BACKGROUND:Previous studies have confirmed that Wen-Shen-Tong-Du Decoction can promote the recovery of spinal cord injury by inhibiting pyroptosis of splenic B cells,promoting the phagocytosis of myelin debris by microvascular endothelial cells,affecting the migration and infiltration of microglia,promoting the recovery of damaged neurons,and decreasing neuronal apoptosis after spinal cord injury,but the mechanism of this is still not clear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of Wen-Shen-Tong-Du Decoction on the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2(TREM2)and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways in mice following spinal cord injury. METHODS:Thirty-six C57BL/6 mice were selected and randomly divided into a sham-operation group,a model group and a Wen-Shen-Tong-Du Decoction group,with 12 mice in each group.In the model and Wen-Shen-Tong-Du Decoction groups,mouse models of T10 spinal cord injury were prepared by the modified Allen's method.On the 1st day after modeling,the Wen-Shen-Tong-Du Decoction group was given Wen-Shen-Tong-Du Decoction by gavage,and the sham-operation group and the model group were given saline by gavage once a day for 28 days.During the drug administration period,mouse motor function was evaluated by Basso Mouse Scale score and inclined plane test.On the 7th and 28th days after modeling,hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the spinal cord tissue of the mice;immunofluorescence double staining was used to detect the protein expression of ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1(IBA1)and TREM2;and western blot assay was used to detect the expression of TREM2,PI3K,p-PI3K,Akt,p-Akt,Bcl2,Bax and Caspase3 in spinal cord tissue. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Basso Mouse Scale scores and inclined plane test results indicated that the motor function of the mouse hindlimbs was declined after spinal cord injury,and Wen-Shen-Tong-Du Decoction significantly improved motor function in mice with spinal cord injury.Hematoxylin-eosin staining results revealed that Wen-Shen-Tong-Du Decoction significantly ameliorated the pathological structure of spinal cord tissue compared with the model group,manifesting as reduced degrees of dorsal white matter and neuronal atrophy,decreased cytoplasmic vacuolization,and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration.Immunofluorescence double staining results showed that on the 7th day after modeling,the protein expression of IBA1 and TREM2 in the model group was lower than that in the sham-operation group(P＜0.05),and the protein expression of IBA1 and TREM2 in the Wen-Shen-Tong-Du Decoction group was higher than that in the model group(P＜0.05);on the 28th day after modeling,the protein expression of TREM2 in the model group was lower than that in the sham-operation group(P＜0.05),and the protein expression of TREM2 in the spinal cord tissue of the mice in the Wen-Shen-Tong-Du Decoction group was higher than that in the model group(P＜0.05).Western blot results analysis demonstrated that on the 7th day after modeling,compared with the sham-operation group,the model group exhibited a significant reduction in TREM2,PI3K,and Bcl2/Bax(P＜0.05),as well as a significant increase in p-Akt,Bax and p-Akt/Aktp-PI3K(P＜0.05);compared with the model group,the Wen-Shen-Tong-Du Decoction group showed a significant increase in TREM2,PI3K,p-PI3K,Akt,p-Akt,Bcl2,p-PI3K/PI3K,p-Akt/Ak,and Bcl2/Bax(P＜0.05),as well as a significant decrease in Bax and Caspase3 protein expression(P＜0.05).On the 28th day after modeling,compared with the sham-operation group,the model group exhibited a significant reduction in TREM2,PI3K,p-PI3K,Akt,p-Akt,Bcl2 and Bcl2/Bax(P＜0.05),as well as a significant increase in Bax protein expression(P＜0.05);compared with the model group,the Wen-Shen-Tong-Du Decoction group showed a significant increase in TREM2,PI3K,Akt,p-Akt,Bcl2,and Bcl2/Bax(P＜0.05),as well as a significant decrease in Bax protein expression(P＜0.05).To conclude,Wen-Shen-Tong-Du Decoction may activate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by up-regulating the expression of TREM2 protein in microglia,and then inhibit neuronal apoptosis,thus exerting neuroprotective effects and promoting the repair of spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE To conduct a reevaluation of the systematic review （SR）/meta-analysis on the use of Xianling gubao capsules （XLGBC） for knee osteoarthritis （KOA）， and provide evidence-based support for the clinical use of the drugs. METHODS Computerized searches including CNKI， Wanfang Data， VIP， China Biomedical Literature Database， the