Objective To explore the application value of dual-phase dual-energy CT (DECT) perfusion imaging in preoperative lung function assessment of lung cancer patients. Methods Data were collected from patients with stageⅠA non-small cell lung cancer who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, from November 2022 to June 2024. All patients underwent DECT perfusion imaging and pulmonary function testing (PFT) before surgery. PFT observation indicators included ventilation function indicators such as forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), 1-second rate (FEV1/FVC), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), and diffusion function indicators such as diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and DLCO per liter of alveolar volume (DLCO/VA). The software eXamine was used to obtain quantitative parameters of DECT perfusion imaging, including volume parameters and perfusion parameters of both lungs and each lung lobe. The correlation between the volume parameters and perfusion parameters of both lungs and the ventilation and diffusion function indicators of the patients, as well as the differences in quantitative parameters of each lung lobe, was analyzed. Results The end-inspiration lung volume and biphasic volume difference were strongly positively correlated with FEV1 and FVC (r=0.636, r=0.682, r=0.614, r=0.624, P<0.001) and moderately positively correlated with MVV and DLCO (r=0.499, r=0.514, r=0.549, r=0.447, P<0.001); the end-expiration lung volume was weakly negatively correlated with DLCO/VA (r=−0.295, P=0.026); the volume ratio was positively correlated with FEV1, FVC, MVV, and MVV% (r=0.424, r=0.399, r=0.415, r=0.310, P<0.05); the end-inspiration iodine content was weakly positively correlated with DLCO/VA% (rs=0.292, P=0.030); the end-expiration iodine content was weakly positively correlated with FEV1, FVC, MVV, DLCO%, and DLCO/VA (r=0.307, r=0.299, r=0.295, r=0.366, r=0.320, P<0.05) and moderately positively correlated with DLCO (r=0.439, P<0.001); the end-inspiration iodine concentration was negatively correlated with FEV1, FVC, MVV, and MVV% (rs=−0.407, rs=−0.426, rs=−0.352, rs=−0.277, P＜0.05); the end-expiratory phase iodine concentration was moderately positively correlated with DLCO/VA (r=0.403, P=0.002); both the iodine concentration difference and the iodine concentration ratio were moderately positively correlated with FEV1, FEV1%, FVC, MVV, MVV% (P<0.05). The lung volume and iodine concentration ratio values were both highest in the left upper lung lobe and lowest in the right middle lung lobe; the differences in lung volume, lung volume ratio, intrapulmonary iodine content, and intrapulmonary iodine concentration were all highest in the lower lobes of both lungs and lowest in the middle lobe of the right lung. Conclusion Dual-phase DECT perfusion imaging can accurately assess overall lung function and quantify regional lung function.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of oral sodium butyrate on skeletal muscle atrophy in CT26 tumor mice through the gut microbiota-skeletal muscle axis and its potential mechanism. MethodsSixty SPF BALB/c male mice aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into a normal control group (NC, n=18) and a ABX-depleted group (ABX, n=42). The ABX mice were pretreated with a quadruple antibiotic cocktail via oral gavage (0.2 ml per administration, once daily, 6 d per week, for 2 weeks), whereas NC received an equal volume of sterile water. The quadruple antibiotic cocktail consisted of metronidazole (1 g/L), vancomycin (0.5 g/L), ampicillin (1 g/L), and gentamicin (1 g/L). Following successful pretreatment, six mice from each group were randomly selected for gut microbiota sequencing analysis and designated as the Abx group and the NC0 group, respectively. Theremaining mice in ABX were subcutaneously inoculated in the dorsum with 0.2 ml of CT26 cell suspension (at a cell density of 1×10⁷/ml). Then these mice were randomly allocated into three subgroups: a control tumor bearing model group (0_NaB, n=12), a tumor-bearing model group receiving low-dose oral sodium butyrate (L_NaB, n=12), a tumor-bearing model group receiving high-dose oral sodium butyrate (H_NaB, n=12). And mice in NC were inoculated at the same site with 0.2 ml of normal saline. The administration dose for L_NaB was 0.3 g/(kg·d), that for H_NaB was 0.5 g/(kg·d), while NC and 0_NaB were given the same volume of normal saline (0.2ml per time, once daily, 6 d per week, for 4 weeks). The general condition of mice was monitored, and forelimb grip strength gastrocnemius