ObjectiveThe paper aims to investigate the mechanism by which Xiaozheng Zhitong paste （XZP） alleviates bone cancer pain （BCP） through regulating the PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 （PINK1）/Parkin-mediated mitophagy-NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome pathway to suppress microglial pyroptosis. MethodsLipopolysaccharide （LPS） and LPS-adenosine triphosphate （ATP） were used to establish an inflammation and pyroptosis model in microglial cells. The cells were randomly divided into the following groups： control group， LPS group， LPS+low-dose XZP group， LPS+high-dose XZP group， LPS-ATP group， LPS-ATP+low-dose XZP group， LPS-ATP+high-dose XZP group， LPS-ATP+XZP group， and LPS-ATP+XZP+CsA group. Techniques including terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL） staining， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， Western blot， and confocal fluorescence staining were employed to assess the effects of XZP on microglial apoptosis， inflammatory cytokine release， inflammasome activation， pyroptosis， and mitophagy. ResultsIn vitro experiments showed that compared with the blank group， the LPS group exhibited significantly increased levels of microglial apoptosis and pro-inflammatory factors interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-6， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）（P<0.01）， along with significantly upregulated protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2）， and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB p65 （p-NF-κB p65） （P<0.01）. Compared with the LPS group， the high-dose LPS-XZP group significantly reduced the level of apoptosis （P<0.01） and the content of the aforementioned pro-inflammatory factors （P<0.01）. Both the low- and high-dose LPS-XZP groups dose-dependently downregulated the protein expression of iNOS， COX-2， and p-NF-κB p65 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the LPS-ATP group showed significantly upregulated expression of pyroptosis-related proteins， including Caspase-1/pro-Caspase-1， N-terminal fragment of gasdermin D （GSDMD-N）/full-length gasdermin D （GSDMD-F）， NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， IL-1β precursor （pro-IL-1β）， and mature IL-1β （P<0.01）. The levels of pyroptotic factors IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly elevated （P<0.01）， and membrane pore formation and intracellular reactive oxygen species （ROS） levels were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the LPS-ATP group， both the low- and high-dose LPS-ATP+XZP groups dose-dependently downregulated the expression of the aforementioned pyroptosis-related proteins （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The low-dose LPS-ATP+XZP group reduced IL-1β levels （P<0.01）， while the high-dose group reduced both IL-1β and IL-18 levels （P<0.01） Both the low- and high-dose LPS-ATP+XZP groups dose-dependently reduced membrane pore formation and intracellular ROS production （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the LPS-ATP group showed significantly reduced expression of mitophagy-related proteins PINK1 and Parkin， and a decreased ratio of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3Ⅱ（LC3Ⅱ） to LC3Ⅰ（P<0.01）， while p62 expression was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Mitochondrial ROS levels were significantly enhanced （P<0.01）. Compared with the LPS-ATP group， both the low- and high-dose LPS-ATP+XZP groups dose-dependently reversed the expression of these proteins （P<0.05， P<0.01） and reduced mitochondrial ROS levels （P<0.01）. After treatment with the mitophagy inhibitor cyclosporin A （CsA）， the beneficial effects of XZP on mitochondrial function and its inhibitory effects on pyroptosis-related protein expression were significantly reversed （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionXZP reduces ROS levels by activating PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy， thereby inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and microglial pyroptosis， which provides new molecular evidence for the mechanism by which XZP alleviates BCP.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of Xiaozheng Zhitong Paste （XZP） on bone cancer pain （BCP）. MethodsThirty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups： a Sham group， a BCP group， a BCP+low-dose XZP group， a BCP+high-dose XZP group， and a BCP+high-dose XZP + protease-activated receptor 2 （PAR2） agonist GB-110 group. BCP mice model was constructed by injecting Lewis lung carcinoma cells into the femoral cavity of the right leg， which was followed by being treated with XZP for 21 d. After 21 d， the mice were sacrificed. Nissl staining was used to evaluate the survival of spinal cord neurons. Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to localize ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 （Iba1） and neuronal nuclear antigen （NeuN） in spinal cord tissue， thereby assessing microglial activation and neuronal survival. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to measure the levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， and interleukin-10 （IL-10） in spinal cord tissue. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect mRNA expression levels associated with M1/M2 polarization of microglia. Western blot analysis was performed to examine the expression of proteins related to microglial polarization as well as those involved in the PAR2/nuclear factor kappa B （NF-κB）/NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） signaling pathway in the spinal cord. ResultsCompared with the Sham group， the spinal cord neurons were damaged， the number of Nissl-positive spinal cord neurons in the spinal cord tissue was significantly reduced （P<0.01）， and the rate of NeuN-positive cells was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The spinal cord microglia were activated， the inflammatory level of the spinal cord tissue was enhanced， and Iba1 staining was significantly enhanced （P<0.01）. The levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， IL-6， TGF-β， IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The mRNA expressions of IL-1β， TNF-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） were significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the expression of PAR2， NLRP3， ASC and NF-κB p65 proteins in the spinal cord tissue of the BCP mice was significantly enhanced （P<0.01）. Compared with the BCP group， high-dose XZP treatment significantly increased the number of Nissl-positive spinal cord neurons in the BCP mice （P<0.01）， significantly enhanced the rate of NeuN-positive cells in the spinal cord tissue， and significantly weakened Iba1 staining （P<0.01）. In addition， the levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， and IL-6 were significantly decreased， while the levels of TGF-β， IL-4， and IL-10 were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The mRNA expression levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， and iNOS were decreased， whereas those of cluster of differentiation 206 （CD206）， arginase-1 （Arg-1）， and YM1/2 were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Low-dose and high-dose XZP treatment significantly decreased the expression of PAR2， NLRP3， ASC， and NF-κB p65 proteins in the spinal cord tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）. These effects could all be significantly eliminated by the PAR2 agonist GB-110. ConclusionXZP can mitigate BCP in mice， which may be achieved through blocking the activated PAR2/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.

