ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Liuwei Dihuangwan on behavioral impairments in the rat model of autism spectrum disorder （ASD） and explore the mechanism of action. MethodsTwelve SD pregnant rats were intraperitoneally injected with valproic acid （VPA） （10 rats） or normal saline （2 rats）， and male offspring were selected to establish the model of ASD and the control rats. Rats were randomly assigned into model， low-dose （0.75 g·kg^-1） and high-dose （1.5 g·kg^-1） Liuwei Dihuangwan， vitamin D （positive drug， 3.7×10^-5 g·kg^-1）， and blank groups. Each group was administrated with the corresponding concentration of drugs or the same volume of normal saline by gavage for 2 weeks. After the intervention， the three-chamber social test was conducted to evaluate social interaction and social preference. The open field test was carried out to observe spontaneous behavior and anxiety state. Hematoxylin-eosin staining （HE） was used to observe the pathological changes of the prefrontal tissue. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe the ultrastructure of mitochondria in prefrontal neurons. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 （Iba-1） in the prefrontal tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was adopted to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-6 （IL-6）. Western blot was employed to assess the expression differences of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （p-AMPK）， adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）， phosphorylated Unc-51-like autophagy-activating kinase 1 （p-ULK1）， Unc-51-like autophagy-activating kinase 1 （ULK1）， and FUN14 domain-containing protein 1 （FUNDC1）. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group spent less time sniffing stranger 1 and stranger 2 in the three-chamber social test （P<0.01） and showed reductions in the total distance traveled， average speed， distance traveled in the central area， and time spent in the central area in the open field test （P<0.01）. In addition， the model group showed extensive apoptosis of neurons， with shrunken nuclei and red-stained cytoplasm， and extensive necrosis of neurons in the prefrontal tissue， mitochondrial swelling， decreased matrix density， disrupted cristae， and autophagic lysosomes in neurons， increases in the rate of Iba-1 positive cells in the prefrontal area （P<0.01） and the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 （P<0.01）， and down-regulation in the expression of p-AMPK/AMPK， p-ULK1/ULK1， and FUNDC1 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， low-dose and high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan and the vitamin D prolonged the time spent sniffing stranger 1 and stranger 2 in the three-chamber social test （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased the total distance traveled， average speed， distance traveled in the central area， and time spent in the central area in the open field test （P<0.05， P<0.01）， restored the morphology of neurons in the prefrontal tissue， decreased the number of apoptotic cells， alleviated the swelling of mitochondria in neurons， increased the matrix density， mitigated the fragmentation and disorder of cristae， and increased the number of autophagosomes. Moreover， the drugs decreased the rate of Iba-1 positive cells in the prefrontal area （P<0.01）， lowered the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 （P<0.01）， and up-regulated the expression of p-AMPK/AMPK， p-ULK1/ULK1， and FUNDC1 （P<0.01）. ConclusionLiuwei Dihuangwan ameliorate autism-like behaviors and reduce neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammatory damage in the rat model of ASD by promoting mitophagy mediated by the AMPK/ULK1/FUNDC1 pathway.

Linxian County in Henan Province, Northern China is known as the region with the highest incidence and mortality rate of esophageal cancer worldwide. Since 1959, the Henan medical team has conducted field work on esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian. Through three generations of effort exerted by oncologists over 65 years of research on esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian, the incidence rate of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in this area has dropped by nearly 50%, and the 5-year survival rate has increased to 40%, reaching the international leading level. This article aims to summarize the history, present opportunities and new challenges, and explore the experience of esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian (referred to as the “Linxian experience”), providing reference and guidance to cancer prevention and treatment research in China.

