ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Luoshi Neiyi prescription treats endometriosis （EMs） through the Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway. MethodsAnimal experiments were conducted with 50 female SD rats， which were randomized into a sham operation group （10 rats） and a modeling group （40 rats）. An autologous endometrial transplantation method was used for the modeling of EMs. The 36 successfully modeled rats were randomly allocated into four groups （n=9 each）： The model group， the low-dose （7.87 g·kg^-1） Luoshi Neiyi prescription group， the high-dose （15.74 g·kg^-1） Luoshi Neiyi prescription group， and the dienogest （0.20 mg·kg^-1） group. The physiological status and ectopic lesion volumes of rats in each group were observed. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the morphology of the eutopic endometrial tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to measure the levels of inflammatory factors including interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and prostaglandin E₂ （PGE₂） in the serum of EMs rats. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） and vascular endothelial growth factor A （VEGFA） in the eutopic endometrial tissue. Western blot was adopted to determine the protein levels of TLR4， myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）， phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB （p-NF-κB）/NF-κB， MMP-9， and VEGFA in the eutopic endometrial tissue. In the cell experiments， the cell-counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was employed to screen the optimal concentration of Luoshi Neiyi prescription-containing serum， and a scratch assay was performed to assess the migration ability of iheESCs cells. Interventions with Luoshi Neiyi prescription-containing serum， resatorvid （TAK-242， a TLR4 inhibitor）， and lipopolysaccharides （LPS， a TLR4 agonist） were conducted， and Western blot was used to detect the expression of proteins related to the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. ResultsThis experiment successfully replicated 36 EMs rat models. Compared with the sham operation group， the model group exhibited visible ectopic lesions on the abdominal wall and an increase in the writhing response score （P<0.01）. Furthermore， HE staining revealed the model group exhibited a thickened eutopic epithelium， stromal cell disarrangement， and evident infiltration of inflammatory cells. In addition， the model group showed elevated serum levels of IL-1β and PGE₂ （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased positive expression of MMP-9 and VEGFA in the ectopic endometrial tissue （P<0.01）， and up-regulated protein levels of TLR4， MyD88， p-NF-κB/NF-κB， MMP-9， and VEGFA in the ectopic endometrial tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all treatment groups exhibited a reduction in the ectopic lesion volume （P<0.01）. Furthermore， the writhing response scores were decreased in the high-dose Luoshi Neiyi prescription group and the dienogest group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The pathological state of the ectopic endometrial tissue was alleviated to varying degrees in the treatment groups. Low-dose Luoshi Neiyi prescription reduced serum PGE₂ levels， and high-dose Luoshi Neiyi prescription and dienogest decreased serum IL-1β and PGE₂ levels in EMs rats （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The treatment groups showed decreased positive expression of MMP-9 and VEGFA in the ectopic endometrial tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01） and down-regulated protein levels of TLR4， MyD88， p-NF-κB/NF-κB， MMP-9， and VEGFA in the ectopic endometrial tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The cell experiments showed that 5%， 10%， and 20% Luoshi Neiyi prescription-containing sera significantly reduced the viability and inhibited the migration of iheESCs. Compared with the control group， 5%， 10%， and 20% Luoshi Neiyi prescription-containing serum groups and the TAK-242 group showed reduced protein levels of TLR4， MyD88， p-NF-κB/NF-κB， MMP-9， and VEGFA （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group， the LPS group showed increased expression of the above proteins （P<0.01）. Compared with the LPS group， the LPS+5%， 10%， and 20% Luoshi Neiyi prescription-containing serum groups showed reduced expression of the above proteins （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionLuoshi Neiyi prescription may modulate the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway to reduce the inflammatory response and histopathological damage in the eutopic endometrium and suppress the adhesive， invasive， and angiogenic biological processes in the ectopic endometrial tissue， thereby exerting its therapeutic effect on EMs.

Castleman’s disease(CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that is classified based on the affected sites and pathological features. The pathogenesis of CD remains not fully understood and may be associated with viral infections, genetic abnormalities, and immunological factors. Clinically, CD is categorized into two types based on lymph node involvement: Unicentric Castleman Disease(UCD) and Multicentric Castleman Disease(MCD). Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. This article summarizes recent advancements in the understanding of the pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of CD, aiming to provide assistance for future clinical work.