Cancer pain is one of the most common complications in patients with malignant tumors， severely affecting their quality of life. Its pathogenesis involves complex interactions among the tumor microenvironment， peripheral sensitization， and central sensitization. The tumor microenvironment initiates peripheral pain sensitization by secreting algogenic mediators， activating ion channels and related receptor signaling pathways， driving abnormal osteoclast activation， and mediating neuro-immune crosstalk. Persistent nociceptive input further triggers increased excitability of central neurons， activation of glial cells， and neuroinflammatory cascade reactions， ultimately leading to central pain sensitization. Although traditional opioid drugs can alleviate pain to some extent， they still have many limitations， such as incomplete analgesia， drug tolerance， and adverse reactions. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） compounds have made continuous progress in the treatment of cancer pain. Studies have shown that they can not only effectively relieve cancer pain and reduce the dosage of opioids but also significantly improve patients' quality of life. TCM treatment of cancer pain follows the principle of syndrome differentiation and treatment. Based on this， targeted therapeutic principles have been proposed， including promoting blood circulation， removing stasis， regulating Qi， and unblocking collaterals； tonifying the kidney， replenishing essence， warming Yang， and dispersing cold， activating blood， resolving phlegm， detoxifying， and dispersing nodules， as well as strengthening the body， replenishing deficiency， and harmonizing Qi and blood. Modern research indicates that TCM compounds can exert synergistic effects through multiple pathways， inhibiting inflammatory responses， regulating nerve conduction， intervening in bone metabolism and related gene expression， thereby producing anti-inflammatory and bone-protective effects to achieve the goal of alleviating cancer pain. This article systematically elaborates on the pathogenesis of cancer pain， the clinical application of TCM in treating cancer pain， and its related mechanisms of action， aiming to provide a theoretical basis and new strategies for the integration of TCM into comprehensive cancer pain management.

Pain， as one of the most common symptoms in cancer patients， seriously affects the survival quality of patients. The three-step pain relief program currently used in clinical practice cannot completely relieve pain in cancer patients and is accompanied by many problems. From the perspective of Jueyin syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， this paper believed that the core pathogenesis of cancer pain was declined healthy Qi and cold and heat in complexity， and used Wumeiwan as the main formula with modification according to syndrome for clearing the upper， warming the lower part of the body， and harmonizing the cold and heat. It can regulate the pathological environment of deficiency， cold， stasis， toxicity， and heat， and restore the physiological function of Yang transforming Qi while Yin constituting form， so as to prevent， relieve， and even eliminate cancer pain， having achieved good clinical efficacy. It can not only help cancer patients relieve pain， but also control tumor and eliminate tumor， achieving a dual benefit of pain relief and tumor suppression. It gives full play to the characteristics and advantages of syndrome differentiation and treatment in TCM， and expands the scope of ZHANG Zhongjing's treatment for Jueyin syndrome， which provides ideas for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancer pain from the perspective of deficiency-excess in complexity and cold and heat in complexity.

