Aromatherapy refers to the method of using the aromatic components of plants in appropriate forms to act on the entire body or a specific area to prevent and treat diseases. Essential oils used in aromatherapy are hydrophobic liquids containing volatile aromatic molecules， such as limonene， linalool， linalool acetate， geraniol， and citronellol. These chemicals have been extensively studied and shown to have a variety of functions， including reducing anxiety， relieving depression， promoting sleep， and providing pain relief. Terpenoids are a class of organic molecules with relatively low lipid solubility. After being inhaled， they can pass through the nasal mucosa for transfer or penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream upon local application. Some of these substances also have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier， thereby exerting effects on the central nervous system. Currently， the academic community generally agrees that products such as essential oils and aromatherapy from aromatic plants have certain health benefits. However， the process of extracting a single component from it and successfully developing it into a drug still faces many challenges. Its safety and efficacy still need to be further verified through more rigorous and systematic experiments. This article systematically elaborated on the efficacy of aromatic substances， including plant extracts and natural small molecule compounds， in antibacterial and antiviral fields and the regulation of nervous system activity. As a result， a deeper understanding of aromatherapy was achieved. At the same time， the potential of these aromatic substances for drug development was thoroughly explored， providing important references and insights for possible future drug research and application.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2019.01.013.].

Azvudine and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) are recommended for COVID-19 treatment in China, but their safety and efficacy in the elderly population are not fully known. In this multicenter, retrospective, cohort study, we identified 5131 elderly hospitalized COVID-19 patients from 32,864 COVID-19 patients admitted to nine hospitals in Henan Province, China, from December 5, 2022, to January 31, 2023. The primary outcome was all-cause death, and the secondary outcome was composite disease progression. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to control for confounding factors, including demographics, vaccination status, comorbidities, and laboratory tests. After 2:1 PSM, 1786 elderly patients receiving azvudine and 893 elderly patients receiving Paxlovid were included. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses revealed that compared with Paxlovid group, azvudine could significantly reduce the risk of all-cause death (log-rank P = 0.002; HR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.573-0.883, P = 0.002), but there was no difference in composite disease progression (log-rank P = 0.52; HR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.877-1.260, P = 0.588). Four sensitivity analyses verified the robustness of above results. Subgroup analysis suggested that a greater benefit of azvudine over Paxlovid was observed in elderly patients with primary malignant tumors (P for interaction = 0.005, HR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.18-0.57) compared to patients without primary malignant tumors. Safety analysis revealed that azvudine treatment had a lower incidence of adverse events and higher lymphocyte levels than Paxlovid treatment. In conclusion, azvudine treatment is not inferior to Paxlovid treatment in terms of all-cause death, composite disease progression and adverse events in elderly hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children, as well as an important cause of respiratory tract infections in immunocompromised patients and the elderly, which poses a significant economic and social burden worldwide. In recent years, substantial progress has been made in understanding the structure and function of RSV proteins and the interactions between RSV with host factors which is helpful to the discovery of new therapeutic targets and the development of novel interventions. Although two vaccines and two monoclonal antibodies for RSV prevention have been approved, the antiviral treatment remains an unmet clinical need. In this review, we summarize the structure, protein functional properties, and pathological mechanisms of RSV and the current status of RSV drug development. In addition, remaining challenges and innovative ideas for RSV prevention and treatment have also been highlighted.

In recent decades, the prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout has increased dramatically due to lifestyle changes. The drugs currently recommended for hyperuricemia are associated with adverse reactions that limit their clinical use. In this study, we report that berberine (BBR) is an effective drug candidate for the treatment of hyperuricemia, with its mechanism potentially involving the modulation of gut microbiota and its metabolite, succinic acid. BBR has demonstrated good therapeutic effects in both acute and chronic animal models of hyperuricemia. In a clinical trial, oral administration of BBR for 6 months reduced blood uric acid levels in 22 participants by modulating the gut microbiota, which led to an increase in the abundance of Bacteroides and a decrease in Clostridium sensu stricto_1. Furthermore, Bacteroides fragilis was transplanted into ICR mice, and the results showed that Bacteroides fragilis exerted a therapeutic effect on uric acid similar to that of BBR. Notably, succinic acid, a metabolite of Bacteroides, significantly reduced uric acid levels. Subsequent cell and animal experiments revealed that the intestinal metabolite, succinic acid, regulated the upstream uric acid synthesis pathway in the liver by inhibiting adenosine monophosphate deaminase 2 (AMPD2), an enzyme responsible for converting adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to inosine monophosphate (IMP). This inhibition resulted in a decrease in IMP levels and an increase in phosphate levels. The reduction in IMP led to a decreased downstream production of hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid. BBR also demonstrated excellent renoprotective effects, improving nephropathy associated with hyperuricemia. In summary, BBR has the potential to be an effective treatment for hyperuricemia through the gut-liver axis.