In recent decades,the incidence of human papillomavirus(HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma(OPSCC)has shown a marked increase.Significant changes have also occurred in the OPSCC diagnosis and treatment paradigm.Deter-mining HPV status prior to treatment is now essential,and radiotherapy/chemotherapy,immunotherapy,and minimally invasive surgical techniques have progressively emerged as key modalities for managing OPSCC.However,alongside these paradigm shifts,a comprehen-sive technical consensus guiding the entire diagnostic and therapeutic process for OPSCC patients is currently lacking.Given China's large population base and the rising incidence of OPSCC,an expert panel convened to develop a clinical technical consensus on OPSCC diagno-sis and management tailored to China's specific context.This consensus aims to further enhance and standardize understanding of OPSCC management techniques among relevant healthcare professionals.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of patients with giant cell carcinoma of the lung (GCCL).Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. The clinical data and the survival related information of patients with GCCL in Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database from the establishment of the databank to April 2019 were collected, and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients were summarized. Cox proportional hazards model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis of the overall survival (OS) and the independent influencing factors for poor OS were screened. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the OS and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of the entire group and the patients stratified by the independent influencing factors. The log-rank test was used for inter-group comparisons.Results:A total of 248 GCCL cases were included. Among them, 64.9% (161 cases) were aged ≤70 years, 60.1% (149 cases) were male, and 57.7% (143 cases) were married. GCCL was more commonly found in the right lung [58.5% (145 cases)], and 64.1% (159 cases) were classified as TNM stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ. No high differentiation cases were observed, and there was only 1 case (0.4%) of moderate differentiation, while the remaining cases were poorly differentiated [56.0% (139 cases)] or undifferentiated [43.5% (108 cases)]. Lymph node metastasis was observed in 55.6% (138 cases), and distant metastasis occurred in 35.5% (88 cases). Regarding treatment, 50.4% (125 cases) underwent surgery, 18.5% (46 cases) received radiotherapy, and 39.1% (97 cases) underwent chemotherapy. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the 1-year and 5-year OS rates for all 248 cases were 38.8% and 21.3%, respectively, while the 1-year and 5-year CSS rates were 47.7% and 32.3%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that age (≥71 years vs. <70 years, HR = 1.526, 95% CI: 1.145-2.033, P = 0.004), marital status (married vs. others, HR = 0.755, 95% CI: 0.569-1.000, P = 0.049), N stage (all compared to N 0 stage; N 1 stage: HR = 1.876, 95% CI: 1.212-2.903, P = 0.005; N 2 stage: HR = 1.560, 95% CI: 1.074-2.265, P = 0.020; N 3 stage: HR = 1.902, 95% CI: 1.089-3.323, P = 0.024), M stage (M 1vs. M 0, HR = 2.122, 95% CI: 1.488-3.026, P < 0.001), and surgical treatment (surgery vs. no surgery, HR = 0.542, 95% CI: 0.361-0.813, P = 0.003) were independent risk factors for poor OS. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that patients aged >70 years, married, without lymph node metastasis, without distant metastasis, and those who underwent surgery had better OS, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:GCCL is more common in elderly men and is more frequently found in the right lung. Most patients have lymph node metastasis and the patients with the distant metastasis are relatively common. The majority of cancer patients have an undifferentiated or poorly differentiated degree. Age, marital status, N stage, M stage, and whether surgery was performed are independent prognostic factors for GCCL.

