Objective To elucidate the changes in the gut microbiota and molecular mechanism of huaier in enhancing the efficacy of oxaliplatin (OXA) chemotherapy in gastric cancer (GC). Methods The effects of huaier on the gut microbiota structure and intestinal barrier function in MKN45-bearing mice were analyzed by using 16S rRNA sequencing, RT-qPCR, and IHC. UPLC-MS and network pharmacology, as well as in vivo experimental approaches, were employed to investigate the key bioactive constituents of huaier systematically and elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which huaier exerts therapeutic effects against GC. The expression of the PI3K/AKT/SREBP pathway was detected in cancer cells and tissues via Western blot analysis. The safety profile of huaier combined with OXA was verified through serum biochemistry and HE-stained tissue section analyses. Results Huaier inhibited the PI3K/AKT/SREBP pathway by increasing the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, reduced lipid droplet deposition, and ultimately enhanced the sensitivity to OXA in the treatment of GC. Conclusion This study demonstrates the value of huaier in gastric cancer treatment by enhancing chemosensitivity and provides novel insights into its systemic therapeutic effects through molecular mechanisms and gut microbiota modulation.

ObjectiveBased on the theory of "spleen governing transportation and transformation"， this study investigates the efficacy of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma processed with Aurantii Fructus Immaturus juice（AMR-AFI） in improving slow-transit constipation（STC）， as well as the synergistic regulatory mechanism involving the microbiota-metabolism axis， thereby elucidating the scientific basis of its processing theory. MethodsAnimals were randomly divided into the control group， model group， positive drug（mosapride） group（3 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose groups of AMR-AFI（3.9， 7.8， 15.6 g·kg^-1）. Except for the control group， the remaining five groups were induced with STC using loperamide hydrochloride. Following modeling， interventions were administered. All groups received continuous administration for 15 d， during which fecal samples， colon tissue， and serum were collected. Constipation improvement was assessed by measuring fecal moisture content and small intestinal propulsion rate， histological morphology of colonic tissue was observed via hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining， and the levels of interleukin（IL）-6， tumor necrosis factor（TNF）-α， and IL-2 in serum were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. Furthermore， the microbial community structure in mouse feces was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing， while transcriptomic sequencing was employed to screen differentially expressed genes in colonic tissue， followed by gene ontology（GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes（KEGG） enrichment analyses. Finally， Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to explore the association between differential microbiota and differential genes. ResultsCompared with the control group， the intestinal propulsion rate and fecal moisture content in the model group were significantly decreased（P<0.01）， while serum levels of IL-6， TNF-α， and IL-2 were significantly elevated（P<0.01）. HE staining showed damage and shedding of colonic mucosal epithelial cells， along with a reduction in goblet cells in the model group. In comparison with the model group， all treatment groups improved the pathological state of the colonic mucosa to varying degrees and reduced serum levels of IL-6， TNF-α， and IL-2（P<0.01）. Among these， the high-dose group of AMR-AFI significantly increased the intestinal propulsion rate and fecal moisture content of rats（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Further transcriptomic analysis revealed that a total of 104 differentially expressed genes were identified from comparisons between the model group and the control group， as well as between the model group and the high-dose group of AMR-AFI. These genes were mainly enriched in pathways closely related to STC pathogenesis， such as arachidonic acid metabolism and aldosterone-regulated sodium reabsorption. 16S rRNA sequencing results indicated that AMR-AFI reversed the structural imbalance of the gut microbiota in model mice， increased species richness， downregulated the relative abundance of pro-inflammatory bacteria such as Parasutterella， and enriched beneficial and butyrate-producing bacteria， including Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group， Ruminococcaceae， and Lachnospiraceae. Spearman correlation analysis further showed that the beneficial bacteria enriched in the AMR-AFI group were negatively correlated with genes involved in the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway and positively correlated with genes in the aldosterone-regulated sodium reabsorption pathway. In contrast， pro-inflammatory bacteria in the model group exhibited the opposite correlation trends. ConclusionAMR-AFI can effectively exert synergistic therapeutic effects on STC by regulating intestinal microbiota， arachidonic acid-mediated inflammatory metabolism， and aldosterone-regulated water-salt balance pathways.

