ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the action mechanism by which Xiaozheng Zhitong paste （XZP） alleviates bone cancer pain （BCP） by regulating programmed death protein 1 （PD-1）/programmed death-ligand 1 （PD-L1） pathway-induced osteoclast formation. MethodsThirty female C57BL/6 mice were randomly allocated into the following groups （n=6 per group）： normal control group， model group， low‑dose XZP group （31.5 g·kg^-1）， high‑dose XZP group （63 g·kg^-1）， and PD‑1 inhibitor （Niv） group. A bone cancer pain （BCP） model was established by injecting Lewis lung carcinoma cells. Mice in the normal control and model groups received topical application of a blank paste matrix at the wound site. Mice in the low‑ and high‑dose XZP groups were treated with XZP applied topically twice daily. Mice in the Niv group were topically administered the blank paste matrix and additionally received Niv via tail‑vein injection every two days. All interventions were continued for 21 days. During this period， behavioral tests were performed to assess mechanical， motor， and thermal nociceptive sensitivities. After 21 days， all mice were euthanized， and bone tissue from the operated side was collected for sectioning and preservation. Tartrate‑resistant acid phosphatase （TRAP） staining was used to evaluate osteoclast expression in the lesioned bone tissue. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of Runt‑related transcription factor 2 （Runx2） in the lesioned bone tissue. Immunofluorescence was employed to assess the expression of PD‑1 and PD‑L1 in the lesioned bone tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed significantly decreased limb mechanical withdrawal threshold， spontaneous paw flinching， and thermal withdrawal latency （P<0.01）， increased number of osteoclasts in the lesioned bone tissue （P<0.01）， and reduced expression of Runx2 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the BCP mice in the XZP low-dose group， XZP high-dose group， and Niv group exhibited increased limb mechanical withdrawal threshold， movement scores， and thermal withdrawal latency （P<0.01）. The XZP low-dose group showed no significant changes in osteoclast number or Runx2 expression， while the XZP high-dose group and Niv group demonstrated significantly reduced osteoclast numbers （P<0.01） and significantly increased Runx2 expression （P<0.01）. In the lesioned bone tissue of BCP mice， the XZP low-dose group showed no significant decrease in the percentage of PD-1 expression， but a decrease in the percentage of PD-L1 expression （P<0.05）. In contrast， both the XZP high-dose group and the Niv group exhibited significant reductions in the percentages of PD-1 and PD-L1 expression （P<0.01）. ConclusionXZP alleviates the pain of mice with BCP by blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway to inhibit osteoclastogenesis.

ObjectiveThe paper aims to investigate the mechanism by which Xiaozheng Zhitong paste （XZP） alleviates bone cancer pain （BCP） through regulating the PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 （PINK1）/Parkin-mediated mitophagy-NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome pathway to suppress microglial pyroptosis. MethodsLipopolysaccharide （LPS） and LPS-adenosine triphosphate （ATP） were used to establish an inflammation and pyroptosis model in microglial cells. The cells were randomly divided into the following groups： control group， LPS group， LPS+low-dose XZP group， LPS+high-dose XZP group， LPS-ATP group， LPS-ATP+low-dose XZP group， LPS-ATP+high-dose XZP group， LPS-ATP+XZP group， and LPS-ATP+XZP+CsA group. Techniques including terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL） staining， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， Western blot， and confocal fluorescence staining were employed to assess the effects of XZP on microglial apoptosis， inflammatory cytokine release， inflammasome activation， pyroptosis， and mitophagy. ResultsIn vitro experiments showed that compared with the blank group， the LPS group exhibited significantly increased levels of microglial apoptosis and pro-inflammatory factors interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-6， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）（P<0.01）， along with significantly upregulated protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2）， and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB p65 （p-NF-κB p65） （P<0.01）. Compared with the LPS group， the high-dose LPS-XZP group significantly reduced the level of apoptosis （P<0.01） and the content of the aforementioned pro-inflammatory factors （P<0.01）. Both the low- and high-dose LPS-XZP groups dose-dependently downregulated the protein expression of iNOS， COX-2， and p-NF-κB p65 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the LPS-ATP group showed significantly upregulated expression of pyroptosis-related proteins， including Caspase-1/pro-Caspase-1， N-terminal fragment of gasdermin D （GSDMD-N）/full-length gasdermin D （GSDMD-F）， NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， IL-1β precursor （pro-IL-1β）， and mature IL-1β （P<0.01）. The levels of pyroptotic factors IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly elevated （P<0.01）， and