ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Shenfuhuang Formula （参附黄配方） in prevention and treatment of epsis-associated encephalopathy from the perspective of brain genomics. MethodsC57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham surgery group， sepsis group， and Shenfuhuang group， with 20 mice in each group. The sepsis group and Shenfuhuang group were induced to develop sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture （CLP） procedure. At 4 hours after modelling， Shenfuhuang group were gavaged with 2.5 g/（kg·d） of Shenfuhuang Formula， 0.5 ml each time， at 12 hours intervals， for a total of 4 times after modelling. Sepsis group and sham surgery group were given 0.5 ml of purified water orally. At 48 hours after modeling， the transcriptome sequencing was used to explore the differential gene expression in the effects of Shenfuhuang Formula on the brain regions of septic mice， and real-time PCR and ELISA were later used to further validate the differential gene and proteins expression. ResultsA total of 4605 genes were differentially expressed in Shenfuhuang group compared with sepsis group， of which 2353 genes were up-regulated and 2252 genes were down-regulated. According to the results of previous publications， six key genes were screened， including serine/threonine-protein kinase （Nek1）， myelin-associated glycoprotein （Mag）， endothelial cell-specific tyrosine kinase receptor （Tek）， a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 20 （Adamts20）， lymphocyte antigen 86 （Ly86）， and E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase （Traip）. Further genetic and protein validation revealed that， compared to the sham surgery group， the mRNA levels and corresponding protein levels of Nek1， Mag， Tek， Adamts20， Ly86， and Traip in the brain tissue of septic mice significantly reduced （P＜0.05）. In comparison to the sepsis group， Shenfuhuang group showed significantly increased mRNA levels and corresponding protein levels of Nek1， Mag， Tek， Adamts20， Ly86， and Traip （P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe potential therapeutic targets of Shenfuhuang Formula for treating sepsis-associated encephalopathy may be related to the Nek1， Mag， Tek， Adamts20， Ly86， and Traip genes and their encoded proteins.

Patients with chronic cholestatic liver diseases face numerous challenges in the detection， assessment， and management of suspected drug-induced liver injury （DILI）， and in particular， it is difficult to distinguish cholestatic DILI from the progression of underlying cholestatic liver diseases clinically and histologically. Currently， there is a lack of related research and management guidelines for DILI with chronic cholestatic liver diseases. This article discusses the potential risks， causality， and classification criteria for chronic cholestatic liver diseases with DILI， in order to improve the understanding of such diseases among clinicians and provide a reference for prevention， treatment， and management strategies.

Background Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) attract widespread public attention due to their adverse effects on mammalian reproductive systems. However, it is currently unclear whether ferroptosis is related to testicular damage and decreased sperm quality in mice exposed to PS-MPs. Objective To clarify the reproductive damage in male mice exposed to PS-MPs and investigate the mechanism of ferroptotic effects. Methods Five-week-old male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four experimental groups, including one control group and three PS-MPs groups at low dose (0.5 mg·kg⁻¹), medium dose (5 mg·kg⁻¹), and high dose (50 mg·kg⁻¹), respectively, with 6 mice in each group. The treatment was delivered by gavage for 35 consecutive days (one time per day). After the mice were neutralized, the wet weights of testis and epididymis were measured, and organ coefficients were then calculated. Sperm was counted by hematimetry, and sperm motility and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level were evaluated using CCK-8 and CellTiter Glo ® Kit 2.0 Assay respectively. In addition, serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were determined using ELISA kit, total testicular iron content was measured using tissue iron kit, and pathological changes in testicular tissue were observed after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. We also used glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) assays to examine their changes to better understand the physiological status of testicular tissue. Finally, the expression levels of ferroptosis-associated proteins glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) were detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with the control group, the testicular index in the high dose group decreased, and the epididymal index decreased in all dose groups (P<0.05). The results of sperm quality analysis showed that the sperm count in each dose group was lower than that of the control group; the sperm motility decreased, sperm malformation rate increased, and ATP level in sperm decreased in the medium and high dose groups. The results of HE staining showed that the spermatogenic epithelium was disordered and the arrangement of spermatogenic cells were loose in the low dose group, the spermatogenic gap was enlarged in the middle dose group, and the cells in the high dose group were vacuolated and even azoospermic. The results of serum sex hormone levels showed that the serum testosterone levels decreased in each dose group, the serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels decreased in the medium and high dose groups, and the serum luteinizing hormone levels decreased in the high dose group (P<0.05). The iron content in the testicular tissue homogenate of the high dose group increased (P<0.05). The levels of GSH and SOD in the homogenate of testicular tissue decreased in the medium and high dose groups, while the levels of MDA increased (P<0.05). The results of Western blotting showed that the protein expression level of GPX4 in the testis in the high dose group was lower than that in the control group. The protein expression levels of SLC7A11 in the medium and high dose groups were lower than that in the control group. The results of correlation analysis showed that the expression level of GPX4 was positively correlated with sperm count, and negatively correlated with MDA level (P<0.05). SLC7A11 expression level was positively correlated with sperm count, and negatively correlated with sperm malformation rate and MDA level (P<0.05). Conclusion PS-MPs exposure leads to decreased sperm quality, testicular damage, and decreased serum sex hormone levels in male mice, and its mechanism of action may involve ferroptosis.

