Liver injury has become an increasingly serious global health problem， and existing chemical drugs face the limitations in efficacy and adverse reactions， resulting in the urgent need to develop safe and effective drugs. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of flavonoids from natural medicinal plants in the prevention and treatment of liver injury. As a typical natural flavonoid， luteolin shows a good protective effect against liver injury due to various etiologies， but there is still a lack of systematic elaboration on its mechanism of action. This article summarizes related research advances in China and globally and reviews the mechanism of action of luteolin in inhibiting oxidative stress， exerting an anti-inflammatory effect， regulating cell death， alleviating hepatic fibrosis， modulating lipid metabolism disorders， and regulating the gut-liver axis， as well as the application prospect of luteolin in the treatment of liver injury， in order to provide a scientific reference for further research on this compound.

Liver injury has become an increasingly serious global health problem， and existing chemical drugs face the limitations in efficacy and adverse reactions， resulting in the urgent need to develop safe and effective drugs. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of flavonoids from natural medicinal plants in the prevention and treatment of liver injury. As a typical natural flavonoid， luteolin shows a good protective effect against liver injury due to various etiologies， but there is still a lack of systematic elaboration on its mechanism of action. This article summarizes related research advances in China and globally and reviews the mechanism of action of luteolin in inhibiting oxidative stress， exerting an anti-inflammatory effect， regulating cell death， alleviating hepatic fibrosis， modulating lipid metabolism disorders， and regulating the gut-liver axis， as well as the application prospect of luteolin in the treatment of liver injury， in order to provide a scientific reference for further research on this compound.

Objective To establish a model for accurate prediction of hematoma expansion（HE）following spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage（sICH）based on CT radiomics and different machine learning algorithms. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the patients with sICH who were admitted to Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and Beijing Electric Power Hospital in 2019-2022，and they were established as the training cohort and the external validation cohort，respectively. Radiomic features of hematomas were extracted from CT images and were combined with related clinical risk factors for HE to establish predictive models using four different machine learning algorithms. The receiver operating characteristic（ROC）curve was used to assess the predictive performance of each model，and the area under the ROC curve（AUC）and corresponding confusion matrix metrics were calculated. Results Compared with the other three models，the support vector machine（SVM）model showed the best predictive performance，achieving an AUC of 0.844 in the training cohort and 0.994 in the external validation cohort. In addition，the SVM model achieved the highest F1 scores（0.891 and 0.989），accuracy rates（83.8% and 98.4%），precision rates（94.5% and 99.9%），and specificities（82.4% and 99.9%）. Conclusion The radiomics model based on SVM provides a noninvasive tool for accurately predicting the risk of HE，which can help clinicians to identify high-risk sICH patients in the early stage and adjust treatment strategies in a timely manner.