muscle mass and its muscle fiber cross-sectional area were measured for each group. The structural changes in gut microbiota were assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing of cecal contents. Pathological alterations in the intestinal wall were examined via HE staining. Serum and gastrocnemius muscle levels of TNF‑α, IL-6, IL-1β, and LPS were quantified using ELISA. The protein expression of ZO-1 and occludin in the small intestine, as well as proteins associated with the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in the gastrocnemius muscle, were detected by Western blot analysis. Results(1) The alpha-diversity in Abx was significantly lower than that in NC0 (P<0.01), a significant decrease of the mass and muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius (P<0.01), with the majority of gut microbiota being effectively depleted. (2) Compared with NC, the subcutaneous tumors of mice in 0_NaB were prominent, a significant increase of the mass and muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius, accompanied by a significant decrease in body weight at the end of the 3th and 4th week (P<0.05), and a significant weakening of the forelimb grasping strength at the 5th and 6th week (P<0.01). Compared with 0_NaB, the tumor mass of mice in L_NaB and H_NaB showed a significant decreasing trend, and the grip strength of the forelimbs significantly increased at the 5th and 6th week (P<0.05, P<0.01). (3) Compared with 0_NaB, the Shannon and Observed species indices in α diversity of L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly increased (P<0.05). At the genus level, compared with 0_NaB, L_NaB exhibited a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Parasutterella (P< 0.01), while H_NaB showed significant reductions in the relative abundances of both Escherichia-Shigella and Parasutterella (P < 0.01). (4) Compared with 0_NaB, the small intestinal tissue structure in L_NaB and H_NaB was more intact, the infiltration of inflammatory cells was significantly reduced, and the capillaries were slightly dilated. The expression levels of ZO-1 and occludin proteins in L_NaB were significantly increased (P<0.01). (5) The LPS concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle and the protein expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα, and p-NF‑κB p65 in L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly lower than those in 0_NaB (P<0.05). The serum TNF‑α concentration in H_NaB and TNF-α concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle of the L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly lower than those in 0_NaB (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01). ConclusionOral administration of NaB can improve gut microbiota α diversity, adjusting its composition, improving intestinal mucosal barrier function, reducing the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory response, and delaying skeletal muscle atrophy. The underlying mechanism may involve down regulation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling in skeletal muscle.

Background: High-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) is a chromatin-binding protein involved in arthritis, ischemia, sepsis, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders, meningitis, and cancer. HMGB1 exhibits dual roles in cancer, acting as either a tumor suppressor or oncoprotein depending on context. Objective: This research aimed to elucidate HMGB1’s functional significance in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Methods: We overexpressed HMGB1 in cSCC cell lines using recombinant adenovirus and examined its effects on cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration. Results: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed elevated HMGB1 expression levels in cSCC tissue relative to normal epidermis. To assess the influence of HMGB1, we employed recombinant adenoviruses expressing HMGB1 to transduce SCC cell lines (SCC12 and SCC13). Enhanced HMGB1 expression significantly promoted cellular proliferation and colony formation capacity.Notably, HMGB1 overexpression elevated the levels of proliferation regulators, including P63, SOX2, CDK4 and CDK6. Furthermore, HMGB1 overexpression substantially enhanced tumor invasiveness, accompanied by upregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers. Mechanistically, overexpression of HMGB1 enhanced transforming growth factor-β signaling by increasing phosphorylation of SMAD2/3, the key mediators of EMT. Conclusion These data imply that HMGB1 acts as a tumor-promoting factor in cSCC.