Occupational silicosis (hereinafter referred to as "silicosis") exhibited individual differences in disease susceptibility, with genetic factors playing a crucial role in its onset and progression. Cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1RA +2018T>C locus, tumor necrosis factor-α -308G>A and -238G>A locus, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 +915G>C locus, were related to the development of silicosis. However, relationship between IL-17F +7488A>G and TGF-β1 -509T>C locus with silicosis had shown inconsistent results across different studies. Regulatory proteins such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 -735C>T locus, MMP-9 rs3918242 locus, heat shock protein (HSP) 70-1+190G>C locus, carboxypeptidase M rs12812500 locus, family sequence similarity gene 13A (FAM13A) rs2609255 locus, and desmoplakin rs2076304 locus were also related to the development of silicosis. The A allele of the non-coding RNA miRNA-4508 rs6576457 increased the risk of developing silicosis-related pulmonary fibrosis in dust-exposed workers. The polymorphism in the long non-coding RNA ADGRG3 rs1814521 was related to silicosis susceptibility. Additionally, six circular RNAs of small nucleolar RNA host gene 14 rs17115143 sequence might be potential biomarkers of silicosis. Human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) genes demonstrated a dual role in both risk and protection against silicosis, while angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphisms likely affected silicosis development by modulating serum ACE activity. However, the mechanisms by which certain genetic variations affected susceptibility to silicosis remain unclear. Prospective studies with large-scale samples combining genetics, epidemiology, bioinformatics, and biofunctional studies are needed to promote the development of biomarkers for silicosis susceptibility and disease course, and clinical therapies.

Objective To discuss the clinical efficacy and safety of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)combined with carrelizumab and sorafenib in treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The clinical data of 36 HCC patients,who were admitted to the Affiliated Nantong Third Hospital of Nantong University of China to receive HAIC combined with carrelizumab and sorafenib from August 2019 to August 2020,were collected.According to modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(mRECIST),the objective response rate(ORR)and disease control rate(DCR)of the combination therapy were evaluated.The Common Terminology Criteria Adverse Events Version 5.0 developed by American National Cancer Institute was used to evaluate the clinical safety.Results After receiving 4 cycles of FOLFOX-HAIC,the ORR and DCR of the patients were 38.9％and 77.8％respectively.The patients were followed up for 30 months.The median progression-free survival(mPFS)was 306 days(95％CI:242.7-369.3),and the median overall survival(mOS)was 515 days(95％CI:2 482.5-547.5).After HAIC treatment,one patient was successfully changed to surgical operation.The overall incidence of adverse events were 100％.There were 9 adverse events(25％)above grade m,including severe abdominal pain(n=2,5.6％),nausea(n=1,2.8％),vomiting(n=1,2.8％),elevated alanine aminotransferase(n=3,8.3％),elevated aspartate aminotransferase(n=1,2.8％),and death due to pulmonary failure caused by severe immune-induced pneumonia(n=1,2.8％).Conclusion For the treatment of advanced HCC,HAIC combined with carrelizumab and sorafenib has better ORR and DCR with controllable safety,which provides a new option for the treatment of advanced HCC.However,studies with large sample size need to be conducted before its long-term survival benefit of patients can be further validated.

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to analyze the chronological changes in postoperative complications in surgical ulcerative colitis patients over the past decade in China and to investigate the potential parameters that contributed to the changes. Methods: Ulcerative colitis patients who underwent surgery during 2008–2017 were retrospectively enrolled from 13 hospitals in China. Postoperative complications were compared among different operation years. Risk factors for complications were identified by logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 446 surgical ulcerative colitis patients were analyzed. Fewer short-term complications (24.8% vs. 41.0%, P=0.001) and more laparoscopic surgeries (66.4% vs. 25.0%, P<0.001) were found among patients who received surgery during 2014–2017 than 2008–2013. Logistic regression suggested that independent protective factors against short-term complications were a higher preoperative body mass index (odds ratio [OR], 0.870; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.785–0.964; P=0.008), laparoscopic surgery (OR, 0.391; 95% CI, 0.217–0.705; P=0.002) and elective surgery (OR, 0.213; 95% CI, 0.067–0.675; P=0.009). The chronological decrease in short-term complications was associated with an increase in laparoscopic surgery. Conclusions Our data revealed a downward trend of short-term postoperative complications among surgical ulcerative colitis patients in China during the past decade, which may be due to the promotion of minimally invasive techniques among Chinese surgeons.

COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has being spreading around the world, posing a serious threat to human health and lives. Neutralizing antibodies and small molecule inhibitors for virus replication cycle are the main antiviral treatment for novel coronavirus recommended in China. To further promote the rational use of antiviral therapy in clinical practice, the National Center for Infectious Diseases (Beijing Ditan Hospital Capital Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine) invited experts in fields of infectious diseases, respiratory and intensive care to develop an Expert Consensus on Antiviral Therapy of COVID-19 based on the Diagnosis and Treatment Guideline for COVID-19 ( trial version 10) and experiences in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 in China. The consensus is concise, practical and highly operable, hopefully it would improve the understanding of antiviral therapy for clinicians and provide suggestions for standardized medication in treatment of COVID-19.

At present, clinical interventions for chronic kidney disease are very limited, and most patients rely on dialysis to sustain their lives for a long time. However, studies on the gut-kidney axis have shown that the gut microbiota is a potentially effective target for correcting or controlling chronic kidney disease. This study showed that berberine, a natural drug with low oral availability, significantly ameliorated chronic kidney disease by altering the composition of the gut microbiota and inhibiting the production of gut-derived uremic toxins, including p-cresol. Furthermore, berberine reduced the content of p-cresol sulfate in plasma mainly by lowering the abundance of g_Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and inhibiting the tyrosine-p-cresol pathway of the intestinal flora. Meanwhile, berberine increased the butyric acid producing bacteria and the butyric acid content in feces, while decreased the renal toxic trimethylamine N-oxide. These findings suggest that berberine may be a therapeutic drug with significant potential to ameliorate chronic kidney disease through the gut-kidney axis.