Malignant tumors are one of the major causes of death in the population. Owing to limited clinical treatments， susceptibility to drug resistance， and generally low cure rates of conventional therapies， new treatment strategies need to be explored. Compared with existing therapies， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has unique advantages， such as low side effects， in the treatment of malignant tumors. Ferroptosis is a recently characterized form of regulated cell death associated with iron metabolism imbalance， lipid peroxidation， antioxidant system malfunction and other aspects. Studies have shown that TCM regulates Fe³⁺， Fe²⁺， glutathione， glutathione peroxidase 4 and other substances related to ferroptosis， thereby affecting lipid peroxidation and antioxidant processes， and then inducing ferroptosis. Through these mechanisms， TCM plays a key role in inhibiting the growth and spread of tumor cells and is involved in multiple stages of malignant tumor progression. In this study， we systematically retrieved the literature indexed in PbuMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI） with the keywords TCM， ferroptosis， and malignant tumors. We outlined the mechanisms of ferroptosis and its association with malignant tumors， and summarized the research progress on the prevention and treatment of malignant tumors through the modulation of ferroptosis by TCM monomers， single herbs， and compounds. The study aims to provide new perspectives for the prevention and treatment of malignant tumors by TCM.

Malignant tumors are one of the major causes of death in the population. Owing to limited clinical treatments， susceptibility to drug resistance， and generally low cure rates of conventional therapies， new treatment strategies need to be explored. Compared with existing therapies， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has unique advantages， such as low side effects， in the treatment of malignant tumors. Ferroptosis is a recently characterized form of regulated cell death associated with iron metabolism imbalance， lipid peroxidation， antioxidant system malfunction and other aspects. Studies have shown that TCM regulates Fe³⁺， Fe²⁺， glutathione， glutathione peroxidase 4 and other substances related to ferroptosis， thereby affecting lipid peroxidation and antioxidant processes， and then inducing ferroptosis. Through these mechanisms， TCM plays a key role in inhibiting the growth and spread of tumor cells and is involved in multiple stages of malignant tumor progression. In this study， we systematically retrieved the literature indexed in PbuMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI） with the keywords TCM， ferroptosis， and malignant tumors. We outlined the mechanisms of ferroptosis and its association with malignant tumors， and summarized the research progress on the prevention and treatment of malignant tumors through the modulation of ferroptosis by TCM monomers， single herbs， and compounds. The study aims to provide new perspectives for the prevention and treatment of malignant tumors by TCM.

Objective:To comprehensively analyze the medical resources and services supply in the cancer field of China.Methods:Data of 2018 were sampled from 41 tertiary public cancer hospitals in China, and the factor analysis method was used to extract common factors in resources or services, scoring respectively. Pearson correlation analysis was used in the collinearity test of the variables of both groups of common factors, while the second-order clustering method was used to analyze characteristic differences between the hospitals, and category difference was compared with t test. Results:Resource evaluation covered the two dimensions of basic resources(medical service and basic assurance resources)and high-end resources(high-end talents and academic resources). Service evaluation covered the two dimensions of medical service assurance(clinical services and basic assurance)and disciplinary sphere of influence(discipline construction and clinical efficiency). The factor of basic manpower and beds was significantly correlated with that of medical service and basic assurance( r=0.811, P<0.001), while the factor of high-end talents and academic resources was significantly correlated with that disciplinary construction and resource efficiency( r=0.906, P<0.001). The second-order cluster analysis found the 41 cancer hospitals as two categories, with the first category of five in Guangdong, Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin, and the second category of the rest 36 hospitals. Significant differences were found between the two categories in terms of resource scoring, service scoring, high-end resources and disciplinary sphere of influence( P<0.001). Meanwhile, the GDP per capita of the cities in which these hospitals are located also had significant differences( P<0.001). Conclusions:Development of public tertiary cancer hospitals in China was imbalanced, as their differences were mainly found in levels of disciplinary development and efficiency of clinical services, which were closely related to the high-end talents and academic resources of the hospital in question.Furthermore, high quality medical care was mostly located in regions of higher development. The authors recommend to take a balanced consideration of the differences and distribution of cancer care services in China, in terms of performance classification of public hospitals and establishment of regional cancer centers of the country.