ObjectiveBased on the theory of "spleen governing transportation and transformation"， this study investigates the efficacy of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma processed with Aurantii Fructus Immaturus juice（AMR-AFI） in improving slow-transit constipation（STC）， as well as the synergistic regulatory mechanism involving the microbiota-metabolism axis， thereby elucidating the scientific basis of its processing theory. MethodsAnimals were randomly divided into the control group， model group， positive drug（mosapride） group（3 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose groups of AMR-AFI（3.9， 7.8， 15.6 g·kg^-1）. Except for the control group， the remaining five groups were induced with STC using loperamide hydrochloride. Following modeling， interventions were administered. All groups received continuous administration for 15 d， during which fecal samples， colon tissue， and serum were collected. Constipation improvement was assessed by measuring fecal moisture content and small intestinal propulsion rate， histological morphology of colonic tissue was observed via hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining， and the levels of interleukin（IL）-6， tumor necrosis factor（TNF）-α， and IL-2 in serum were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. Furthermore， the microbial community structure in mouse feces was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing， while transcriptomic sequencing was employed to screen differentially expressed genes in colonic tissue， followed by gene ontology（GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes（KEGG） enrichment analyses. Finally， Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to explore the association between differential microbiota and differential genes. ResultsCompared with the control group， the intestinal propulsion rate and fecal moisture content in the model group were significantly decreased（P<0.01）， while serum levels of IL-6， TNF-α， and IL-2 were significantly elevated（P<0.01）. HE staining showed damage and shedding of colonic mucosal epithelial cells， along with a reduction in goblet cells in the model group. In comparison with the model group， all treatment groups improved the pathological state of the colonic mucosa to varying degrees and reduced serum levels of IL-6， TNF-α， and IL-2（P<0.01）. Among these， the high-dose group of AMR-AFI significantly increased the intestinal propulsion rate and fecal moisture content of rats（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Further transcriptomic analysis revealed that a total of 104 differentially expressed genes were identified from comparisons between the model group and the control group， as well as between the model group and the high-dose group of AMR-AFI. These genes were mainly enriched in pathways closely related to STC pathogenesis， such as arachidonic acid metabolism and aldosterone-regulated sodium reabsorption. 16S rRNA sequencing results indicated that AMR-AFI reversed the structural imbalance of the gut microbiota in model mice， increased species richness， downregulated the relative abundance of pro-inflammatory bacteria such as Parasutterella， and enriched beneficial and butyrate-producing bacteria， including Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group， Ruminococcaceae， and Lachnospiraceae. Spearman correlation analysis further showed that the beneficial bacteria enriched in the AMR-AFI group were negatively correlated with genes involved in the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway and positively correlated with genes in the aldosterone-regulated sodium reabsorption pathway. In contrast， pro-inflammatory bacteria in the model group exhibited the opposite correlation trends. ConclusionAMR-AFI can effectively exert synergistic therapeutic effects on STC by regulating intestinal microbiota， arachidonic acid-mediated inflammatory metabolism， and aldosterone-regulated water-salt balance pathways.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP) in treating stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome by exercise duration and metabolic equivalents. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome from 22 hospitals. They were randomized 1:1 to STDP (35 mg/pill, 6 pills per day) or placebo for 56 days. The primary outcome was the exercise duration and metabolic equivalents (METs) assessed by the standard Bruce exercise treadmill test after 56 days of treatment. The secondary outcomes included the total angina symptom score, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, changes in ST-T on electrocardiogram and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This trial enrolled 309 patients, including 155 and 154 in the STDP and placebo groups, respectively. STDP significantly prolonged exercise duration with an increase of 51.0 s, compared to a decrease of 12.0 s with placebo (change rate: -11.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.01). The increase in METs was significantly greater in the STDP group than in the placebo group (change: -0.4 vs. 0.0, change rate: -5.0% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). The improvement of total angina symptom scores (25.0% vs. 0.0%), CM symptom scores (38.7% vs. 11.8%), reduction of nitroglycerin consumption (100.0% vs. 11.3%), and all domains of SAQ, were significantly greater with STDP than placebo (all P<0.01). The changes in Q-T intervals at 28 and 56 days from baseline were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). Twenty-five participants (16.3%) with STDP and 16 (10.5%) with placebo experienced AEs (P=0.131), with no serious AEs observed. CONCLUSION STDP could improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina and phlegm-heat and blood stasis syndrome, with a favorable safety profile. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006020).
