ObjectiveTo establish the fingerprints of 15 batches of Hengzhi Kechuan capsules， to quantitatively analyze 10 index components， and to evaluate the quality uniformity of samples from different batches. MethodsThe fingerprints and quantitative analysis of Hengzhi Kechuan capsules were established by a combination method of high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and charged aerosol detector（HPLC-DAD-CAD）， adenosine， guanosine， vanillic acid， safflomin A， agarotetrol， naringin， hesperidin， militarine， ginsenoside Rb₁， and glycyrrhizic acid were selected as quality attribute indexes. A total of 15 batches of Hengzhi Kechuan capsules from 2022 to 2024（3 boxes per batch） were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed， and the quality uniformity level of the manufacturers was characterized by parameters of intra-batch consistency（P_A） and inter-batch consistency（P_B）. The homogeneity and difference of quality attribute indexes of samples from different years were analyzed by heatmap clustering analysis. ResultsHPLC fingerprints and quantitative method of Hengzhi Kechuan capsules were established， and the methods could be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of this preparation， which was found to be stable and reliable by method validation. The similarity of fingerprints of 15 batches of samples was 0.887-0.975， a total of 13 common peaks were calibrated， and 10 common peaks were designated， all of which were quality attribute index components. The results of quantitative analysis showed that the contents of the above 10 ingredients in the samples were 0.038-0.078， 0.115-0.251， 0.007-0.018， 0.291-0.673， 0.122-0.257， 0.887-1.905， 1.841-3.364， 1.412-2.450， 2.207-3.112， 0.650-1.161， respectively. And the contents of ginsenoside Rb₁ and glycyrrhizic acid met the limit requirements in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. For the samples from 15 batches， the P_A values of the 10 index components were all <10%， indicating good intra-batch homogeneity， and the P_B values ranged from 33.86% to 92.97%， suggesting that the inter-batch homogeneity was poor. Heatmap clustering analysis showed that the samples from different years were clustered into separate categories， and adenosine， guanosine， safflomin A， naringin， hesperidin and agarotetrol were the main differential components. ConclusionThe intra-annual quality uniformity of Hengzhi Kechuan capsules is good and the inter-annual quality uniformity is insufficient， which may be related to the quality difference of Pinellinae Rhizoma Praeparatum， Carthami Flos， Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus， Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium， Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum， Citri Fructus， etc. In this study， the fingerprint and multi-indicator determination method of Hengzhi Kechuan capsules was established， which can be used for more accurate and efficient quality control and standardization enhancement.