membrane pore formation and intracellular reactive oxygen species （ROS） levels were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the LPS-ATP group， both the low- and high-dose LPS-ATP+XZP groups dose-dependently downregulated the expression of the aforementioned pyroptosis-related proteins （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The low-dose LPS-ATP+XZP group reduced IL-1β levels （P<0.01）， while the high-dose group reduced both IL-1β and IL-18 levels （P<0.01） Both the low- and high-dose LPS-ATP+XZP groups dose-dependently reduced membrane pore formation and intracellular ROS production （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the LPS-ATP group showed significantly reduced expression of mitophagy-related proteins PINK1 and Parkin， and a decreased ratio of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3Ⅱ（LC3Ⅱ） to LC3Ⅰ（P<0.01）， while p62 expression was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Mitochondrial ROS levels were significantly enhanced （P<0.01）. Compared with the LPS-ATP group， both the low- and high-dose LPS-ATP+XZP groups dose-dependently reversed the expression of these proteins （P<0.05， P<0.01） and reduced mitochondrial ROS levels （P<0.01）. After treatment with the mitophagy inhibitor cyclosporin A （CsA）， the beneficial effects of XZP on mitochondrial function and its inhibitory effects on pyroptosis-related protein expression were significantly reversed （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionXZP reduces ROS levels by activating PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy， thereby inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and microglial pyroptosis， which provides new molecular evidence for the mechanism by which XZP alleviates BCP.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of Xiaozheng Zhitong Paste （XZP） on bone cancer pain （BCP）. MethodsThirty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups： a Sham group， a BCP group， a BCP+low-dose XZP group， a BCP+high-dose XZP group， and a BCP+high-dose XZP + protease-activated receptor 2 （PAR2） agonist GB-110 group. BCP mice model was constructed by injecting Lewis lung carcinoma cells into the femoral cavity of the right leg， which was followed by being treated with XZP for 21 d. After 21 d， the mice were sacrificed. Nissl staining was used to evaluate the survival of spinal cord neurons. Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to localize ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 （Iba1） and neuronal nuclear antigen （NeuN） in spinal cord tissue， thereby assessing microglial activation and neuronal survival. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to measure the levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， and interleukin-10 （IL-10） in spinal cord tissue. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect mRNA expression levels associated with M1/M2 polarization of microglia. Western blot analysis was performed to examine the expression of proteins related to microglial polarization as well as those involved in the PAR2/nuclear factor kappa B （NF-κB）/NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） signaling pathway in the spinal cord. ResultsCompared with the Sham group， the spinal cord neurons were damaged， the number of Nissl-positive spinal cord neurons in the spinal cord tissue was significantly reduced （P<0.01）， and the rate of NeuN-positive cells was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The spinal cord microglia were activated， the inflammatory level of the spinal cord tissue was enhanced， and Iba1 staining was significantly enhanced （P<0.01）. The levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， IL-6， TGF-β， IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The mRNA expressions of IL-1β， TNF-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） were significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the expression of PAR2， NLRP3， ASC and NF-κB p65 proteins in the spinal cord tissue of the BCP mice was significantly enhanced （P<0.01）. Compared with the BCP group， high-dose XZP treatment significantly increased the number of Nissl-positive spinal cord neurons in the BCP mice （P<0.01）， significantly enhanced the rate of NeuN-positive cells in the spinal cord tissue， and significantly weakened Iba1 staining （P<0.01）. In addition， the levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， and IL-6 were significantly decreased， while the levels of TGF-β， IL-4， and IL-10 were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The mRNA expression levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， and iNOS were decreased， whereas those of cluster of differentiation 206 （CD206）， arginase-1 （Arg-1）， and YM1/2 were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Low-dose and high-dose XZP treatment significantly decreased the expression of PAR2， NLRP3， ASC， and NF-κB p65 proteins in the spinal cord tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）. These effects could all be significantly eliminated by the PAR2 agonist GB-110. ConclusionXZP can mitigate BCP in mice， which may be achieved through blocking the activated PAR2/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.