Addressing the enduring challenge of evaluating traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), the integrated evidence chain-based effectiveness evaluation of TCMs (Eff-iEC) has emerged. This paper explored its capacity through a demonstration study that evaluated the effectiveness evidence of six commonly used anti-hepatic fibrosis Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), including Biejiajian Pill (BP), Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DZP), Biejia Ruangan Compound (BRC), Fuzheng Huayu Capsule (FHC), Anluo Huaxian Pill (AHP), and Heluo Shugan Capsule (HSC), using both Eff-iEC and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The recognition of these CPMs within the TCM academic community was also assessed through their inclusion in relevant medical documents. Results showed that the evidence of BRC and FHC received higher assessments in both Eff-iEC and GRADE system, while the assessments for others varied. Analysis of community recognition revealed that Eff-iEC more accurately reflects the clinical value of these CPMs, exhibiting superior evaluative capabilities. By breaking through the conventional pattern of TCMs effectiveness evaluation, Eff-iEC offers a novel epistemology that better aligns with the clinical realities and reasoning of TCMs, providing a coherent methodology for clinical decision-making, new drug evaluations, and health policy formulation.

Biosensors based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) are crucial for early diagnosis, less invasive treatment, and drug evaluation of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, existing technologies often suffer from enzyme conformational changes, leading to altered activity and loss and reduced sensor efficacy. To address this challenge, we developed a novel right-side-out-oriented red blood cell membrane-coated electrochemical biosensors (ROCMCBs) to evaluate AChE inhibitors from traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) as potential anti-AD agents. The developed right-side-out-oriented coating based on immunoaffinity not only fully exposed the binding sites of AChE on the cell membrane but also ensured its conformation and stability as a peripheral membrane-anchoring protein, which was conducive to maintaining its biological activity and producing optimal interaction with drugs. At the same time, the biosensors exhibited a satisfactory sensitivity (limit of detection = 0.41 pmol/L). Ultimately, six potentially active compounds against AD (baicalin, geniposide, gastrodin, berberine, rhynchophylline, and senkyunolide A) were rapidly identified and evaluated from TCMs. This project provides a promising strategy for developing cell membrane-coated electrochemical biosensors. The application of cell membrane-coated electrochemical biosensors with well-defined cell membrane orientation further expands new perspectives and methods for AChE-targeted anti-AD research.