Medical institutions, with their clinical practice foundation and abundant human use experience data, have become important carriers for the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and the "cradles" of the preparation of new TCM. To effectively promote the transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and establish an effective evaluation index system for the transformation of new TCM conforming to the characteristics of TCM, consensus experts adopted the literature research, questionnaire survey, Delphi method, etc. By focusing on the policy and technical evaluation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions, a comprehensive evaluation from the dimensions of drug safety, efficacy, feasibility, and characteristic advantages was conducted, thus forming a comprehensive evaluation system with four primary indicators and 37 secondary indicators. The expert consensus reached aims to encourage medical institutions at all levels to continuously improve the high-quality research and development and transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and targeted at clinical needs, so as to provide a decision-making basis for the preparation, selection, cultivation, and transformation of new TCM for medical institutions, improve the development efficiency of new TCM, and precisely respond to the public medication needs.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; Humans ; Consensus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study aims to explore the scientific connotation of sinking Rehmanniae Radix has the best quality and compare the quality between floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole electrostatic field Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) was employed to detect the chemical components in floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples. The fingerprint of fresh Rehmanniae Radix was established by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC), and four index components were determined simultaneously. The cluster analysis, principal component analysis(PCA), and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were conducted to compare the quality of floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples. An evaporative light-scattering detector was used to compare the content of five sugars. The extract yield and drying rate were determined, and the quality connotation of sinking Rehmanniae Radix has the best quality was explained by multiple indicators. A total of 41 components were preliminarily identified from fresh Rehmanniae Radix by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, including 7 iridoid glycosides, 9 phenylethanol glycosides, 6 amino acids, 4 sugars, 3 phenolic acids, 5 nucleosides, 3 organic acids, 1 ionone, 1 furan, 1 coumarin, and 1 phenylpropanoid. The results showed that the main chemical components were consistent between floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix. Nine common peaks were identified in the fingerprints of 15 batches of floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples, and the similarity of fingerprints was greater than 0.9. The cluster analysis, PCA, and OPLS-DA classified floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix sasmples into two categories, indicating differences in the quality between them. The total content of catalpol, rehmannioside D, ajugol, and verbascoside in sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples was higher than that in floating samples of the same batch and specification, and the main differential component was catalpol. The total content of fructose, glucose, sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose in sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples was higher than that in floating samples of the same batch and specification, and the main differential component was stachyose. The extract yield and drying rate of the sinking samples were higher than those of floating samples. This study preliminarily showed that floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples had the same components but great differences in the content of medicinal substance basis. The total content of four glycosides and five sugars, extract yield, and drying rate of sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples is higher than that of floating samples of the same batch and specification. These findings, to a certain extent, explains the scientificity of sinking Rehmanniae Radix has the best quality recorded in ancient books and provide a reference for the quality control and clinical application of fresh Rehmanniae Radix.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Rehmannia/chemistry* ; Chemometrics ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Quality Control ; Principal Component Analysis ; Plant Extracts

Cistanches Herba(CH) is a famous tonic traditional Chinese medicine, with the effects of tonifying kidney Yang, nourishing kidney Yin, replenishing essence and blood, and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that CH has anti-aging, anti-fatigue, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and anti-aging activities, serving as an ideal raw material for the development of pharmaceuticals and health products. In 2023, CH was added in the catalog of medicinal and food substances, which provided policy support for its application in conventional food products and expanding pathways for industrial diversification. To comprehensively understand current development status of CH products, this review systematically investigated professional databases including Yaozhi(https://db.yaozh.com), Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Compendium of National Standards for Chinese Patent Medicines, and Kezhuang and collected market survey data to thoroughly review the applications of CH as a primary ingredient in domestic and international Chinese patent medicines, health foods, cosmetics, and common food products. Furthermore, this review points out challenges in the current industrial development and future potential market prospects, aiming to provide guidance for the development and industrialization of CH-based pharmaceuticals and health products, thereby promoting the vigorous growth of the CH industry.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Cistanche/chemistry* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVE: Lipid oxidation is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and may be contribute to the development of Ischemic stroke (IS). However, the lipid profiles associated with IS have been poorly studied. We conducted a pilot study to identify potential IS-related lipid molecules and pathways using lipidomic profiling. METHODS: Serum lipidomic profiling was performed using LC-MS in 20 patients with IS and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Univariate and multivariate analyses were simultaneously performed to identify the differential lipids. Multiple testing was controlled for using a false discovery rate (FDR) approach. Enrichment analysis was performed using MetaboAnalyst software. RESULTS: Based on the 294 lipids assayed, principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) models were used to distinguish patients with IS from healthy controls. Fifty-six differential lipids were identified with an FDR-adjusted P less than 0.05 and variable influences in projection (VIP) greater than 1.0. These lipids were significantly enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism (FDR-adjusted P = 0.009, impact score = 0.216). CONCLUSIONS Serum lipid profiles differed significantly between patients with IS and healthy controls. Thus, glycerophospholipid metabolism may be involved in the development of IS. These results provide initial evidence that lipid molecules and their related metabolites may serve as new biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for IS.