ObjectiveTo explore the central neuroregulation mechanism of heat-sensitive moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis on pain relief. MethodsThirty patients who did not have experience of Deqi （得气） during heat-sensitive moxibustion treatment were assigned to the "non-Deqi group"， while another 30 patients who had experience of Deqi were assigned to the "Deqi group". Both groups received moxibustion at the left Heding （EX-LE2） acupoint. In the Deqi group， after the patients experienced sensation of Deqi at the acupoint， moxibustion was applied at approximately 3 cm from the skin for 10 minutes； in the non-Deqi group， moxibustion was also applied at approximately 3 cm from the skin for 10 minutes. Both groups received treatment once daily for 10 consecutive days. Knee joint pain was assessed before and after treatment using the visual analog scale （VAS）. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging （rs-fMRI） scans were performed on all participants before the first treatment session and after the final session on the 10th day. The fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations （fALFF） maps before and after treatment were processed using the SPM12 module by MATLAB. ResultsAfter treatment， VAS scores in both groups were significantly lower than before treatment （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）， with the Deqi group showing significantly lower VAS scores than the non-Deqi group （P＜0.01）. Compared to before treatment， the Deqi group exhibited significant activation in the prefrontal cortex （t = 6.28）， white matter （t = 6.36）， and left temporal lobe （t = 9.33）， while significant inhibition was observed in the occipital lobe （t = -9.86） and right cerebrum （t = -4.54， P＜0.01）； in the non-Deqi group， significant changes after treatment were observed in the left occipital lobe （t = -6.42）， left medial frontal gyrus （t = -4.35）， left middle frontal gyrus （t = -4.74）， right superior frontal gyrus （t = -4.82）， right superior temporal gyrus （t = -6.61）， and right cerebellar posterior lobe （t = -8.64）， all of which were in inhibited states （P＜0.01）. Compared to the non-Deqi group， the Deqi group exhibited significant activation after treatment in the external nucleus （t = 5.77）， white matter （t = 3.58）， right cerebrum （t = 5.84）， left cerebellum （t = 5.35）， and left cerebrum （t = 4.32）， while significant inhibition was observed in the prefrontal cortex （t = -4.16）， occipital lobe （t = -4.87）， and precentral gyrus （t = -4.46， P＜0.01）. ConclusionsHeat-sensitive moxibustion provides better analgesic effects for knee osteoarthritis under state of Deqi. Its central neuroregulation mechanism may be related to the involvement of the frontal lobe， temporal lobe， occipital lobe， external nucleus， white matter， right cerebrum， left cerebellum， left cerebrum， and precentral gyrus in modulating pain signals.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder that typically begins with a subtle onset and progresses slowly. Pathologically, it is characterized by two hallmark features: the extracellular accumulation of amyloid β-protein (Aβ), forming senile plaques, and the intracellular hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, resulting in neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). These pathological changes are accompanied by substantial neuronal and synaptic loss, particularly in critical brain regions such as the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Clinically, AD presents as a gradual decline in memory, language abilities, and spatial orientation, significantly impairing the quality of life of affected individuals. With the aging population steadily increasing in China, the incidence of AD is rising, making it a major public health concern that requires urgent attention. The growing societal and economic burden of AD underscores the pressing need to identify effective diagnostic biomarkers and develop novel therapeutic strategies. Among the various molecular signaling pathways involved in neurological disorders, the Notch signaling pathway is especially noteworthy due to its evolutionary conservation and regulatory roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, development, and apoptosis. In the central nervous system, Notch signaling is essential for neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity and has been implicated in several neurodegenerative processes. Although some studies suggest that Notch signaling may influence AD-related pathology, its precise role in AD remains poorly understood. In particular, the interaction between Notch signaling and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs)—key regulators of gene expression—has received limited attention. NcRNAs, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), are known to exert extensive regulatory functions at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Dysregulation of these molecules has been widely associated with various diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular conditions, and neurodegenerative disorders. Notably, interactions between ncRNAs and major signaling pathways such as Notch can produce widespread biological effects. While such interactions have been increasingly reported in several disease models, comprehensive studies investigating the regulatory relationship between Notch signaling and ncRNAs in the context of AD remain scarce. Given the capacity of ncRNAs to modulate signaling cascades and form complex regulatory networks, a deeper understanding of their crosstalk with the Notch pathway could provide novel insights into AD pathogenesis and reveal potential targets for diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we investigated the regulatory landscape involving the Notch signaling pathway and associated ncRNAs in AD using bioinformatics approaches. By integrating data from multiple public databases, we systematically identified significantly dysregulated Notch pathway-related genes and their interacting ncRNAs in AD. Based on this analysis, we constructed a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network to elucidate the potential mechanisms linking Notch signaling to ncRNA-mediated gene regulation in AD pathogenesis. Furthermore, we explored the internal relationships and molecular mechanisms within this network and assessed the feasibility and clinical relevance of these molecules as early diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for AD. This study aims to deepen our understanding of the molecular basis of AD and offer novel strategies for its diagnosis and treatment.