Background: The previous research has confirmed the existence of idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (IDILI) caused by Polygonum multiflorum (PM-IDILI), and demonstrated that PM-IDILI is an immune-mediated injury, with HLA-B*35:01 identified as a genetic susceptibility marker. Additionally, emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside (EG) and 2, 3, 5, 4′-tetrahyd roxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside have been proposed as potential contributory ingredients in the pathogenesis of PM-IDILI. However, the precise mechanisms through which these susceptible factors contribute to the development of PM-IDILI remain unclear. Objectives: This study aims to explore the molecular characteristics of HLA-B*35:01 that contribute to PM-DILI and to propose a mechanistic hypothesis based on our previous research on PM-induced protein adducts. Methods: Key differences between HLA-B*35:01 and general Chinese HLA-B alleles were identified by comparing protein sequences, peptide binding motifs, and protein structures. Molecular docking was employed to assess whether PM-induced haptenated peptides can be presented by HLA-B*35:01 and other related alleles. Additionally, a simplified dipeptide model was used to evaluate the binding affinity of HLA-B*35:01 to EG-haptenated peptides. Results: Our findings revealed significant differences in the residues of the B and F peptide binding pockets of HLA-B*35:01 compared to general Chinese HLA-B alleles. Further analysis suggested that the F pocket of HLA-B*35:01 was capable of binding EG-cysteine adducts and might be a key feature in the PM-IDILI pathogenesis. Peptide docking using DINC and molecular dynamics simulations indicated that HLA-B*35:01 could form stable complexes with EG-haptenated peptides. Molecular dynamics simulations also highlighted the critical roles of both the B and F pockets in peptide binding. Specifically, the F pocket binds the EG-modified residue in haptenated peptides, while the B pocket, despite lacking shared features among PM-IDILI patients, may indirectly influence the incidence of PM-IDILI by filtering haptenated peptides. The binding affinity of HLA-B*35:01 to EG-modified cysteine residues was experimentally validated through a dipeptide-based assay, confirming that HLA-B*35:01 could bind EG-haptenated peptides. Conclusions: This study identified the unique B and F binding pockets of HLA-B*35:01 as key factors in PM-IDILI pathogenesis and demonstrated that HLA-B*35:01 could bind EG-haptenated peptides. These findings suggest that PM-IDILI may be a hapten-based drug hypersensitivity reaction driven by EG, providing a theoretical framework for further research aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying PM-IDILI.

Background: The previous research has confirmed the existence of idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (IDILI) caused by Polygonum multiflorum (PM-IDILI), and demonstrated that PM-IDILI is an immune-mediated injury, with HLA-B*35:01 identified as a genetic susceptibility marker. Additionally, emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside (EG) and 2, 3, 5, 4′-tetrahyd roxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside have been proposed as potential contributory ingredients in the pathogenesis of PM-IDILI. However, the precise mechanisms through which these susceptible factors contribute to the development of PM-IDILI remain unclear. Objectives: This study aims to explore the molecular characteristics of HLA-B*35:01 that contribute to PM-DILI and to propose a mechanistic hypothesis based on our previous research on PM-induced protein adducts. Methods: Key differences between HLA-B*35:01 and general Chinese HLA-B alleles were identified by comparing protein sequences, peptide binding motifs, and protein structures. Molecular docking was employed to assess whether PM-induced haptenated peptides can be presented by HLA-B*35:01 and other related alleles. Additionally, a simplified dipeptide model was used to evaluate the binding affinity of HLA-B*35:01 to EG-haptenated peptides. Results: Our findings revealed significant differences in the residues of the B and F peptide binding pockets of HLA-B*35:01 compared to general Chinese HLA-B alleles. Further analysis suggested that the F pocket of HLA-B*35:01 was capable of binding EG-cysteine adducts and might be a key feature in the PM-IDILI pathogenesis. Peptide docking using DINC and molecular dynamics simulations indicated that HLA-B*35:01 could form stable complexes with EG-haptenated peptides. Molecular dynamics simulations also highlighted the critical roles of both the B and F pockets in peptide binding. Specifically, the F pocket binds the EG-modified residue in haptenated peptides, while the B pocket, despite lacking shared features among PM-IDILI patients, may indirectly influence the incidence of PM-IDILI by filtering haptenated peptides. The binding affinity of HLA-B*35:01 to EG-modified cysteine residues was experimentally validated through a dipeptide-based assay, confirming that HLA-B*35:01 could bind EG-haptenated peptides. Conclusions: This study identified the unique B and F binding pockets of HLA-B*35:01 as key factors in PM-IDILI pathogenesis and demonstrated that HLA-B*35:01 could bind EG-haptenated peptides. These findings suggest that PM-IDILI may be a hapten-based drug hypersensitivity reaction driven by EG, providing a theoretical framework for further research aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying PM-IDILI.