Humans ; Pilot Projects ; Lipidomics ; Male ; Female ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Ischemic Stroke/blood* ; Aged ; China ; Lipids/blood* ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; East Asian People

Objective To develop a rapid detection method for tiletamine that is easy to operate and low-cost under the premise of ensuring sensitivity and accuracy,to assist in carrying out rapid screening and drug control work on-site.Methods This study integrates dual-ligand copper nanozymes with mo-lecular imprinting technology.Initially,copper nanozymes were synthesized using readily available raw materials at 120℃.Subsequently,specific cavities were imprinted on their surface at room temperature using a sol-gel method to construct a novel fluorescent sensing probe.This probe was characterized and methodologically validated,and then applied to the detection of actual samples.Results The developed probe exhibited stable fluorescence properties,strong anti-interference capability,and excellent specificity and sensitivity,with a detection limit of 5 ng/mL and a quantitative concentration range from 15 to 500 ng/mL.It enabled the rapid detection of tiletamine in real samples such as blood and e-cigarette oil.Conclusion This fluorescent probe can be used for rapid detection and on-site preliminary screening of tiletamine in various types of samples.It significantly improves the detection efficiency and reduces analysis costs,showing high research value and broad application prospects.

Objective To explore the effects of Jingling Oral Liquid(mainly composed of Polygoni Multiflori Radix,Polygonati Rhizoma,Platycladi Semen,Nelumbinis Semen,Ligustri Lucidi Fructus,Poria,and Lilii Bulbus)as an adjunctive therapy on cognitive,motor,and social abilities in children with global developmental delay(GDD).Methods A total of 120 children with GDD who visited the Department of Neurological Rehabilitation at Hebei Children's Hospital from July 2021 to November 2023 were selected as the study subjects.The children were randomly divided into a control group and a trial group using a random number table,with 60 children in each group.The control group received conventional comprehensive rehabilitation training,while the trial group received Jingling Oral Liquid as an adjunctive therapy in addition to the control group's treatment.The treatment course lasted 12 weeks.Before and after treatment,the changes in Gesell Developmental Scale(GDS)scores,Peabody Developmental Motor Scales(PDMS)scores,motor function scores,and language ability scores in both groups were observed to evaluate the cognitive,motor,and social abilities of the children.Results(1)After treatment,the scores of all dimensions of the GDS,including adaption,developmental quotient of fine motor,language developmental quotient,and personal-social developmental quotient,were significantly increased in both groups compared to those before treatment(P＜0.01),and the improvement of GDS scores in the trial group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(2)After treatment,the scores of all dimensions of the PDMS,including fine developmental quotient score,standardized score of visual-motor integration,and standardized score of grasping,were significantly increased in both groups compared to those before treatment(P＜0.01),and the improvement of PDMS scores in the trial group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the scores of motor function indicators of fine motor quotient(FMQ),gross motor quotient(GMQ),and total motor quotient(TMQ)were significantly increased in both groups compared to those before treatment(P＜0.01),and the improvement of motor function scores in the trial group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the language ability scores were significantly increased in both groups compared to those before treatment(P＜0.01),and the improvement of language ability scores in the trial group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).Conclusion The combination of Jingling Oral Liquid with conventional comprehensive rehabilitation training can effectively improve the cognitive,motor,and social abilities of children with GDD.