As an important part of Chinese traditional culture， the processing technology of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） carries the wisdom of TCM for thousands of years， and its process is complex and rigorous. With the popularization of modern production technology， traditional processing techiques are facing the dual pressures from technological innovation and production standardization under the perspective of intangible cultural heritage. The modernization of TCM processing technology is an inevitable trend for industrial upgrading， but it cannot be separated from the foundation of traditional skills and ignore the core concepts and cultural values it embodies. Therefore， by analyzing the core characteristics of TCM processing technology and its differences with modern production， this paper discusses the establishment of a synergistic innovation mechanism between traditional techniques and modern technologies， the promotion of joint research and development between scientific research institutes and the industry， the strengthening of standardization of processing techniques， and the enhancement of social education and industry training to improve the recognition and inheritance of processing techniques in order to achieve the goal of innovation and protection of TCM processing technologies in the context of modernization， and to promote the high-quality development of the TCM processing industry.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of action of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang （HGWT） against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury （CIRI） based on bioinformatics and experimental validation. MethodsBiological informatics methods were used to screen for active components of HGWT and their targets. The GEO database was utilized to obtain CIRI-related differentially expressed genes （DEGs）， and platforms such as GeneCards were used to identify disease targets. Venn diagram analysis was conducted to identify overlapping targets， followed by protein-protein interaction （PPI）， gene ontology （GO）， and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） enrichment analysis， as well as immune infiltration and immune cell differential analysis. Core genes （Hub genes） were screened using LASSO regression and ROC curves， and molecular docking was used to validate the binding efficiency between the active components of the drug and the core targets. A rat CIRI model was established， with rats randomly divided into five groups （n=10）： Sham surgery group （Sham）， model group （MG）， and low-dose （LD，5.3 g·kg^-1）， medium-dose （MD，10.6 g·kg^-1）， and high-dose （HD，21.2 g·kg^-1） HGWT groups. From 3 days before modeling to 7 days after surgery， oral administration was performed daily： Sham and MG groups received physiological saline， while each drug group received the corresponding dose of HGWT. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， Nissl staining， and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL staining） were used to assess the repair effects of HGWT on neural damage. Western blot analysis was used to detect B-cell lymphoma-2 protein （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3）， phosphorylated STAT3 ［p-STAT3 （Tyr705）］， protein kinase B1 （Akt1）， and phosphorylated Akt1 ［p-Akt1 （Ser473）］， among other target proteins. ResultsAfter screening， 56 common target points of DEGs-disease-drug were obtained. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that HGWT primarily functions in pathways such as apoptosis， oxidative stress， and inflammatory responses. Immune infiltration analysis revealed a significant association between HGWT's anti-CIRI activity and immune cells such as Th17 cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells （MDSCs） （P0.01）. LASSO-ROC analysis identified Akt1， Caspase-3， glycogen synthase kinase-3β （GSK-3β）， and STAT3 as core genes. Molecular docking confirmed that Hub genes exhibit significant binding affinity with the active components of HGWT （binding energy ≤ -5 kJ·mol^-1）（1 cal≈4.186 J）. Animal experiment results showed that compared with the sham group， the MG group exhibited significant neuronal necrosis， nuclear condensation， and vacuolar degeneration in rat brains， with a significant decrease in Nissl body density （P0.01） and increased neuronal apoptosis in rat brains as indicated by TUNEL staining （P0.01）. Compared with the MG， the LD， MD， and HD groups showed reduced neuronal necrosis， nuclear condensation， and vacuolar degeneration in rat brain neurons， increased Nissl body density， and reduced apoptosis （P0.01）， with significant differences among the drug groups （P0.01）. Western blot results showed that compared with the sham group， the MG group had reduced Bcl-2 and p-Akt1 （P0.01） and increased Bax and p-STAT3 （P0.01）. Compared with the MG group， the drug groups showed increased Bcl-2 and p-Akt1 （P0.01） and decreased Bax and p-STAT3 （P0.01）. There were no significant changes in total Akt1 and STAT3 protein levels among the groups. ConclusionBased on network pharmacology and experimental verification， HGWT may exert its neuroprotective effects by regulating the phosphorylation levels of Akt1 and STAT3， thereby alleviating cell apoptosis， inflammatory responses， and oxidative stress in rat brain tissue following CIRI. This provides theoretical support for the clinical treatment of CIRI.