Kupffer cells (KCs), as residents and sentinels of the liver, are involved in the formation of hepatic fibrosis (HF). However, the biological functions of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in KCs to HF have not been determined. In this study, the expression levels of circRNAs, microRNAs, and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in KCs from a mouse model of HF mice were investigated using microarray and circRNA-Seq analyses. circDcbld2 was identified as a candidate circRNA in HF, as evidenced by its up-regulation in KCs. Silver staining and mass spectrometry showed that Wtap and Igf2bp2 bind to cirDcbld2. The suppression of circDcbld2 expression decreased the KC inflammatory response and oxidative stress and inhibited hepatic stellate cell (HSCs) activation, attenuating mouse liver fibrogenesis. Mechanistically, Wtap mediated the N ⁶-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation of circDcbld2, and Igf2bp2 recognized m6A-modified circDcbld2 and increased its stability. circDcbld2 contributes to the occurrence of HF by binding miR-144-3p/Et-1 to regulate the inflammatory response and oxidative stress. These findings indicate that circDcbld2 functions via the m6A/circDcbld2/miR-144-3p/Et-1 axis and may act as a potential biomarker for HF treatment.

Risks of food safety induced by small molecule drug residues in animal food and environment have become an increasing public concern,so it is necessary to develop highly sensitive and easy-to-operate techniques to detect small molecules.Herein,a metasurface plasma resonance(MetaSPR)sensor chip coupled with gold nanoparticles(AuNPs)was developed for detection of enrofloxacin(ENR)based on competitive immunoassay.The detection range of the sensor for ENR was 0.025-3.2 ng/mL,and the detection limit(3σ)was 20 pg/mL.The biosensor showed excellent performance including high selectivity,good stability,ease to operate and high throughput,etc.The developed method was applied to detection of ENR residues in real samples,with recoveies of 96.0% -105.0%.The proposed sensing strategy provided new technique reference for detection of other small molecules in the field of residue analysis in food safety and environment monitoring.

Objective:To determine the total and age-specific cut-off values of total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) and the ratio of free PSA divided total PSA (fPSA/tPSA) for screening prostate cancer in China.Methods:Based on the Chinese Colorectal, Breast, Lung, Liver, and Stomach cancer Screening Trial (C-BLAST) and the Tianjin Common Cancer Case Cohort (TJ4C), males who were not diagnosed with any cancers at baseline since 2017 and received both tPSA and fPSA testes were selected. Based on Cox regression, the overall and age-specific (＜60, 60-＜70, and ≥70 years) accuracy and optimal cut-off values of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA ratio for screening prostate cancer were evaluated with time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (tdROC) and area under curve (AUC). Bootstrap resampling was used to internally validate the stability of the optimal cut-off value, and the PLCO study was used to externally validate the accuracy under different cut-off values.Results:A total of 5 180 participants were included in the study, and after a median follow-up of 1.48 years, a total of 332 prostate cancer patients were included. In the total population, the tdAUC of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA screening for prostate cancer were 0.852 and 0.748, respectively, with the optimal cut-off values of 5.08 ng/ml and 0.173, respectively. After age stratification, the age specific cut-off values of tPSA in the <60, 60-<70, and ≥70 age groups were 3.13, 4.82, and 11.54 ng/ml, respectively, while the age-specific cut-off values of fPSA/tPSA were 0.153, 0.135, and 0.130, respectively. Under the age-specific cut-off values, the sensitivities of tPSA screening for prostate cancer in males <60, 60-70, and ≥70 years old were 92.3%, 82.0%, and 77.6%, respectively, while the specificities were 84.7%, 81.3%, and 75.4%, respectively. The age-specific sensitivities of fPSA/tPSA for screening prostate cancer were 74.4%, 53.3%, and 55.9%, respectively, while the specificities were 83.8%, 83.7%, and 83.7%, respectively. Both bootstrap's internal validation and PLCO external validation provided similar results. The combination of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA could further improve the accuracy of screening.Conclusion:To improve the screening effects, it is recommended that age-specific cut-off values of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA should be used to screen for prostate cancer in the general risk population.

A new multifunctional fluorescent"turn-on"biosensor was constructed based on a guanine-rich hairpin probe and G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme.The probe was labeled with quencher and fluorescein at 5′and 3′terminus,respectively.In the absence of the target,the probe form hairpin structure and the fluorescence of the fluorescein was quenched by the quencher.However,in the presence of the target,the hairpin structure transformed to G-quadruplex and the fluorescence was recovered.By monitoring the fluorescence of the probe before and after combining with the target,both hemin and hemoglobin were detected rapidly and conveniently with high sensitivity.The limit of detection for hemin and hemoglobin were estimated to be 283 pmol/L and 109 pmol/L,respectively.The specific interaction between the DNA probe and hemin were investigated via absorption and fluorescence spectra.Furthermore,L-cysteine was detected with naked eyes based on the peroxidase-like activity of the new G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme.The limit of detection for L-cysteine was estimated to be 3.6 μmol/L,which was lower than the normal level of intracellular L-cysteine(30-200 μmol/L).The method developed here was rapid,simple and sensitive for detection of hemin,hemoglobin and L-cysteine,demonstrating great potential in bioanalysis,drug screening,and disease diagnosis.