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Currently, the available treatment methods cannot fully control its recurrence and mortality rate. Establishing appropriate animal models for liver cancer is crucial for developing new treatment technologies and strategies. The patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model preserves the tumor's microenvironment and heterogeneity, which makes it advantageous for biological research, drug evaluation, personalized medicine, and other purposes. This article reviews the development, preparation techniques, application fields, and challenges of PDX models in liver cancer, providing insights for the research and exploration of PDX models in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of liver cancer.
Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Humans ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays/methods* ; Mice ; Disease Models, Animal

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the time characteristics of the Ethos online adaptive radiotherapy (OART) process in clinical practice and provide guidance for the comprehensive optimization of each stage of adaptive radiotherapy. METHODS: The study involved 61 patients with cervical, rectal, gastric, lung, esophageal, and breast cancers who underwent Ethos OART. The mean ± standard deviation of segmental time, total time, and target volume for these patients were tracked. The time characteristics for different cancer types were evaluated, and the average time for target and organ at risk (OAR) modifications was compared with the average target volume for each cancer type. RESULTS: Cervical cancer born the longest total treatment time, while breast cancer had the shortest. For all cancer types except breast cancer, the modification time for target and OAR was the most time-consuming segment. The average time for target and OAR modifications aligned with the trend of the average target volume. CONCLUSION The total treatment time for various cancers ranges from 15 to 35 minutes, indicating room for improvement.
Humans ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Neoplasms/radiotherapy* ; Female

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of formulated granules of Tianma Gouteng Yin (TGY) on motor deficits in a mouse model of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced subacute Parkinson's disease (PD) and explore the possible molecular mechanisms. METHODS: Ninety C57BL/6 mice were randomized equally into 6 groups, including a control group, a PD model group, a NEC-1 (6.5 mg/kg) treatment group, two TGY treatment groups at 5 and 2.5 g/kg, and a Madopar (76 mg/kg) treatment (positive control) group. Mouse models of PD were established by intraperitoneal injection of MPTP (30 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days with the corresponding treatments for 15 days. The mice were randomly selected for motor function tests. Western blotting was used to detect the changes in expressions of TH, α-syn, RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL in the striatum of the mice. Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking studies were performed to explore TGY-mediated regulation of the necroptosis pathway for PD treatment. RESULTS: Compared with those in the control group, the PD model mice exhibited obvious motor deficits with significantly increased α-syn protein expression and lowered TH protein expression in the striatum. Treatment with NEC-1 obviously improved motor deficits, inhibited the necroptosis pathway, and alleviated the changes in TH and α‑syn proteins in PD mice. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses suggested that the therapeutic effect of TGY in PD was associated with the modulation of RIPK1, a key protein in the necroptosis pathway. In PD mouse models, TGY treatment at the two doses significantly improved motor deficits of the mice, increased TH expression, and decreased the expressions of α-syn and necroptosis-related proteins in the striatum. CONCLUSIONS TGY can effectively inhibit the necroptosis pathway, increase TH expression and decrease α-syn expression in the striatum to improve motor deficits in PD mice.
Animals ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Necroptosis/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Parkinson Disease/drug therapy* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male

ObjectiveTo study the genetic diversity and genetic relationship of Pinellia ternata germplasm resources and provide the basis for germplasm identification， variety breeding， and resource conservation. MethodIn this study， 27 P. ternata were used as experimental materials to determine seven phenotypic characters， such as plant height， leaf length， and leaf width. Simple sequence repeats （SSR） primers were designed based on P. ternata transcriptome data， and polymerase chain reaction （PCR） amplification was performed on 27 P. ternata samples. The genetic diversity of P. ternata germplasm was analyzed by POPGENE32， PowerMarker V3.25， and NTSYS-PC 2.10e software. ResultA total of 10 pairs of highly polymorphic primers （PIC>0.5） and four pairs of moderately polymorphic primers （0.25