Objective:To explore the potential role of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and components of metabolic syndrome (MS) in the early progression of carotid arteriosclerosis.Methods:The study was a cross-sectional study. Urban participants undergoing routine health check-ups were enrolled from all 11 prefecture-level cities in Zhejiang Province between January and December 2022. General clinical information was obtained through interviews, and data on MS was collected from the clinical health examinations. Serum Lp-PLA? levels were measured in all participants. All participants were divided into 3 groups according to the results of the carotid ultrasound: the normal group, the intima thickening group with carotid intima thickening change and the plaque group. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations of Lp-PLA2, MS, and the components of MS with early carotid atherosclerosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of combining Lp-PLA2 with MS and the cumulative number of MS components for early carotid atherosclerosis.Results:A total of 4 009 urban adults undergoing routine health check-ups were enrolled (mean age (48.9±8.46) years, 2 665(66.5 %)male). Of these, 1 398 were in the normal group, 1 650 in the intima thickening group, and 961 in the plaque group. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that Lp-PLA2 was independently associated with early carotid atherosclerosis ( OR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.11-1.63, P=0.003). Lp-PLA2 also showed independent positive associations with both carotid intima thickening and carotid plaque formation, with the latter being more pronounced (both P<0.05). MS was independently and positively associated with early carotid atherosclerosis ( OR=1.48, 95 % CI: 1.20-1.84, P<0.001), as well as with intima thickening and carotid plaque formation, with the association being stronger for the latter (both P<0.05). Furthermore, the strength of the association increased progressively with the number of MS components ( P<0.001), especially for carotid plaques formation (both P<0.001). Multivariable logistic regression revealed that, compared with individuals without MS and low Lp-PLA2 levels, the risk of early carotid atherosclerosis was increased in those with high Lp-PLA2 alone, MS alone, or both conditions concurrently, with the highest risk observed when both were present (all P<0.05). ROC analyses demonstrated that the combination of elevated Lp-PLA2 with 3, 4, or 5 MS components yielded good diagnostic performance for early carotid atherosclerosis ( AUC=0.869, 0.888, and 0.889, respectively), intima thickening ( AUC=0.844, 0.860, and 0.845, respectively), and carotid plaque formation ( AUC=0.899, 0.924, and 0.968, respectively) in urban health-screening participants. Conclusions:Lp-PLA2, MS, and the number of MS components were independently and positively associated with early carotid atherosclerosis in urban health chek-up populations. The combination of MS components and Lp-PLA2 provided favorable diagnostic performance for the detection of early carotid atherosclerosis.

Castleman’s disease(CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that is classified based on the affected sites and pathological features. The pathogenesis of CD remains not fully understood and may be associated with viral infections, genetic abnormalities, and immunological factors. Clinically, CD is categorized into two types based on lymph node involvement: Unicentric Castleman Disease(UCD) and Multicentric Castleman Disease(MCD). Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. This article summarizes recent advancements in the understanding of the pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of CD, aiming to provide assistance for future clinical work.

Objective:To explore the potential role of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and components of metabolic syndrome (MS) in the early progression of carotid arteriosclerosis.Methods:The study was a cross-sectional study. Urban participants undergoing routine health check-ups were enrolled from all 11 prefecture-level cities in Zhejiang Province between January and December 2022. General clinical information was obtained through interviews, and data on MS was collected from the clinical health examinations. Serum Lp-PLA? levels were measured in all participants. All participants were divided into 3 groups according to the results of the carotid ultrasound: the normal group, the intima thickening group with carotid intima thickening change and the plaque group. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations of Lp-PLA2, MS, and the components of MS with early carotid atherosclerosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of combining Lp-PLA2 with MS and the cumulative number of MS components for early carotid atherosclerosis.Results:A total of 4 009 urban adults undergoing routine health check-ups were enrolled (mean age (48.9±8.46) years, 2 665(66.5 %)male). Of these, 1 398 were in the normal group, 1 650 in the intima thickening group, and 961 in the plaque group. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that Lp-PLA2 was independently associated with early carotid atherosclerosis ( OR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.11-1.63, P=0.003). Lp-PLA2 also showed independent positive associations with both carotid intima thickening and carotid plaque formation, with the latter being more pronounced (both P<0.05). MS was independently and positively associated with early carotid atherosclerosis ( OR=1.48, 95 % CI: 1.20-1.84, P<0.001), as well as with intima thickening and carotid plaque formation, with the association being stronger for the latter (both P<0.05). Furthermore, the strength of the association increased progressively with the number of MS components ( P<0.001), especially for carotid plaques formation (both P<0.001). Multivariable logistic regression revealed that, compared with individuals without MS and low Lp-PLA2 levels, the risk of early carotid atherosclerosis was increased in those with high Lp-PLA2 alone, MS alone, or both conditions concurrently, with the highest risk observed when both were present (all P<0.05). ROC analyses demonstrated that the combination of elevated Lp-PLA2 with 3, 4, or 5 MS components yielded good diagnostic performance for early carotid atherosclerosis ( AUC=0.869, 0.888, and 0.889, respectively), intima thickening ( AUC=0.844, 0.860, and 0.845, respectively), and carotid plaque formation ( AUC=0.899, 0.924, and 0.968, respectively) in urban health-screening participants. Conclusions:Lp-PLA2, MS, and the number of MS components were independently and positively associated with early carotid atherosclerosis in urban health chek-up populations. The combination of MS components and Lp-PLA2 provided favorable diagnostic performance for the detection of early carotid atherosclerosis.

