Huaihuasan， first recorded in Experiential Prescriptions for Universal Relief （Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang）， is a classic prescription for the treatment of ''hematochezia due to intestinal wind''. In 2018， it was included by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine as one of the first 100 classic prescriptions. This formula consists of four ingredients， i.e.， Sophorae Flos， Platycladi Cacumen， Schizonepetae Spica， and Aurantii Fructus. It is known for its ability to clear the intestines， dispel wind， cool the blood， and stop bleeding. In modern clinical practice， Huaihuasan， often with modifications， is widely used to treat various digestive tract diseases， including ulcerative colitis （UC）， with significant long-term effects. UC is a chronic， non-specific inflammatory bowel disease. Currently， Western medicine primarily treats UC with glucocorticoids， aminosalicylates， and immunosuppressants， which have good short-term efficacy but numerous adverse reactions， high recurrence rates， and the need for lifelong medication. Modern clinical studies have shown that Huaihuasan can significantly improve symptoms of UC， such as abdominal pain and diarrhea， reduce disease activity scores （Sutherland）， promote intestinal mucosal healing， alleviate anxiety and depression， and significantly improve the quality of life of patients. Pharmacological studies have shown that the main active components of Huaihuasan include quercetin， rutin， kaempferol， naringenin， and volatile oils. These compounds exert their effects by inhibiting inflammatory responses and protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier. They also exhibit antioxidant properties and regulate various signaling pathways， including tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-2 （IL-2）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 （MCP-1）， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， Janus kinase （JAK）/signal transducer and activator of transcription （STAT）， and the KRAS-regulated mitogen-activated protein kinase （MEK）-extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK） pathway. These multi-target pathways improve UC symptoms， inhibit inflammation-cancer transition， and help maintain intestinal homeostasis. However， the precise mechanism of action has not yet been systematically elucidated. This paper reviews the research progress on Huaihuasan and main ingredients from its component drugs， focusing on their effects against UC. It also discusses current research limitations and suggests strategies for improvement， aiming to provide a reference for further studies on Huaihuasan in the treatment of UC and the development of new drugs.

OBJECTIVES: Keloids are fibrotic skin disorders characterized by excessive collagen deposition and a high recurrence rate, closely associated with inflammatory mediators. However, existing epidemiological studies are limited by confounding factors and reverse causality, making it difficult to establish causation. This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between circulating cytokines and keloids using Mendelian randomization analysis. METHODS: Significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with circulating cytokines (exposures) and keloids (outcomes) were extracted from genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary datasets. Eligible SNPs were selected as instrumental variables (IVs). Exposure data were derived from a cytokine GWAS including 8 293 Finnish participants, and outcome data from a keloid GWAS based on the UK Biobank. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method served as the primary analytical approach to estimate causal effects, supplemented by weighted median (WME), MR-Egger regression, and other sensitivity analyses. Horizontal pleiotropy was assessed using MR-Egger regression and the MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) test, while Cochran's Q test evaluated heterogeneity. Leave-one-out analysis was used to verify robustness and consistency. A reverse MR analysis was also conducted, with keloid as the exposure and cytokines as outcomes, to rule out reverse causation. RESULTS: IVW analysis identified significant positive causal associations between two cytokines and keloids-macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) [odds ratio (OR)=2.081, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.219 to 3.552, P=0.007] and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (OR=1.673, 95% CI 1.036 to 2.701, P=0.035). Conversely, stem cell factor (SCF) showed a negative causal relationship with keloids (OR=0.518, 95% CI 0.269 to 0.998, P=0.049). Results from the MR-Egger and weighted median analyses were consistent with IVW findings. No evidence of horizontal pleiotropy was observed (P>0.05). Except for interleukin-6 (P=0.014), no heterogeneity was detected in other cytokines. Leave-one-out analysis further confirmed the robustness of the causal associations. In reverse MR analysis, keloids were causally related only to β-nerve growth factor (beta-NGF) (OR=1.048, 95% CI 1.002 to 1.095, P=0.039), with no heterogeneity or pleiotropy detected in most cytokines (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS MIF and MCP-1 exhibit positive causal associations with keloid formation, while SCF shows a negative causal relationship. These findings provide new evidence for the causal involvement of inflammatory cytokines in keloid pathogenesis and offer potential molecular targets for developing novel keloid therapies.
Humans ; Keloid/blood* ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Cytokines/genetics* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Chemokine CCL2/genetics* ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors/genetics* ; Male ; Stem Cell Factor/blood* ; Female ; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases

Objective:To analyze the association between remnant cholesterol (RC) and the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in community population in Shanghai.Methods:Using baseline and follow-up data from the Shanghai Suburban Adult Cohort and Biobank, individuals with ASCVD (including coronary heart disease, stroke, myocardial infarction, and peripheral artery disease) at baseline were excluded. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to analyze the relationship between RC and ASCVD risk and the association under different LDL-C levels.Results:A total of 57 281 participants were included, with a median follow-up of 5.61 person-years. During the follow-up, 1 436 ASCVD events (2.51%) were recorded. After adjusting for potential confounders, individuals with moderate ( HR=1.18, 95% CI: 1.03-1.36) or high RC levels ( HR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.15-1.51) had an increased risk of ASCVD. The association was stronger in participants younger than 60 years-old (interaction P=0.048). Participants with RC ≥0.97 mmol/L and LDL-C <3.40 mmol/L demonstrated a 19% ( HR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.06-1.35) increased risk of ASCVD. When RC ≥0.97 mmol/L and LDL-C ≥3.40 mmol/L, ASCVD risk increased by 42% ( HR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.21-1.67). Conclusions:Elevated RC increases ASCVD risk, regardless of LDL-C levels. RC can serve as a valuable predictor and intervention target for ASCVD.

Objective:To reveal the global evolution, cooperation models and research hotspots of wounds with drug-resistant bacterial infections in the elderly, and provide information support for future research directions.Methods:All literatures on wounds with drug-resistant bacterial infections in the elderly were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric analysis was performed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer to visualize contributions from countries/regions, institutions, authors and journals, and to analyze keyword co-occurrence and temporal evolution.Results:After strict screening, a total of 130 literatures were included. Global research achievements on wounds with drug-resistant bacterial infections in the elderly showed a continuous growth. The United States was the main contributor in terms of the number of literatures, followed by Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom. However, international cooperation was still limited, and the institutional network was sparse. The most significant burst keywords at present included " risk factors", " methicillin-resistant", " inpatients", " molecular epidemiology", " Staphylococcus aureus", " long-term care facilities", " nosocomial infections", " mortality", " pressure ulcers", " complex wounds" and " emerging drug-resistant bacteria" .Conclusions:In the future, priority must be given to in-depth research on the pathogenesis of wounds with drug-resistant bacterial infections in the elderly (epidemiological investigation of drug-resistant bacterial infections in elderly patients, interaction between single cells of aging wounds and drug-resistant microbiome); verification of the mode and effect of stratified precise treatment through multi-country trials; and establishment of a professional database through data collection and multi-modal information integration.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is currently the primary treatment for malignant hematologic diseases. However, due to complex factors, patients are prone to exhibiting multiple symptoms that interact to form symptom clusters, significantly impacting their quality of life and the outcomes of transplantation. This paper elaborates on the composition, evaluation tools, influencing factors, and nursing interventions of symptom clusters in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients, aiming to provide guidance for the clinical management of symptom clusters in these patients.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is currently the primary treatment for malignant hematologic diseases. However, due to complex factors, patients are prone to exhibiting multiple symptoms that interact to form symptom clusters, significantly impacting their quality of life and the outcomes of transplantation. This paper elaborates on the composition, evaluation tools, influencing factors, and nursing interventions of symptom clusters in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients, aiming to provide guidance for the clinical management of symptom clusters in these patients.