Objective:To compare the effects of pituitary down-regulation in combination with hormone replacement therapy endometrial preparation protocol and conventional hormone replacement therapy endometrial preparation protocol on outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) in patients without endometriosis.Methods:The retrospective study included 3562 FET cycles was carried out between January 2012 and December 2017 in Reproductive Medicine Center, 73rd Group Army Hospital of PLA. Among them, 807 cycles were under hormone replacement therapy in combination with pituitary down-regulation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) (experimental group) and 2755 cycles were under conventional hormone replacement therapy (control group). Association between endometrial preparation protocols and pregnancy and live birth was analyzed with multivariate logistic regression.Results:In experimental group, the maternal age [(31.19±4.58) years old] and endometrial thickness [(8.95±1.75) mm] were higher than those in control group [(29.84±4.23) years old, (8.46±1.41) mm, all P<0.001], the proportion of cycles with at least one good-quality embryo transferred (9.2%) was lower than that in control group (19.5%, P<0.001). The pregnancy rate (55.3%) was higher than that in control group (51.3%, P=0.045). The live birth rate showed an increasing trend in experimental group in comparison with that in control group, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.78). In multivariate logistic regression with adjustment of confounding factors including maternal age, duration of infertility, endometrial thickness on the day of endometrial transition, number of embryos transferred, blastocyst transfer and at least one good-quality embryo transferred, the odds ratio ( OR) for pregnancy comparing experimental group with control group was 1.209 (95% CI=1.023-1.429) and OR for live birth was 1.246 (95% CI=1.053-1.474). Conclusion:Pituitary down-regulation in combination with hormone replacement therapy as endometrial preparation protocol for FET may achieve higher pregnancy rate and live birth rate than conventional hormone replacement protocol.

Objective:To compare the effects of pituitary down-regulation in combination with hormone replacement therapy endometrial preparation protocol and conventional hormone replacement therapy endometrial preparation protocol on outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) in patients without endometriosis.Methods:The retrospective study included 3562 FET cycles was carried out between January 2012 and December 2017 in Reproductive Medicine Center, 73rd Group Army Hospital of PLA. Among them, 807 cycles were under hormone replacement therapy in combination with pituitary down-regulation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) (experimental group) and 2755 cycles were under conventional hormone replacement therapy (control group). Association between endometrial preparation protocols and pregnancy and live birth was analyzed with multivariate logistic regression.Results:In experimental group, the maternal age [(31.19±4.58) years old] and endometrial thickness [(8.95±1.75) mm] were higher than those in control group [(29.84±4.23) years old, (8.46±1.41) mm, all P<0.001], the proportion of cycles with at least one good-quality embryo transferred (9.2%) was lower than that in control group (19.5%, P<0.001). The pregnancy rate (55.3%) was higher than that in control group (51.3%, P=0.045). The live birth rate showed an increasing trend in experimental group in comparison with that in control group, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.78). In multivariate logistic regression with adjustment of confounding factors including maternal age, duration of infertility, endometrial thickness on the day of endometrial transition, number of embryos transferred, blastocyst transfer and at least one good-quality embryo transferred, the odds ratio ( OR) for pregnancy comparing experimental group with control group was 1.209 (95% CI=1.023-1.429) and OR for live birth was 1.246 (95% CI=1.053-1.474). Conclusion:Pituitary down-regulation in combination with hormone replacement therapy as endometrial preparation protocol for FET may achieve higher pregnancy rate and live birth rate than conventional hormone replacement protocol.

Objective To explore the clinical efficiency and safety of radiofrequency ablation combined with Tegafur,Gimeracil and Oteracil Porassium Capsules( S-1 capsules) for hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Sixty HCC patients included in this study were underwent initial radiofrequency ablation and then they were di-vided into RFA+S-1 group and RFA control group according to the metronomic chemotherapy either with S-1 or not.The local tumor control and disease free survival outcome between the two groups were compared.Results Follow-up observation showed that the total control rate after 9 months′treatment was 93.3%in RFA+S-1 group vs.73.4%in RFA control group(P=0.038).During the 18 months of follow up,the median time for dis-ease free survival was 16.25 months in RFA+S-1 group vs.12.25 months in RFA control group( P<0.001) . One-year progression free survival rate in RFA group was 53.3%,which was significantly lower than the RFA+S-1 group(83.3%)(P=0.012).The major complication rate was 13.3%.No procedu rerelated death or severe complications occurred.Conclusion Metronomic chemotherapy with S-1 following initial radiofrequency ablation delays tumor progression and prolongs overall survival of patients with HCC tumors.