Cochrane Library， PubMed， Embase and Web of Science were conducted to collect systematic reviews （SR） or meta-analyses of XLGBC for the treatment of KOA from the inception to May 31st， 2024. The report quality， methodological quality， risk of bias and evidence quality were assessed using the PRISMA 2020 statement， AMSTAR 2 scale， ROBIS tool and GRADE tool， respectively. A comprehensive quality analysis of the quantitative results from the SR/meta-analysis was also performed. RESULTS A total of five SR/meta-analyses were included. The evaluation results based on the PRISMA 2020 statement showed that one study report was relatively complete （21 points）， while four studies had deficiencies （18-20 points）. The assessment using the AMSTAR 2 scale indicated that the methodological quality of all five studies was rated as very low. According to the ROBIS tool evaluation， the risk of comprehensive bias in all five studies was classified as high. GRADE tool evaluation revealed that among 49 outcome indicators， 5 （10.2%） were rated as moderate-quality evidence （10.2%）， 12 as low-quality evidence （24.5%）， and 32 as very low-quality evidence （65.3%）. The results of comprehensive quality analysis showed that the clinical efficacy， visual analogue scale score， pain relief time， comprehensive indexes of knee joint function， the levels of inflammatory factors and the incidence of adverse events in patients with XLGBC combined with conventional treatment were significantly better than conventional treatment alone （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Compared with conventional treatment， XLGBC in combination with conventional treatment for KOA may have some efficacy and safety advantages. However， due to the low quality of evidence for the outcome indicators included in the studies， the conclusions should be interpreted with caution.

OBJECTIVE To conduct a reevaluation of the systematic review （SR）/meta-analysis on the use of Xianling gubao capsules （XLGBC） for knee osteoarthritis （KOA）， and provide evidence-based support for the clinical use of the drugs. METHODS Computerized searches including CNKI， Wanfang Data， VIP， China Biomedical Literature Database， the Cochrane Library， PubMed， Embase and Web of Science were conducted to collect systematic reviews （SR） or meta-analyses of XLGBC for the treatment of KOA from the inception to May 31st， 2024. The report quality， methodological quality， risk of bias and evidence quality were assessed using the PRISMA 2020 statement， AMSTAR 2 scale， ROBIS tool and GRADE tool， respectively. A comprehensive quality analysis of the quantitative results from the SR/meta-analysis was also performed. RESULTS A total of five SR/meta-analyses were included. The evaluation results based on the PRISMA 2020 statement showed that one study report was relatively complete （21 points）， while four studies had deficiencies （18-20 points）. The assessment using the AMSTAR 2 scale indicated that the methodological quality of all five studies was rated as very low. According to the ROBIS tool evaluation， the risk of comprehensive bias in all five studies was classified as high. GRADE tool evaluation revealed that among 49 outcome indicators， 5 （10.2%） were rated as moderate-quality evidence （10.2%）， 12 as low-quality evidence （24.5%）， and 32 as very low-quality evidence （65.3%）. The results of comprehensive quality analysis showed that the clinical efficacy， visual analogue scale score， pain relief time， comprehensive indexes of knee joint function， the levels of inflammatory factors and the incidence of adverse events in patients with XLGBC combined with conventional treatment were significantly better than conventional treatment alone （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Compared with conventional treatment， XLGBC in combination with conventional treatment for KOA may have some efficacy and safety advantages. However， due to the low quality of evidence for the outcome indicators included in the studies， the conclusions should be interpreted with caution.

Liver cirrhosis is the terminal stage of various chronic liver diseases， with the main clinical manifestation of portal hypertension， which can lead to spontaneous portosystemic shunt （SPSS）. SPSS is very common in clinical practice and is closely associated with the prognosis of patients. This article summarizes the recent studies in the clinical significance of cirrhotic portal hypertension with SPSS， the controversies in studies， and the current status and future prospects and challenges of treatment， in order to provide a reference for the standardized diagnosis and treatment of portal hypertension.