Objective To explore the mechanism of action of Neiyi Soft Extract in the treatment of endometriosis(EMS)based on network pharmacology and transcriptomics.Methods A model of SD rat with EMS was replicated by autotransplantation method.After successful modeling,the rats were randomly divided into model group,Neiyi Soft Extract low-,medium-and high-dose groups and dienogest group,with 10 rats in each group.Another sham-operated group(10 rats)was set up.After four consecutive weeks of intervention,the volume size of the endometriotic lesions was measured,and its pathological changes were detected by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.RNA was extracted from the rat lesions for transcriptomic sequencing,and Gene Ontology(GO)enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)functional enrichment analysis were performed on the differential genes among various groups.The main active ingredients and their targets of Neiyi Soft Extract were collected and screened in databases such as TCMSP,the disease targets of EMS were collected through databases such as OMIM,the intersection targets between the drug ingredient targets and the diseases were obtained by using Venn diagrams,GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of genes in the intersection targets of the drug ingredients and the diseases were performed by using gene enrichment analysis online tool(Metascape).The network pharmacology enrichment pathway and transcriptomics enrichment pathway were taken for intersection,the mRNA and protein expression levels of the key targets on the intersection pathway were correspondingly detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)and Western Blot,respectively.Results The volume of lesions in the model group was significantly increased compared with that of the sham-operated group(P<0.01);the volume of lesions in rats in the drug-administered groups was significantly reduced compared with that of the model group(P<0.05).A total of 341 active ingredients were obtained from Neiyi Soft Extract,and there were 2 178 disease-related targets of EMS,and 278 intersections between drug targets and disease targets;189 differential genes were screened in the sham-operated group and the model group;255 differential genes were screened in the model group and Neiyi Soft Extract high-dose group;and 740 differential genes were screened in the sham-operated group and the Neiyi Soft Extract high-dose group,including 390 up-regulated genes and 350 down-regulated genes.The result of intersection of KEGG enrichment pathways between the network pharmacology and transcriptomics showed that the distriution mainly included P53 signaling pathway,FOXO signaling pathway,cell cycle,etc.The qPCR and Western Blot validation results showed that Neiyi Soft Extract could inhibit the proliferation of endometrial stromal cells and up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of BAX,Caspase3 in EMS rats(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and down-regulated BCL-2 mRNA and protein expression levels(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion Neiyi Soft Extract may play a therapeutic role in the treatment of EMS by regulating the P53 signaling pathway.

Due to its synergistic effects and reduced side effects, combination therapy has become an important strategy for treating complex diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the "monarch, minister, assistant, envoy" compatibilities theory provides a systematic framework for drug compatibility and has guided the formation of a large number of classic formulas. However, due to the complex compositions and diverse mechanisms of action of TCM, it is difficult to comprehensively reveal its potential synergistic patterns using traditional methods. Synergistic prediction based on molecular compatibility theory provides new ideas for identifying combinations of active compounds in TCM. Compared to resource-intensive traditional experimental methods, artificial intelligence possesses the ability to mine synergistic patterns from multi-omics and structural data, providing an efficient means for modeling and optimizing TCM combinations. This paper systematically reviews the application progress of AI in the synergistic prediction of TCM active compounds and explores the challenges and prospects of its application in modeling combination relationships, thereby contributing to the modernization of TCM theory and methodological innovation.
Artificial Intelligence ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Drug Synergism

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma(OPSCC)is a malignant tumor originating from the squamous epithelium of the oro-pharyngeal mucosa,accounting for more than 90％of oropharyngeal malignancies.In recent years,human papillomavirus(HPV)infec-tion has become one of the primary etiological factors of oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma.The incidence of HPV-associated oropharyn-geal squamous carcinoma has been rising annually,with a noticeable trend toward younger populations,posing a significant threat to hu-man health.Due to the distinct biological behavior and clinical characteristics of HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma com-pared to its non-HPV-related counterpart,the diagnostic and treatment strategies for oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma have undergone substantial changes.Prevention and screening for oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma are of critical importance.The diagnostic and treat-ment process involves multi-disciplinary collaboration,including oral and maxillofacial surgery,otolaryngology,head and neck surgery,oncology,radiology and pathology.Based on evidence from clinical practice,a comprehensive,integrated diagnostic and therapeutic ap-proach has been established,centered around the concept of"prevention,screening,diagnosis,treatment,and rehabilitation",covering the entire patient lifecycle and providing a valuable reference for clinical practice.