or constric-ting the proximal part of main trunk and ligating or constricting the distal part of the jugular or branch veins.The animal model was eval-uated by Doppler ultrasound,gross observation and histological observation at the 4th week after surgery.Results:The external jugular veins of sheep is in the lateral side of bilateral neck,and the main trunk is formed by the maxillary vein and lingual facial vein.The ex-ternal diameter ranges from 6 to 12 mm,with an average external diameter of 9.3 mm.Immediately after the external jugular vein was sutured and narrowed at the proximal part of the main vein,the distal part of the vein branch was ligated or narrowed,the blood flow speed slowed down and the veins in the model area bulged.4 weeks after surgery,gross observation showed that most veins narrowed and thrombosis was formed in part of the venous lumen.The central region of some specimens was dilated,and the peripheral collateral veins were dilated in some models.Doppler ultrasonography showed that the lumens of most veins were dilated and the returning veins and the inflow veins were narrowed.Colored blood flow was seen in the lumen.Histological observation showed that the structure of vein endothelium and wall was close to the normal vein,and the vein vessel wall of some specimens was thickened.Conclusion:The VMs model estab-lished by external jugular vein of sheep basically meets the re-quirements and is expected to be used in the therapeutic meth-odology research of cervicofacial VMs.

BackgroundPatients demonstrating depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms often have increased risk of death and poor prognosis. A large amount of research has explored the factors influencing psychotic symptoms in adult patients with depressive disorder， but few has focused on adolescent patients. ObjectiveTo explore the influencing factors of psychotic symptoms in adolescent patients with depressive disorder， so as to provide references for early screening and intervention in clinic. MethodsA total of 96 adolescent patients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fifth edition （DSM-5） for depressive disorder and were seen in the psychiatry departments of Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University and The Fourth People's Hospital of Hefei from September 2022 to January 2023 were included. Another 56 healthy individuals from the health examination center of Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University were concurrently recruited as control group. Patients were assigned into psychotic group （n=32） and non-psychotic group （n=64） according to the presence or absence of psychotic symptoms. Hamilton Depression Scale-24 item （HAMD-24）， Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale （PANSS）， Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation （PANSI） and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form （CTQ-SF） were used for evaluation. Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） concentration was obtained using Meso Scale Discovery electrochemiluminescence assay. Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis were adopted to determine the correlation of PANSS positive symptom subscale score with plasma BDNF concentration and clinical characteristics of adolescent depression patients with psychotic symptoms. Binary Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors influencing the presence of psychotic symptoms in adolescent patients with depressive disorder， and multiple linear regression analysis was utilized to screen the factors affecting the severity of psychotic symptoms. ResultsThe plasma BDNF concentration of adolescent patients with depressive disorder was lower than that of control group （t=-3.080， P<0.01）.The plasma BDNF concentration of psychotic group was lower than that of non-psychotic group （t=2.418， P<0.05）， while the body mass index （BMI） PANSI scores， CTQ-SF scores and HAMD-24 total scores were all higher than those of non-psychotic group （t=-2.024， -2.530， -2.187， -4.977， P<0.05 or 0.01）. Correlation analysis showed that PANSS positive symptom subscale scores were negatively correlated with anxiety/somatization factor score and weight factor score in HAMD-24 of psychotic group （r=-0.438， -0.498， P<0.05 or 0.01）. Binary Logistic regression showed that BMI， plasma BDNF concentration， HAMD-24 total scores and cognitive dysfunction factor score were the influencing factors of psychotic symptoms in adolescent patients with depressive disorder. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that weight factor scores （β=-0.349， P<0.05） and anxiety/somatization factor score （β=-0.433， P<0.05） in HAMD-24 were the factors influencing the severity of psychotic symptoms. ConclusionHigh BMI， low plasma BDNF concentration， severe depressive symptoms and cognitive dysfunction may be the risk factors of psychotic symptoms in adolescent patients with depressive disorder， furthermore， BMI and anxiety symptoms are found to be associated with the severity of psychotic symptoms. ［Funded by Scientific Research Fund Project of Anhui Institute of Translational Medicine （number， 2022zhyx-B01）； Central Finance Supported Provincial Key Clinical Specialty Construction Project of Anhui Province in 2019］