The Expert Consensus on Clinical Application of Qinbaohong Zhike Oral Liquid in Treatment of Acute Bronchitis and Acute Attack of Chronic Bronchitis （GS/CACM 337-2023） was released by the China Association of Chinese Medicine on December 13^th， 2023. This expert consensus was developed by experts in methodology， pharmacy， and Chinese medicine in strict accordance with the development requirements of the China Association of Chinese Medicine （CACM） and based on the latest medical evidence and the clinical medication experience of well-known experts in the fields of respiratory medicine （pulmonary diseases） and pediatrics. This expert consensus defines the application of Qinbaohong Zhike oral liquid in the treatment of cough and excessive sputum caused by phlegm-heat obstructing lung， acute bronchitis， and acute attack of chronic bronchitis from the aspects of applicable populations， efficacy evaluation， usage， dosage， drug combination， and safety. It is expected to guide the rational drug use in medical and health institutions， give full play to the unique value of Qinbaohong Zhike oral liquid， and vigorously promote the inheritance and innovation of Chinese patent medicines.

Diabetes is a very complex endocrine disease whose common feature is the increase in blood glucose concentration. Persistent hyperglycemia can lead to blindness, kidney and heart disease, neurodegeneration, and many other serious complications that have a significant impact on human health and quality of life. The number of people with diabetes is increasing yearly. The global diabetes prevalence in 20-79 year olds in 2021 was estimated to be 10.5% (536.6 million), and it will rise to 12.2% (783.2 million) in 2045. The main modes of intervention for diabetes include medication, dietary management, and exercise conditioning. Medication is the mainstay of treatment. Marketed diabetes drugs such as metformin and insulin, as well as GLP-1 receptor agonists, are effective in controlling blood sugar levels to some extent, but the preventive and therapeutic effects are still unsatisfactory. Peptide drugs have many advantages such as low toxicity, high target specificity, and good biocompatibility, which opens up new avenues for the treatment of diabetes and other diseases. Currently, insulin and its analogs are by far the main life-saving drugs in clinical diabetes treatment, enabling effective control of blood glucose levels, but the risk of hypoglycemia is relatively high and treatment is limited by the route of delivery. New and oral anti-diabetic drugs have always been a market demand and research hotspot. Inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) peptides are a class of multifunctional cyclic peptides. In structure, they contain three conserved disulfide bonds (C3-C20, C7-C22, and C15-C32) form a compact “knot” structure, which can resist degradation of digestive protease. Recent studies have shown that ICK peptides derived from legume, such as PA1b, Aglycin, Vglycin, Iglycin, Dglycin, and aM₁, exhibit excellent regulatory activities on glucose and lipid metabolism at the cellular and animal levels. Mechanistically, ICK peptides promote glucose utilization by muscle and liver through activation of IR/AKT signaling pathway, which also improves insulin resistance. They can repair the damaged pancrease through activation of PI3K/AKT/Erk signaling pathway, thus lowering blood glucose. The biostability and hypoglycemic efficacy of the ICK peptides meet the requirements for commercialization of oral drugs, and in theory, they can be developed into natural oral anti-diabetes peptide drugs. In this review, the structural properties, activity and mechanism of ICK pattern peptides in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism were summaried, which provided a reference for the development of new oral peptides for diabetes.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 32 consecutive IDS patients who underwent UEDD surgery. Clinical features, laboratory data (erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein), and treatment outcomes were analyzed. Results: Definite microorganisms were identified in 27 patients (84.3%), with 24 (88.9%) meeting cure criteria. The cure rate was significantly higher in the detected pathogen group compared to the undetected pathogen group (88.9% vs. 80%; χ²=19.36, p<0.0001). Metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) provided faster diagnosis (41.72±6.81 hours) compared to tissue culture (95.74±35.47 hours, p<0.05). The predominant causative pathogen was Mycobacterium tuberculosis, followed by Staphylococcus aureus. Significant improvements were observed in Visual Analog Scale pain scores, from a mean of 7.9 preoperatively to 1.06 at 1 year postoperatively. The Oswestry Disability Index revealed a similar trend, showing significant improvement (p<0.05). Conclusions UEDD is a viable alternative to traditional open surgery for managing IDS in high-risk patients. UEDD offers a dual therapeutic-diagnostic advantage during the initial admission phase, enabling simultaneous debridement, neurological decompression, and targeted biopsy in a single intervention. Compared with traditional tissue culture, mNGS enables rapid microbiological diagnosis and extensive pathogen coverage.