ObjectiveTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutes a valuable cultural heritage and an important source of antitumor compounds. Poria (Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf), the dried sclerotium of a polyporaceae fungus, was first documented in Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica and has been used therapeutically and dietarily in China for millennia. Traditionally recognized for its diuretic, spleen-tonifying, and sedative properties, modern pharmacological studies confirm that Poria exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. Pachymic acid (PA; a triterpenoid with the chemical structure 3β-acetyloxy-16α-hydroxy-lanosta-8,24(31)-dien-21-oic acid), isolated from Poria, is a principal bioactive constituent. Emerging evidence indicates PA exerts antitumor effects through multiple mechanisms, though these remain incompletely characterized. Neuroblastoma (NB), a highly malignant pediatric extracranial solid tumor accounting for 15% of childhood cancer deaths, urgently requires safer therapeutics due to the limitations of current treatments. Although PA shows multi-mechanistic antitumor potential, its efficacy against NB remains uncharacterized. This study systematically investigated the potential molecular targets and mechanisms underlying the anti-NB effects of PA by integrating network pharmacology-based target prediction with experimental validation of multi-target interactions through molecular docking, dynamic simulations, and in vitro assays, aimed to establish a novel perspective on PA’s antitumor activity and explore its potential clinical implications for NB treatment by integrating computational predictions with biological assays. MethodsThis study employed network pharmacology to identify potential targets of PA in NB, followed by validation using molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, MM/PBSA free energy analysis, RT-qPCR and Western blot experiments. Network pharmacology analysis included target screening via TCMSP, GeneCards, DisGeNET, SwissTargetPrediction, SuperPred, and PharmMapper. Subsequently, potential targets were predicted by intersecting the results from these databases via Venn analysis. Following target prediction, topological analysis was performed to identify key targets using Cytoscape software. Molecular docking was conducted using AutoDock Vina, with the binding pocket defined based on crystal structures. MD simulations were performed for 100 ns using GROMACS, and RMSD, RMSF, SASA, and hydrogen bonding dynamics were analyzed. MM/PBSA calculations were carried out to estimate the binding free energy of each protein-ligand complex. In vitro validation included RT-qPCR and Western blot, with GAPDH used as an internal control. ResultsThe CCK-8 assay demonstrated a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of PA on NB cell viability. GO analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve cellular response to chemical stress, vesicle lumen, and protein tyrosine kinase activity. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve the PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and Ras signaling pathways. Molecular docking and MD simulations revealed stable binding interactions between PA and the core target proteins AKT1, EGFR, SRC, and HSP90AA1. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses further confirmed that PA treatment significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of AKT1, EGFR, and SRC while increasing the HSP90AA1 mRNA and protein levels. ConclusionIt was suggested that PA may exert its anti-NB effects by inhibiting AKT1, EGFR, and SRC expression, potentially modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings provide crucial evidence supporting PA’s development as a therapeutic candidate for NB.