Ulcerative colitis(UC)is a common chronic non-specific intestinal inflammatory disease clinically.Its pathogenesis is complex,prolonged the disease course,and it is frequent clinical recurrence.In recent years,the incidence of UC has shown an upward trend and tends to younger onset,which seriously affects the quality of life of patients and increases the social medical burden.Mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)plays an important role in the occurrence and development of UC,participating in inflammatory response,oxidative stress,autophagy,apoptosis,pyroptosis,and intestinal barrier.MAPK may be a new target for the treatment of UC.Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history and remarkable curative effect in treating UC,with the advantages of multiple pathways,multiple targets,and multiple components.In recent years,many studies have shown that single Chinese herbal medicines and compound prescriptions can mediate MAPK signaling pathway to inhibit inflammatory response and oxidative stress,regulate autophagy,inhibit apoptosis and pyroptosis,repair the intestinal barrier,and treat UC in many aspects.This article reviews the MAPK signaling pathway,the mechanism by which the MAPK signaling pathway regulates UC,and the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine in treating UC based on the MAPK signaling pathway,hoping to provide theoretical support for the treatment of UC by traditional Chinese medicine and new ideas and references for the research of related new drugs.

Background and purpose:High-throughput detection of plasma cell-free DNA(cfDNA)is widely used for multi-cancer targeted therapy drug screening,and this study investigated the relationship between the type and number of plasma cfDNA class Ⅰ and Ⅱ targeted therapy-related gene variants and cancer survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods:The sequencing results and clinical data of NSCLC patients who underwent tumor plasma cfDNA high-throughput sequencing projects in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from 2021 to 2023 were collected.The survival follow-up of enrolled patients was carried out from the day of plasma collection on June 1,2021 to May 27,2024,and GraphPad Prism 8.0 and SPSS Statistics 25.0 were used.Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted on the types and numbers of class Ⅰ and class Ⅱ targeted therapy-related genes in the survival and clinical data of patients and sequencing results(Ethical approval:B2024-359-01).Results:A total of 313 patients included in this study with NSCLC were categorized into stage Ⅰ 25 patients(7.98%),stageⅡ 20 patients(6.39%),stage Ⅲ 38patients(12.14%),and stage Ⅳ 230 patients(73.48%).Pathological diagnosis results showed that adenocarcinoma accounted for 90.10%,squamous cell carcinoma accounted for 5.11%,large cell carcinoma accounted for 2.87%and other classifications accounted for 1.92%.The number and the percentage of class Ⅰ and class Ⅱ targeted therapy drug-related genes in the plasma cfDNA NSCLC patients were 0(25.24%),1(17.57%),2(19.17%),3(14.38%),4(8.31%),and 5 or more(15.34%).The results of statistical analysis showed that 3 genes with the highest mutation frequencies were EGFR,TP53 and ERBB2,and the mutation frequency of EGFR gene was 36.04%.The mutation frequency of TP53 gene was 30.63%.The mutation frequency of ERBB2 gene was 4.95%.The survival time of patients is related to not only the expression of hotspot targeted genes,but also the number of class Ⅰ and Ⅱ target-related gene variants detected by plasma cfDNA high-throughput sequencing.The survival time of the patients with no targeted therapy-related locus variants after treatment was longer compares with targeted therapy-related locus variants,which can reduce the risk of death by 63.2%.However,patients with a single gene locus variant had longer survival time and lower risk of death than those with multiple driver locus variants,and the measured class Ⅰ and Ⅱ targeted therapy drugs were within 3 genes.Overall,the smaller the number of genes,the longer the survival.Conclusions:The number of class Ⅰ and class Ⅱtargeted therapy-related gene variants in plasma cfDNA high-throughput sequencing also has an effect on the survival of patients after treatment.Plasma cfDNA level detected by high-throughput sequencing could be a prognostic factor for the NSCLC patients.