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of acupuncture on podocyte autophagy and long non-coding RNA SOX2 overlapping transcript (LncRNA SOX2OT)/mammalian target of rapamycin C1 (mTORC1)/Unc-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1) pathway in rats with diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and to explore the mechanism by which acupuncture reduces urinary protein. METHODS: A total of 40 SPF-grade male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=10) and a modeling group (n=30). The DKD model was established by feeding a high-fat, high-sugar diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in the modeling group. Twenty rats with successful DKD model were randomly divided into a model group (n=10) and an acupuncture group (n=10). The acupuncture group received "spleen and stomach-regulating" acupuncture at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST36), "Fenglong" (ST40), "Yinlingquan" (SP9), and "Zhongwan" (CV12), 30 min per session, once daily, five times per week, for four weeks. The general condition, fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-hour postprandial glucose (2hPG), serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 24-hour urinary protein quantification, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) were compared before and after the intervention. After intervention, urinary podocyte injury marker SPON2 was measured by ELISA. Podocyte autophagosomes and glomerular basement membrane ultrastructure in renal tissue were observed via transmission electron microscopy. Podocyte apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL staining. The protein expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3Ⅱ (LC3-Ⅱ), mTORC1, ULK1, Beclin-1, and p62 in renal tissue was detected by Western blot. LncRNA SOX2OT expression in renal tissue was measured by real-time PCR. RESULTS: After the intervention, compared with the control group, the model group exhibited increased food and water intake, increased urine output, weight loss, and loose stools; compared with the model group, the food and water intake, urine volume, and loose stools were improved in the acupuncture group. Compared with the control group, FBG, 2hPG, SCr, BUN, 24-hour urinary protein quantification, UACR, and urinary SPON2 were all higher in the model group (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the FBG, 2hPG, SCr, BUN, 24-hour urinary protein quantification, UACR, and urinary SPON2 were all lower in the acupuncture group (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the model group showed reduced podocyte autophagosomes and thickened glomerular basement membrane; compared with the model group, the acupuncture group had increased podocyte autophagosomes and less thickened basement membrane. Compared with the control group, the podocyte apoptosis index (AI) was higher in the model group (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the AI was lower in the acupuncture group (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the expression of ULK1, Beclin-1, and LC3-Ⅱ proteins was lower, and the expression of mTORC1 and p62 proteins was higher in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of ULK1, Beclin-1, and LC3-Ⅱ proteins was higher, and the expression of mTORC1 and p62 proteins was lower in the acupuncture group (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the LncRNA SOX2OT expression was lower in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, LncRNA SOX2OT expression was higher in the acupuncture group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION The "spleen and stomach-regulating" acupuncture method could improve renal function in DKD rats, reduce blood glucose and urinary protein excretion, alleviate podocyte injury, and enhance podocyte autophagy. The mechanism may be related to modulation of the renal LncRNA SOX2OT/mTORC1/ULK1 pathway.
Animals ; Podocytes/cytology* ; Diabetic Nephropathies/physiopathology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Rats ; Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1/genetics* ; Autophagy ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog/genetics* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; Humans ; Signal Transduction

This study investigated the effects and action mechanism of tannins from Galla chinensis cream(TGCC) on the skin wound of rat tail. Male Sprague Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into a control group, model group, model+low-dose TGCC(50 mg per rat) group, model+high-dose TGCC group(100 mg per rat), and model+TGC+FAK inhibitor(Y15) cream(100 mg+10 mg per rat) group, with 10 rats in each group. After the rat tail skin injury model was successfully constructed, in the treatment group, corresponding drugs were applied to the wound surface, while in the control and model groups, the same amount of cream base as the TGCC group was applied by the same method. Then, sterile gauze was wrapped around the wound edge, and these operations were performed three times a day for 28 consecutive days. The wound healing status at the third, seventh, eleventh, fourteenth, twenty-first, and twenty-eighth days was recorded, and the wound healing rate and healing time were calculated. On the day after the last dose of medication, rat serum and tail skin wound tissue were collected for analyzing the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), creatinine(CREA), urea, reactive oxygen