Dry eye is a chronic ocular surface disease caused by multiple factors. It is caused by the instability of tear film and the imbalance of the microenvironment of ocular surface, and may be accompanied by ocular surface inflammation, damage, and abnormal nerve sensation. The instability of tear film is its core characteristic. Mucin is an important component of the tear film and plays a role in stabilizing the tear film. The reduction of its secretion and the change of its structure lead to the occurrence and development of dry eye. The intracellular Ca2+ signal is the key to controlling the secretion of water and enzymes by exocrine glands. A decrease in the Ca2+ signal can cause dry eye. Conjunctival goblet cells are the main cells that secrete mucin. By activating the intracellular PLC-IP3-Ca2+ pathway, RyRs pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, P2X receptor, BLT1 and ChemR23 receptors, cholinergic receptor, and ALX signaling pathway, the content of Ca2+ can be increased, and the replenishment of mucin granules can be accelerated, thereby relieving the symptoms of dry eye. The Ca2+ signaling pathway may be an important target for the treatment of dry eye. This article reviews the role of mucin in dry eye and the influence of the Ca2+ signal on the secretion of mucin by conjunctival goblet cells.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of Shenge powder (SGP) on myocardial fibrosis in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction and its relation with lysyl oxidase like protein 2 (LOXL2)/transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/IL-11 signaling pathway. METHODS: Seventy-two SPF male SD rats were divided into blank control group, model control group, SGP small dose group, SGP large dose group, positive control group, SGP large dose+LOXL2 activator group, with 12 rats in each group. Except for the blank control group, post-myocardial infarction heart failure was induced by coronary constriction. Corresponding treatments were given immediately after successful modeling, once a day for 4 weeks. Left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in rats were detected by color Doppler ultrasound imaging. Levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in serum were analyzed by ELISA method. Myocardial collagen volume fraction (CVF) was evaluated by Masson staining. Expressions of collagen Ⅰ and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in myocardial tissue were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in myocardial tissue were detected by qRT-PCR. Expression of LOXL2, TGF-β1, and IL-11 proteins in myocardial tissue were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the LVFS and LVEF of the model control group decreased, the levels of serum IL-6 and IL-1β elevated, and the CVF value, the expressions of collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA in myocardial tissue, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA, and LOXL2, TGF-β1, IL-11 proteins increased (all P<0.05). Compared with the model control group, the LVFS and LVEF of SGP small dose group, SGP large dose group and positive control group increased, the levels of serum IL-6 and IL-1β decreased, and the CVF value, the expressions of collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA in myocardial tissue, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA, and LOXL2, TGF-β1, IL-11 proteins decreased (all P<0.05); while LOXL2 activator reversed the improvement effect of high-dose SGP on myocardial fibrosis in heart failure rats after myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS Shenge powder may inhibit myocardial fibrosis in heart failure rats after myocardial infarction by inhibiting the LOXL2/TGF-β1/IL-11 pathway.
Animals ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Myocardial Infarction/complications* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Rats ; Heart Failure/pathology* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Fibrosis ; Amino Acid Oxidoreductases/metabolism* ; Interleukin-11/metabolism* ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1/metabolism* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To explore the efficacy of DSA-guided intrathecal drug delivery system combined with Zi Wu Liu Zhu Acupoint Therapy for management of cancer pain and provide reference for its standardized clinical application. Methods and. RESULTS: Recommendations were formulated based on literature review and expert group discussion, and consensus was reached following expert consultation. The consensus recommendations are comprehensive, covering the entire treatment procedures from preoperative assessment and preparation, surgical operation process, postoperative management and traditional Chinese medicine treatment to individualized treatment planning. The study results showed that the treatment plans combining traditional Chinese with Western medicine effectively alleviated cancer pain, reduced the use of opioid drugs, and significantly improved the quality of life and enhanced immune function of the patients. Postoperative follow-up suggested good treatment tolerance among the patients without serious complications. CONCLUSIONS The formulated consensus is comprehensive and can provide reference for clinicians to use DSA-guided intrathecal drug delivery system combined with Zi Wu Liu Zhu Acupoint Therapy. The combined treatment has a high clinical value with a good safety profile for management of cancer pain.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Cancer Pain/therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Pain Management/methods* ; China

Objective To investigate the changes of residual radioactivity at different time points after 131I treatment in the patients with differentiated thyroid cancer(DTC)and influencing factors.Methods A to-tal of 235 patients with DTC receiving 131I treatment in this hospital from January 2021 to June 2023 were se-lected as the study subjects and divided into the high dose group(＞5.55 GBp,n=56)and low dose group(≤5.55 GBp,n=179)according to the treatment dose.The clinical data of the two groups were collected and the changes of residual radioactivity after 131I treatment were compared between the two groups.The binary re-gression was used to analyze its influencing factors.Results The sex,age,BMI,basic metabolic rate(BMR)and serum thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb)had no statistical differences between the two groups(P＞0.05).The proportions of serum thyroglobulin(TG)＜1 ng/mL,131I first time treatment and residual thyroid ratio prompted by the whole body 131I scan after treatment in the low dose group were significantly higher than those in the high dose group(P＜0.05).The residual radioactivity in the two groups was significantly de-creased with time extension.The residual radioactivity at 24,48,72 h after treatment in the low dose group was significantly lower than that in the high dose group(P＜0.05).The binary logistic regression analysis re-sults showed that the T stage and treatment dose were the influencing factors of residual radioactivity after 131I treatment.Conclusion The residual radioactivity after 131I treatment in the patients with DTC shows the significant decreasing trend with time extension,this change trend has an active significance for further opti-mizing and perfecting the isolation and protection scheme.For the patients with high T stage and big treat-ment dose,the isolation time should exceed 72 h.