Objective:To determine the total and age-specific cut-off values of total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) and the ratio of free PSA divided total PSA (fPSA/tPSA) for screening prostate cancer in China.Methods:Based on the Chinese Colorectal, Breast, Lung, Liver, and Stomach cancer Screening Trial (C-BLAST) and the Tianjin Common Cancer Case Cohort (TJ4C), males who were not diagnosed with any cancers at baseline since 2017 and received both tPSA and fPSA testes were selected. Based on Cox regression, the overall and age-specific (＜60, 60-＜70, and ≥70 years) accuracy and optimal cut-off values of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA ratio for screening prostate cancer were evaluated with time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (tdROC) and area under curve (AUC). Bootstrap resampling was used to internally validate the stability of the optimal cut-off value, and the PLCO study was used to externally validate the accuracy under different cut-off values.Results:A total of 5 180 participants were included in the study, and after a median follow-up of 1.48 years, a total of 332 prostate cancer patients were included. In the total population, the tdAUC of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA screening for prostate cancer were 0.852 and 0.748, respectively, with the optimal cut-off values of 5.08 ng/ml and 0.173, respectively. After age stratification, the age specific cut-off values of tPSA in the <60, 60-<70, and ≥70 age groups were 3.13, 4.82, and 11.54 ng/ml, respectively, while the age-specific cut-off values of fPSA/tPSA were 0.153, 0.135, and 0.130, respectively. Under the age-specific cut-off values, the sensitivities of tPSA screening for prostate cancer in males <60, 60-70, and ≥70 years old were 92.3%, 82.0%, and 77.6%, respectively, while the specificities were 84.7%, 81.3%, and 75.4%, respectively. The age-specific sensitivities of fPSA/tPSA for screening prostate cancer were 74.4%, 53.3%, and 55.9%, respectively, while the specificities were 83.8%, 83.7%, and 83.7%, respectively. Both bootstrap's internal validation and PLCO external validation provided similar results. The combination of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA could further improve the accuracy of screening.Conclusion:To improve the screening effects, it is recommended that age-specific cut-off values of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA should be used to screen for prostate cancer in the general risk population.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Qingxuan Zhike granules in improving cough symptoms and shortening the course of influenza (wind-heat invading lung) in children.Methods:In this multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial, a total of 240 outpatient influenza patients from 7 hospitals, including the First Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, from April 2023 to December 2023 were collected.The subjects were randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group via SAS software using the block randomization method.The differences between two groups were compared with t test, corrected t test and χ2 test.Subjects in the control group were given Oseltamivir phosphate granules, orally, twice a day (weight ≤15 kg, 30 mg/time; weight >15-23 kg, 45 mg/time; weight >23-40 kg, 60 mg/time; weight >40 kg, 75 mg/time; age≥13 years, 75 mg/time).In addition to Oseltamivir phosphate granules, subjects in the experimental group were also given Qingxuan Zhike granules, orally, 3 times a day (1-3 years old, 1/2 bag each time; >3-6 years old, 3/4 bag each time; >6-14 years old, 1 bag each time).After 5 days of treatment, the medication was suspended for 2 days.The effect of cough, antipyretic effect, clinical recovery rate, clinical recovery time, Canadian Acute Respiratory Illness and Flu Scale (CARIFS) score, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome effect, complication rate, and adverse reactions were evaluated between the two groups. Results:Finally, 232 cases were included in the study, including 115 cases in the experimental group and 117 cases in the control group.Before and after treatment, there were no significant difference in CARIFS cough score between the experimental group and the control group (all P>0.05).After treatment, the change in CARIFS cough score in the experimental group [(-1.00±0.91) scores]was significantly higher than that in the control group [(-0.75±0.98) scores] ( t=-1.995, P=0.047).After treatment, the change in TCM syndrome cough score in the experimental group [(-1.69±1.51) scores] was significantly higher than that in the control group [(-0.97±1.63) scores] ( t′=-0.035, P=0.001).The time of complete regression of fever in the experimental group [(44.82±22.72) h] was shorter than that in the control group [(51.35±27.07) h], and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=-1.966, P=0.050).The fever score showed that the area under the curve between the CARIFS symptom fever score and time in the experimental group was 4.40±2.42, while that in the control group was 5.12±2.44, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=-2.252, P=0.025).The clinical recovery rate was 93.91%(108/115) in the experimental group and 92.31%(108/117) in the control group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.233, P>0.05).The clinical recovery time in the experimental group [(2.93±1.21) d] was shorter than that in the control group [(3.29±1.15) d], and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=-2.279, P=0.024).After treatment, there was a significant difference in TCM syndrome score variation between the experimental group [(-12.00±4.13) scores] and the control group [(-10.85±4.31) scores] ( t′=-2.067, P=0.040).No complication occurred in both groups, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups ( χ2=1.299, P>0.05). Conclusions:Qingxuan Zhike granules combined with Oseltamivir phosphate can effectively improve the cough symptoms associated with influenza in children, shorten the time and course of fever, and improve the TCM syndrome score; thus, they are safe in clinical application.