The main characteristics of neurodegenerative diseases represented by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the progressive irreversible loss of neurons, leading to varying degrees of pathological changes and loss of cognitive function. There is still no effective treatment. With the acceleration of global aging society, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases is rapidly increasing, becoming a serious global public health concern that urgently requires the development of effective therapeutic strategies. The Hippo signaling pathway, a highly evolutionarily conserved pathway, consists of the core components MST1/2, LATS1/2, and downstream effectors, transcriptional co-activators YAP and TAZ. It plays a crucial role in the regulation of various biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, development, and apoptosis. Dysregulation of the Hippo pathway contributes to the development of many diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, immune disorders, etc. Therefore, targeting the dysregulated components of the Hippo pathway may be an effective strategy for treating various diseases. Increasing evidence indicates that the Hippo pathway is excessively activated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, manifested by increased expression of MST1 and downregulation of YAP. Stabilizing the Hippo pathway levels has shown improvements in AD and PD. However, most studies on the Hippo pathway in AD and PD focus on changes in the expression levels of Hippo pathway components, and research in other neurodegenerative diseases is still lacking. Therefore, further investigation is needed to fully understand the mechanistic role of the Hippo pathway in neurodegenerative diseases. Meanwhile, miRNA, similarly dysregulated in neurodegenerative diseases and serving as biomarkers, is a primary target for miRNA therapy in neurodegenerative diseases, including AD and PD. Activating or inhibiting dysregulated miRNAs is the main strategy of miRNA therapy during the neurodegenerative disease development. Evidence suggests that the interaction between the Hippo pathway and miRNA can result in widespread biological effects and crosstalk in the occurrence of different types of diseases. However, studies on the interplay between the Hippo pathway and miRNA in neurodegenerative diseases are relatively scarce. In this paper, we predicted the miRNAs related to Hippo pathway through bioinformatics database, and further screened the miRNAs with crosstalk relationship with Hippo signaling pathway through experiments in combination with PubMed. Then, the mechanism of action of Hippo signaling pathway related miRNAs in AD and PD is further elucidated. It is reported that the Hippo pathway and its related miRNA may exert neuroprotective effects by reducing oxidative stress, improving neuroinflammation, stabilizing autophagy levels, maintaining neuronal mitochondrial function, and ameliorating blood-brain barrier dysfunction, thereby delaying the progression of AD and PD. However, research on miRNA directly regulating the Hippo pathway to improve AD and PD is limited, and observations of the Hippo pathway and its related miRNA in other neurodegenerative diseases are scarce. However, considering the regulatory relationship between the Hippo pathway and miRNA in multiple diseases and their respective roles in key mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, such as oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, the crosstalk between miRNA and the Hippo pathway holds a crucial regulatory role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, the interaction pathways of the Hippo pathway and its related miRNA may be a pivotal avenue for exploring effective therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases in the future.

Objective To investigate the geographical distribution and seasonal fluctuations of visceral leishmaniasis vectors sandflies in Henan Province in 2023, so as to provide insights into the prevention and control of visceral leishmaniasis vectors. Methods A total of 23 counties (districts) were sampled from 18 cities of Henan Province from May to September, 2023 as sandfly surveillance sites, and sandflies were captured using human capture and light trapping methods. Following morphological identification, the changes in the sandfly density were calculated at different months and in different breeding habitats. Results A total of 406 light traps were set at sandfly surveillance sites in Henan Province from May to September, 2023, and a total of 3 137 female sandlies were captured, with an average density of 7.73 sandlies/(light·night). A total of 1 494 Phlebotomus chinensis sandflies were captured, including 1 222 female sandflies, with an average density of 3.01 sandflies/(light·night), and the highest density of P. chinensis was found in Gongyi City [17.00 sandflies/(light·night)]. A total of 5 544 sandflies were captured using the human capture method, including 230 P. chinensis, and the density of P. chinensis appeared a unimodal distribution, with a peak in early July [5.81 sandflies/(light·night)]. Among different breeding habitats, the highest P. chinensis density was detected in pigpens [4.50 sandflies/(light·night)]. Conclusions P. chinensis was predominantly distributed in hilly areas of northern and central-western Henan Province in 2023, and the sandfly density appeared a unimodal distribution. Intensified monitoring of visceral leishmaniasis vectors is recommended.