species(ROS), interferon gamma(IFN-γ), interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-4, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, as well as catalase(CAT), glutathione(GSH), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), malondialdehyde(MDA), myeloperoxidase(MPO), superoxide dismutase(SOD), total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1(CD31), and leukocyte differentiation antigen 34(CD34) in the wound tissue of rat tail skin. Hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, and sirius red staining were used to observe the morphological changes in the wound tissue of rat tail skin. The thickness of the epidermis, the number of fibroblasts and blood vessels, and the contents of collagen fibers, typeⅠ collagen(COLⅠ), and COLⅢ were calculated. The mRNA expressions of keratin 10(KRT10), KRT14, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), fibroblast growth factor(FGF), epidermal growth factor(EGF), CD31, CD34, matrix metallopeptidase-2(MMP-2), MMP-9, COLⅠ, COLⅢ, desmin, fibroblast specific protein 1(FSP1), IFN-γ, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in skin wound tissue were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Western blot was utilized to detect the protein expressions of KRT10, KRT14, VEGF, FGF, EGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, COLⅠ, COLⅢ, desmin, FSP1, focal adhesion kinase(FAK), phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase(p-FAK), phosphatidylin-ositol-3-kinase(PI3K), phosphorylated phosphatidylin-ositol-3-kinase(p-PI3K), protein kinase B(Akt), phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin(p-mTOR). The results manifest that TGCC can dramatically elevate the healing rate of rat tail wounds and shorten wound healing time. Besides, it can reduce serum ROS levels, the contents of MDA, MPO, and LDH in the rat skin wound tissue, as well as the serum IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels and the mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the skin wound tissue. It can elevate the activities of CAT, GSH, SOD, and T-AOC in wound tissue, the IL-4 and IL-10 contents in serum, and the mRNA expressions of IL-4 and IL-10 in the wound tissue. In addition, TGGC can inhibit inflammatory cell infiltration and increase the epidermal thickness, counts of fibroblasts and blood vessels, and contents of collagen fibers, COLⅠ, and COLⅢ. Besides, TGCC can elevate the mRNA and protein expressions of epidermal differentiation markers(KRT10 and KRT14), endothelial cell markers(CD31 and CD34), angiogenesis and fibroblast proliferation, differentiation markers(VEGF, FGF, EGF, COLⅠ, COLⅢ, desmin, and FSP1), reduce the mRNA and protein expressions of gelatinases(MMP-2 and MMP-9), and increase protein expressions of p-FAK, p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, as well as ratios of p-FAK/FAK, p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, and p-mTOR/mTOR. These results suggest that TGCC can significantly facilitate skin wound healing, and its mechanism may be related to the activation of the FAK/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, inhibition of inflammatory cell infiltration in skin wound tissue, elevation of epidermal thickness, counts of fibroblasts and vessels, and contents of collagen fiber, COLⅠ, and COLⅢ, and reduction of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions, thus accelerating wound healing.
Animals ; Male ; Wound Healing/drug effects* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Skin/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Tannins/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Focal Adhesion Kinase 1/genetics*

This study aims to comprehensively analyze the material basis of toad visceral oil(hereafter referred to as toad oil), and explore the pharmacological effect of toad oil on atopic dermatitis(AD). Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap/orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) were employed to comprehensively identify the chemical components in toad oil. The animal model of AD was prepared by the hapten stimulation method. The modeled animals were respectively administrated with positive drug(0.1% hydrocortisone butyrate cream) and low-and high-doses(1%, 10%) of toad oil by gavage. The effect of toad oil on AD was evaluated with the AD score, ear swelling rate, spleen index, and pathological section results as indicators. A total of 99 components were identified by UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS, including 14 bufadienolides, 7 fatty acids, 6 alkaloids, 10 ketones, 18 amides, and other compounds. After methylation of toad oil samples, a total of 20 compounds were identified by GC-MS. Compared with the model group, the low-and high-dose toad oil groups showed declined AD score, ear swelling rate, and spleen index, alleviated skin lesions, and reduced infiltrating mast cells. This study comprehensively analyzes the chemical composition and clarifies the material basis of toad oil. Meanwhile, this study proves that toad oil has a good therapeutic effect on AD and is a reserve resource of traditional Chinese medicine for external use in the treatment of AD.
Animals ; Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Male ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Bufonidae ; Oils/administration & dosage* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Mice, Inbred BALB C