Objective:To analyze the association between remnant cholesterol (RC) and the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in community population in Shanghai.Methods:Using baseline and follow-up data from the Shanghai Suburban Adult Cohort and Biobank, individuals with ASCVD (including coronary heart disease, stroke, myocardial infarction, and peripheral artery disease) at baseline were excluded. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to analyze the relationship between RC and ASCVD risk and the association under different LDL-C levels.Results:A total of 57 281 participants were included, with a median follow-up of 5.61 person-years. During the follow-up, 1 436 ASCVD events (2.51%) were recorded. After adjusting for potential confounders, individuals with moderate ( HR=1.18, 95% CI: 1.03-1.36) or high RC levels ( HR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.15-1.51) had an increased risk of ASCVD. The association was stronger in participants younger than 60 years-old (interaction P=0.048). Participants with RC ≥0.97 mmol/L and LDL-C <3.40 mmol/L demonstrated a 19% ( HR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.06-1.35) increased risk of ASCVD. When RC ≥0.97 mmol/L and LDL-C ≥3.40 mmol/L, ASCVD risk increased by 42% ( HR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.21-1.67). Conclusions:Elevated RC increases ASCVD risk, regardless of LDL-C levels. RC can serve as a valuable predictor and intervention target for ASCVD.

Background and purpose:High-throughput detection of plasma cell-free DNA(cfDNA)is widely used for multi-cancer targeted therapy drug screening,and this study investigated the relationship between the type and number of plasma cfDNA class Ⅰ and Ⅱ targeted therapy-related gene variants and cancer survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods:The sequencing results and clinical data of NSCLC patients who underwent tumor plasma cfDNA high-throughput sequencing projects in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from 2021 to 2023 were collected.The survival follow-up of enrolled patients was carried out from the day of plasma collection on June 1,2021 to May 27,2024,and GraphPad Prism 8.0 and SPSS Statistics 25.0 were used.Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted on the types and numbers of class Ⅰ and class Ⅱ targeted therapy-related genes in the survival and clinical data of patients and sequencing results(Ethical approval:B2024-359-01).Results:A total of 313 patients included in this study with NSCLC were categorized into stage Ⅰ 25 patients(7.98%),stageⅡ 20 patients(6.39%),stage Ⅲ 38patients(12.14%),and stage Ⅳ 230 patients(73.48%).Pathological diagnosis results showed that adenocarcinoma accounted for 90.10%,squamous cell carcinoma accounted for 5.11%,large cell carcinoma accounted for 2.87%and other classifications accounted for 1.92%.The number and the percentage of class Ⅰ and class Ⅱ targeted therapy drug-related genes in the plasma cfDNA NSCLC patients were 0(25.24%),1(17.57%),2(19.17%),3(14.38%),4(8.31%),and 5 or more(15.34%).The results of statistical analysis showed that 3 genes with the highest mutation frequencies were EGFR,TP53 and ERBB2,and the mutation frequency of EGFR gene was 36.04%.The mutation frequency of TP53 gene was 30.63%.The mutation frequency of ERBB2 gene was 4.95%.The survival time of patients is related to not only the expression of hotspot targeted genes,but also the number of class Ⅰ and Ⅱ target-related gene variants detected by plasma cfDNA high-throughput sequencing.The survival time of the patients with no targeted therapy-related locus variants after treatment was longer compares with targeted therapy-related locus variants,which can reduce the risk of death by 63.2%.However,patients with a single gene locus variant had longer survival time and lower risk of death than those with multiple driver locus variants,and the measured class Ⅰ and Ⅱ targeted therapy drugs were within 3 genes.Overall,the smaller the number of genes,the longer the survival.Conclusions:The number of class Ⅰ and class Ⅱtargeted therapy-related gene variants in plasma cfDNA high-throughput sequencing also has an effect on the survival of patients after treatment.Plasma cfDNA level detected by high-throughput sequencing could be a prognostic factor for the NSCLC patients.