ObjectiveTo analyze and assess the pollution levels of lead （Pb）， cadmium （Cd）， and chromium （Cr） in rural soils of Wanzhou District， Chongqing Municipality， and to provide data support for proposing relevant measures and suggestions. MethodsBased on the soil monitoring data from 2017 to 2021， the ecological risk assessment was conducted by applying the Soil Pollution Risk Control Standard for Agricultural Land of Soil Environmental Quality （for trial implementation） （GB 15168‒2018）， the pollution index method and the potential ecological risk method. ResultsA total of 100 soil samples were collected， with pH values ranged from 3.50 to 8.30， and a mean value of 6.10. The mean values of Pb， Cd， and Cr in the soil were 25.2 mg·kg^-1， 0.310 mg·kg^-1， and 68.6 mg·kg^-1， respectively. Except for Cr， the mean values of other elements exceeded the soil background values. Cd level had the largest coefficient of variation and uneven spatial distribution， with an overall exceedance rate of 30.0%. Pollution levels of Pb and Cr were generally at the alert level， while Cd was generally at a light pollution level. The proportion of Cd pollution levels was higher than that of Pb and Cr， and the difference was statistically significant（χ²=15.015， P=0.001）. The Nemerow comprehensive pollution index in different townships ranged from 0.70 to 2.07， with a median value of 1.10， and was generally at a light pollution level. The potential ecological hazard risk of Cd was relatively high， and was generally at a mild level of hazard. The highest contribution rate in the comprehensive potential ecological hazard index was Cd， accounting for 84.1%. ConclusionThere is a certain degree of Cd pollution and mild ecological risk in rural soils of Wanzhou District. Monitoring and management of Cd pollution in rural soils of Wanzhou District， Chongqing Municipality， should be strengthened.

Anti-tumor traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of clinic application, in which the star molecules have always been the hotspot of modern drug research, but they are limited by the solubility, stability, targeting, bioactivity or toxicity of the monomer components of traditional Chinese medicine anti-tumor star molecules and other pharmacokinetic problems, which hinders the traditional Chinese medicine anti-tumor star molecules for further clinical translation and application. Currently, the nanosystems prepared by supramolecular technologies such as molecular self-assembly and nanomaterial encapsulation have broader application prospects in improving the anti-tumor effect of active components of traditional Chinese medicine, which has attracted extensive attention from scholars at home and abroad. In this paper, we systematically review the research progress in preparation of supramolecular nano-systems from anti-tumor star molecule of traditional Chinese medicine, and summarize the two major categories and ten small classes of carrier-free and carrier-based supramolecular nanosystems and their research cases, and the future development direction is put forward. The purpose of this paper is to provide reference for the research and clinical transformation of using supramolecular technology to improve the clinical application of anti-tumor star molecule of traditional Chinese medicine.