Humans ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Angina, Stable/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Placebos ; Tablets

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: To develop a simple digital chylous plasma device and validate its ability to accurately, standardly, and non-destructively determine chylous plasma in blood banks and clinical transfusions in hospitals. Methods: A digital chylous plasma assessment device was designed and manufactured. This device was used to measure the chylous degrees of chylous plasma samples before freezing, after freeze-thawing, before viral inactivation, and after viral inactivation. The measured chylosity index values were categorized according to the requirements specified in Appendix A of the Chinese national standard GB 18469-2001 "Quality Requirements for Whole Blood and Blood Components". This process established a digital standard for chylous plasma, enabling the identification of severe, moderate and mild chylous plasma, and non-chylous plasma. Results: The initial simple product of the digital chylous assessment device was successfully designed and manufactured. There was no significant difference in the degree of chylous plasma between pre-freezing 468.11±217.73 lux and post-thawing 538.91±273.39 lux of chylous plasma (P>0.05), or between pre-viral inactivation 858.33±387.79 lux and post-viral inactivation 928.33±166.51 lux of chylous plasma (P>0.05). The median of chylous degree values for plasma chylous index grades 0 to 6 were 45 lux, 250 lux, 620 lux, 835 lux, 1 130 lux, 1 390 lux, and 1 700 lux, respectively. The defined cutoff values/ranges for the chylous degree values corresponding to plasma chylous index grade 0 to 6 were ≤125 lux, 126-465 lux, 466-740 lux, 741-1 000 lux, 1 001-1 233 lux, 1 234-1 560 lux, and ≥1 561 lux. Conclusion: This study successfully developed the initial product of the digital chylous device and established digital standards for classifying chylous plasma. The device demonstrates the potential to meet the needs for assessment of chylous plasma in both blood banks and clinical transfusions in hospitals, thereby promoting the development and application of standardized, non-destructive chylous plasma assessment technology.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Chaihu and Longgu Mulitang （CLMT） on hippocampal neural damage in the mouse model of depression via the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase （ERK）/cAMP-response element-binding protein （CREB） signaling pathway. MethodsSeventy-eight male C57BL/6 mice were randomly allocated into normal control， model， low/medium/high-dose （2.89， 5.78， and 11.56 g·kg^-1， respectively） CLMT， and paroxetine （10 mg·kg^-1） groups. A depression model was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS） combined with social isolation. Behavioral tests were carried out to evaluate depressive-like behaviors. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining were performed to assess hippocampal morphology and neuronal damage. Immunofluorescence was employed to detect glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP） and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 （Iba1）. Real-time PCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of ERK and CREB. Western blot was employed to determine the expression of ERK/CREB pathway proteins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） in the hippocampal tissue. Molecular Operating Environment （MOE） software was used for molecular docking to evaluate the interactions between CLMT components and target proteins. ResultsCompared with the normal control group， the model group showed decreased sucrose preference （P0.01）， increased tail-suspension immobility time （P0.01）， decreased activity in the central region of the open field test （P0.01）， and decreased activity in the middle and open-arm region of the elevated plus maze test （P0.01）. The hippocampal area in the model group showed wrinkled cells and a reduction in the number of cells， neurons with reduced sizes and Nissl bodies， enhanced fluorescence intensity of GFAP and Iba1 （P0.01）， and down-regulated expression of phosphorylated （p）-ERK， p-CREB， and BDNF （P0.05， P0.01） and mRNA levels of ERK and CREB （P0.01）. Compared with the model group， the CLMT group showed increased body weight （P0.05， P0.01）， restored cell morphology， with only a small number of ruptured cells， normal neuronal structure and morphology with obvious nuclei and abundant Nissl bodies， weakened fluorescence intensity of GFAP and Iba1 （P0.05， P0.01）， up-regulated mRNA levels of ERK and CREB （P0.05， P0.01） and protein levels of phosphorylated （p）-ERK， p-CREB， and BDNF in the hippocampal tissue （P0.05， P0.01）. The results of molecular docking indicated that nine active ingredients in CLMT had good binding affinity with ERK and CREB. ConclusionCLMT may ameliorate the hippocampal nerve injury in the mouse model of depression by regulating the ERK/CREB pathway.

Objective To investigate the application effect of a refined early diet plan in patients with distal gastric cancer after laparoscopic radical surgery.Methods By convenience sampling method,46 patients with laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for distal gastric cancer admitted to a tertiary hospital in Zhejiang Province from July to December 2023 were selected as an experimental group,while 49 patients admitted from January to June 2023 as a control group.The experimental group was administered with the refined early diet plan,and the control group was administered with conventional methods.The intervention period was from the first day after surgery to discharge.The differences of the first postoperative defecation time,perioperative thirst and hunger score,postoperative hospitalization time,hospitalization cost,postoperative complications and the incidence of readmission 30 days after surgery were compared between the 2 groups.Results 42 patients in the experimental group and 49 patients in the control group completed the study.First postoperative exhaust time(t=4.922,P＜0.001),first postopera-tive defecation time(Z=-2.440,P=0.015),perioperative thirst score(Z=-8.024,P＜0.001),perioperative hunger score(Z=-8.192,P＜0.00 1),postoperative hospitalization time(Z=-7.622,P＜0.001)and hospitalization cost(Z=-4.522,P＜0.001)were lower than those of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant.There was no significant difference in complication rate and 30-day readmission rate between the experimental group and the control group(P＞0.05).Conclusion The refined early diet plan is safe and effective for early recovery of patients after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for distal gastric cancer,promoting intestinal function recovery,shortening hospital stay,reducing hospital costs,and improving patients'subjective comfort.