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a significant risk factor for gallstone formation, but mechanisms underlying MASH-related gallstone formation remain unclear. Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) participates in hepatic cholesterol metabolism and is upregulated in MASH. Here, we aimed to explore the role of GOLM1 in MASH-related gallstone formation. Methods: The UK Biobank cohort was used for etiological analysis. GOLM1 knockout (GOLM1-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Livers were excised for histology and immunohistochemistry analysis. Gallbladders were collected to calculate incidence of cholesterol gallstones (CGSs). Biles were collected for biliary lipid analysis. HepG2 cells were used to explore underlying mechanisms. Human liver samples were used for clinical validation. Results: MASH patients had a greater risk of cholelithiasis. All HFD-fed mice developed MASH, and the incidence of gallstones was 16.7% and 75.0% in GOLM1-/- and WT mice, respectively. GOLM1-/- decreased biliary cholesterol concentration and output. In vivo and in vitro assays confirmed that GOLM1 facilitated cholesterol efflux through upregulating ATP binding cassette transporter subfamily G member 5 (ABCG5). Mechanistically, GOLM1 translocated into nucleus to promote osteopontin (OPN) transcription, thus stimulating ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux. Moreover, GOLM1 was upregulated by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we confirmed that IL-1β, GOLM1, OPN, and ABCG5 were enhanced in livers of MASH patients with CGSs. Conclusions In MASH livers, upregulation of GOLM1 by IL-1β increases ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux in an OPN-dependent manner, promoting CGS formation. GOLM1 has the potential to be a molecular hub interconnecting MASH and CGSs.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characterized by high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and abundant infiltration of non-malignant lymphocytes, which renders patients potentially suitable candidates for immune checkpoint blockade therapies. Palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone (PLUNC) inhibit the growth of NPC cells and enhance cellular apoptosis and differentiation. Currently, the relationship between PLUNC (as a tumor-suppressor) and PD-L1 in NPC is unclear. Methods: We collected clinical samples of NPC to verify the relationship between PLUNC and PD-L1. PLUNC plasmid was transfected into NPC cells, and the variation of PD-L1 was verified by western blot and immunofluorescence. In NPC cells, we verified the relationship of PD-L1, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), and β-catenin by western blot and immunofluorescence. Later, we further verified that PLUNC regulates PD-L1 through β-catenin. Finally, the effect of PLUNC on β-catenin was verified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Results: We found that PLUNC expression was lower in NPC tissues than in paracancer tissues. PD-L1 expression was opposite to that of PLUNC. Western blot and immunofluorescence showed that β-catenin could upregulate ATF3 and PD-L1, while PLUNC could downregulate ATF3/PD-L1 by inhibiting the expression of β-catenin. PLUNC inhibits the entry of β-catenin into the nucleus. Co-IP experiments demonstrated that PLUNC inhibited the interaction of DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17) and β-catenin. Conclusions PLUNC downregulates the expression of PD-L1 by inhibiting the interaction of DDX17/β-catenin in NPC.

Objective To develop and validate a model to predict the risk of radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) and assess its clinical feasibility. Methods Clinical data from 125 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were included in the study. The patients were divided into training group (88 cases) and validation group (38 cases). Key predictive factors were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses combined with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. A predictive model was constructed and evaluated using a nomogram, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. Results The key variables identified by the model were tumor volume (P = 0.017), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score (P = 0.035), 95% of the minimum dose to the target volume (P = 0.028), percentage of bilateral lung volume receiving 20 Gy of radiation (P < 0.001), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.021). The ROC curve showed that the areas under the curve (AUC) for the model in the training and validation groups were 0.987 and 0.992, respectively, indicating good predictive ability. The calibration curve and decision curve further confirmed the accuracy and clinical practicability of the model. Conclusion The predictive model proposed in this study can accurately assess the risk of developing RILI in patients with NSCLC who have undergone radiotherapy, demonstrating its potential value in clinical practice.