Objective To analysed the related studies on varicocele in children and adolescents,and investigate the development status,research focus and frontiers in this field.Methods The literatures on varicocele in children and adolescents published between 2000 and 2023 was retrieved from Web of Science and visualized with R language software.Results A total of 684 articles were included,and the annual number of publications showed a steady growth trend.The United States ranked the first in the world and formed a core group of authors.Key words clustering showed that"semen parameters/infertility/oxidative stress","repair/ligation of spermatic vein","measurement and evaluation of testicular volume","testis and ultrasound examination","laparoscopic examination and treatment","sclerotherapy and embolization of spermatic vein"were the focus of current research.The mechanism of sperm quality decline was a research frontier.Conclusion The correlation between varicocele and male fertility in children and adolescents is a clinical problem worthy of further study.

Although percutaneous pulmonary artery denervation (PADN) has demonstrated long-term benefits in combined post- and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension, its usefulness for isolated post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (IpcPH) remains unclear. This report presents 2 cases of IpcPH due to left heart failure who underwent PADN treatment following an insufficient response to optimized conventional therapy. This case study illustrates how PADN, when combined with heart failure guideline-directed medical therapy, may represent a promising treatment option for IpcPH.

Although percutaneous pulmonary artery denervation (PADN) has demonstrated long-term benefits in combined post- and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension, its usefulness for isolated post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (IpcPH) remains unclear. This report presents 2 cases of IpcPH due to left heart failure who underwent PADN treatment following an insufficient response to optimized conventional therapy. This case study illustrates how PADN, when combined with heart failure guideline-directed medical therapy, may represent a promising treatment option for IpcPH.

By reconstructing the integrated Chinese and western medicine diagnostic and treatment system， the "Two Reconstructions" theoretical framework establishes a standardized pathway of "classification-staging-syndrome differentiation"， which improves the accuracy of disease identification and strengthens the capacity for full-course intervention； in addition， by reconstructing the modern materia medica system， it innovatively integrates the traditional properties and efficacy of Chinese herbal medicinals with modern pharmacological mechanisms， forming a "state-target co-regulation" precise medication model， and builds a dose-effect theoretical system for prescriptions and medicinals， thereby enhancing both the targeting accuracy and dosage precision of therapeutic interventions. The "Two Reconstructions" theorecitcal framework is a key strategy for enhancing clinical efficacy. It can precisely identify "states" and "targets" for directed intervention， shift the focus of prevention and treatment earlier to enable full-cycle management， establish standardized paradigms for reproducible and evaluable efficacy， and expand the scope of clinical practice to address conditions without typical syndromes and critical illnesses. As a systematic pathway for innovation in TCM， this theoretical framework provides valuable insights and references for promoting the high-quality development of integrative Chinese and western medicine.

The epidemiological and spatiotemporal clustering characteristics of dengue fever in Fujian Province were ana-lyzed,to provide a scientific basis for dengue fever prevention and control.Descriptive epidemiology,spatial autocorrelation a-nalysis,and spatiotemporal scanning were used to analyze dengue fever cases in Fujian Province from 2011 to 2023.In this peri-od,a total of 3 586 cases of dengue fever were reported in Fujian Province,including 2 360 local cases,1 134 imported cases from abroad,and 92 imported cases from China.Cases were reported in ten prefectures and cities of the province,and 81 out of 88 counties reported cases.Imported cases were reported throughout the year in Fujian Province,but the occurrence of local ca-ses showed clear seasonality.Local cases and domestic imports were concentrated in August to October,whereas overseas im-ports occurred primarily from June to October.The imported cases were mainly from Southeast Asian countries,but a trend of spreading from Southeast Asian countries to South Asia,Africa,the Americas,and other regions,was observed.Spatio-tem-poral clustering of dengue fever was found in Fujian Province(Moran's I value 0.14-0.66,P＜0.05),and the high-high ag-gregation areas were distributed primarily in Fuzhou,Quanzhou,and Putian.Spatio-temporal scanning detected three aggrega-tion areas:one main and two secondary.The aggregation time was from the end of July to October,and the distribution was primarily in Fuzhou,Quanzhou,Putian,Zhangzhou,and Xiamen.The distribution of dengue fever in Fujian Province showed clear spatial and temporal clustering from the end of July to October,and the distribution was primarily in Fuzhou,Quanzhou,Putian,Zhangzhou,and Xiamen.For high concentration areas,national health campaigns,mosquito prevention and control,epidemic surveillance,medical personnel training,and other relevant measures could be carried out in advance before local cases appear every year.Reduce local transmission of dengue fever due to importation.