Objective:To study the correlation between osteoporosis and the joint of small articular process of lumbar vertebra,and the correlation between bone mineral density(BMD)and various parameters of small joint based on quantitative computed tomography(QCT),so as to provide scientific basis for formulating clinically treatment strategies.Methods:This study included 63 patients who admitted to orthopedics of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from December 2023 to March 2024 due to waist discomfort and lower limb pain.According to BMD standard of CT examination for lumbar vertebra,these patients were divided into normal BMD group(31 cases),osteopenia group(21 cases)and osteoporosis group(11 cases).All patients underwent CT scan on lumbar vertebra.The mode with body membrane were adopted to measure BMD,the area of left and right articular process,CT value,height after the scan was completed.Whether existed osteophytes,endplate inflammation and intervertebral disc herniation in each group were checked.Univariate Analysis of Variance(ANOVA)was employed to assess the differences among different BMD groups in age,gender,area of articular process,CT value and height.The Pathria grading system was adopted to assess the degeneration degree of intervertebral joint,and the Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the differences in degeneration scores of articular process among three groups.At the same time,the pairwise comparison between groups also was conducted.Spearman's rank correlation analysis was conducted to explore the correlation between BMD and the degeneration degree of intervertebral joint.Results:The BMD value of normal BMD group was(165.14±30.11)mg/cm3,and that of osteopenia group was(98.98±10.14)mg/cm3,and that of osteoporosis group was(58.62±18.73)mg/cm3.There was a statistically significant difference in BMD value among three groups(F=103.121,P＜0.001),and there was a statistically significant difference in BMD value between normal BMD group and osteopenia group as the result of pairwise comparison between groups(t=10.018,P＜0.001).There was statistically significant difference in BMD value between normal BMD group and osteoporosis group(t=12.989,P＜0.001),and there was statistically significant difference in BMD value between osteopenia group and osteoporosis group(t=4.641,P＜0.001).The areas of left and right upper articular process of normal BMD group were less than that of other two groups,and the differences of CT value and height of left and right upper articular process among three groups were significant(F=27.350,24.458,P＜0.05),respectively.The CT value of normal BMD group was higher than that of other two groups,and CT values of right upper articular process of osteopenia group was significantly lower than that of osteoporosis group,and the difference was statistical significance(t=2.191,P＜0.05).The heights of left and right upper articular processes of normal BMD group were lower than those of osteoporosis group,and the height of right upper articular process was lower than that of osteopenia group(t=2.331,-2.798,-2.618,P＜0.05).There was a negative correlation between osteoporosis degree and the degeneration of articular process joints(r=-0.745,P＜0.001).With the decreasing of BMD value,the degeneration of articular process joint gradually aggravated,and the ratios of osteophytes,endplate inflammation and intervertebral discs increased.Conclusion:There is a certain correlation between the osteoporosis and the degeneration of articular process joints of lumbar intervertebral disc.The ratios of osteophytes,endplate inflammation and intervertebral disc herniation increase,and both the area and height of the left and right articular process increase when the reduction of bone mass reaches to a serious degree.

Paraplegia caused by spinal cord injury is a serious neurological complication, for which surgery is currently the main treatment method. Due to different surgical approaches, patients are usually expected to maintain a passive prone position for a long time or switch between the supine and prone positions. Affected by multiple factors such as neurogenic sensory disorders, pathological changes in muscle tone and operative duration, the risk of intraoperative acquired pressure injury (IAPI) is significantly increased. Current clinical prevention strategies for IAPI in these patients predominantly focus on localized pressure relief during positioning, lacking systematic, standardized comprehensive prevention protocols or evidence-based guidelines. To address it, Department of Nursing, Orthopedics Branch, China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care, Spinal Trauma Professional Committee, Orthopedics Branch, Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Nursing Group of Spine and Spinal Cord Professional Committee of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine organized experts in relevant fields to formulate Guideline for the prevention of intraoperative acquired pressure injury in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury ( version 2025), based on evidence-based medical evidence and latest research results and clinical practice at home and abroad. Eleven recommendations were put forward from the aspects of preoperative risk assessment, intraoperative prevention strategies, postoperative handover and monitoring, and supportive mechanisms for IAPI prevention, aiming to standardize the prevention measures and management strategies of IAPI in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury and accelerate the recovery of patients and improve the therapeutic effect.