Background: The previous research has confirmed the existence of idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (IDILI) caused by Polygonum multiflorum (PM-IDILI), and demonstrated that PM-IDILI is an immune-mediated injury, with HLA-B*35:01 identified as a genetic susceptibility marker. Additionally, emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside (EG) and 2, 3, 5, 4′-tetrahyd roxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside have been proposed as potential contributory ingredients in the pathogenesis of PM-IDILI. However, the precise mechanisms through which these susceptible factors contribute to the development of PM-IDILI remain unclear. Objectives: This study aims to explore the molecular characteristics of HLA-B*35:01 that contribute to PM-DILI and to propose a mechanistic hypothesis based on our previous research on PM-induced protein adducts. Methods: Key differences between HLA-B*35:01 and general Chinese HLA-B alleles were identified by comparing protein sequences, peptide binding motifs, and protein structures. Molecular docking was employed to assess whether PM-induced haptenated peptides can be presented by HLA-B*35:01 and other related alleles. Additionally, a simplified dipeptide model was used to evaluate the binding affinity of HLA-B*35:01 to EG-haptenated peptides. Results: Our findings revealed significant differences in the residues of the B and F peptide binding pockets of HLA-B*35:01 compared to general Chinese HLA-B alleles. Further analysis suggested that the F pocket of HLA-B*35:01 was capable of binding EG-cysteine adducts and might be a key feature in the PM-IDILI pathogenesis. Peptide docking using DINC and molecular dynamics simulations indicated that HLA-B*35:01 could form stable complexes with EG-haptenated peptides. Molecular dynamics simulations also highlighted the critical roles of both the B and F pockets in peptide binding. Specifically, the F pocket binds the EG-modified residue in haptenated peptides, while the B pocket, despite lacking shared features among PM-IDILI patients, may indirectly influence the incidence of PM-IDILI by filtering haptenated peptides. The binding affinity of HLA-B*35:01 to EG-modified cysteine residues was experimentally validated through a dipeptide-based assay, confirming that HLA-B*35:01 could bind EG-haptenated peptides. Conclusions: This study identified the unique B and F binding pockets of HLA-B*35:01 as key factors in PM-IDILI pathogenesis and demonstrated that HLA-B*35:01 could bind EG-haptenated peptides. These findings suggest that PM-IDILI may be a hapten-based drug hypersensitivity reaction driven by EG, providing a theoretical framework for further research aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying PM-IDILI.

[Objective]To summarize the clinical experience of Professor WANG Zhen in the treatment of post-Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19)cough.[Methods]Through the way of recording and sorting out medical cases,referring to domestic and foreign literature,this paper expounded the clinical experience of Professor WANG Zhen from three aspects:pathogenesis,prescription and medical cases.[Results]Professor WANG Zhen believes that the cause of post-COVID-19 cough is epidemic Qi,and the cause of the disease is wind and dampness-heat.The prescription experience is to dispel wind and relieve external symptoms,open the orifices and soothe the throat,clear heat and resolve dampness in tri-Jiao,and take into account both individual variability and symptoms and causes.Two medical cases are reported,the patient complained of post-COVID-19 cough,and Professor WANG Zhen mainly dispelled wind,cleared heat and resolved dampness,supplemented by nourishing Yin,invigorating the spleen,tonifying the kidney and dispersing blood stasis,with a comprehensive prescription and accurate curative effect.[Conclusion]Professor WANG Zhen accurately grasps the pathogenesis of post-COVID-19 cough,the treatment method is clear,the use of traditional Chinese medicine is rational,the therapeutic effect is obvious,and his clinical experience is valuable.

In order to deal with the problem of the safety of Chinese herbal medicine in a scientific way and further meet the growing health needs of people,it is particularly important to deepen the research on herb-induced liver injury.This article elaborates on the phenotypic characteristics and toxicological mechanisms of herb-induced liver injury and emphasizes that it should not only rely on the previous knowledge of the toxicity of Chinese herbal medicine,but also understand the new types of idiosyncratic toxicity,indirect toxicity,and mixed toxicity,which provide a new perspective for understanding the toxicological mechanisms of herb-induced liver injury and are of great importance to investigate the phenotype and toxicological mechanism of herb-induced liver injury.