ObjectiveThe paper aims to investigate the action mechanism by which the Xiaozheng Zhitong paste （XZP） relieves bone cancer pain （BCP）. MethodsA model of mice with BCP was established by using Lewis tumor cells. The therapeutic effects of XZP， the ferroptosis inhibitor Ferrostatin-1 （Fer-1）， and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2） inhibitor Brusatol （Bru） on BCP were examined. Mice were randomly divided into the Sham operation group， BCP group， BCP+XZP-L group， BCP+XZP-H group， BCP+Fer-1 group， and BCP+XZP-H+Bru group， with six mice in each group. Pain behavior tests were conducted on the mice to assess pain levels. Colorimetric assays were employed to measure ferroptosis-related factors in serum and spinal cord tissue including Fe， malondialdehyde （MDA）， reactive oxygen species （ROS）， and superoxide dismutase （SOD）. Immunofluorescence staining was used to assess ROS production in spinal cord tissue. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of mitochondria in lumbar spinal cord tissue. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was employed to detect mRNA expression of Nrf2， heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）， glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4）， and solute carrier family 7 member 11 （SLC7A11） in spinal cord neuron tissue. The protein expression of Nrf2， HO-1， GPX4， and SLC7A11 in spinal cord neurons was measured by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the Sham group， mice in the BCP group exhibited significantly reduced limb usage scores， mechanical foot withdrawal thresholds， and thermal foot withdrawal thresholds （P<0.01）. Serum and lumbar spinal cord tissue levels of Fe， MDA， and reactive oxygen species （ROS） were significantly elevated （P<0.05）， while superoxide dismutase （SOD） levels were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Lumbar spinal cord mitochondrial structural damage was observed， and mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2， HO-1， GPX4， and SLC7A11 were significantly downregulated （P<0.01）. Compared with the BCP group， both low- and high-dose XZP groups improved the aforementioned pain behavioral indicators （P<0.05，P<0.01）， reduced ferroptosis-related biomarkers including Fe， MDA， and ROS levels （P<0.05）， increased SOD levels （P<0.05，P<0.01）， alleviated mitochondrial damage， and upregulated Nrf2， HO-1， GPX4， SLC7A11 mRNA and protein expression （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The high-dose XZP group exhibited comparable efficacy to Fer-1 in alleviating pain and inhibiting ferroptosis. Following Bru administration， XZP's effects on pain behavioral indicators， regulation of ferroptosis-related markers， mitochondrial structural protection， and activation of the Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4/SLC7A11 pathway were significantly reversed （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionExternal application of XZP alleviates pain symptoms in BCP mice by activating the Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4/SLC7A11 pathway， thereby inhibiting ferroptosis and neuronal damage in spinal cord neurons.

Cancer pain is one of the most common complications in patients with malignant tumors， severely affecting their quality of life. Its pathogenesis involves complex interactions among the tumor microenvironment， peripheral sensitization， and central sensitization. The tumor microenvironment initiates peripheral pain sensitization by secreting algogenic mediators， activating ion channels and related receptor signaling pathways， driving abnormal osteoclast activation， and mediating neuro-immune crosstalk. Persistent nociceptive input further triggers increased excitability of central neurons， activation of glial cells， and neuroinflammatory cascade reactions， ultimately leading to central pain sensitization. Although traditional opioid drugs can alleviate pain to some extent， they still have many limitations， such as incomplete analgesia， drug tolerance， and adverse reactions. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） compounds have made continuous progress in the treatment of cancer pain. Studies have shown that they can not only effectively relieve cancer pain and reduce the dosage of opioids but also significantly improve patients' quality of life. TCM treatment of cancer pain follows the principle of syndrome differentiation and treatment. Based on this， targeted therapeutic principles have been proposed， including promoting blood circulation， removing stasis， regulating Qi， and unblocking collaterals； tonifying the kidney， replenishing essence， warming Yang， and dispersing cold， activating blood， resolving phlegm， detoxifying， and dispersing nodules， as well as strengthening the body， replenishing deficiency， and harmonizing Qi and blood. Modern research indicates that TCM compounds can exert synergistic effects through multiple pathways， inhibiting inflammatory responses， regulating nerve conduction， intervening in bone metabolism and related gene expression， thereby producing anti-inflammatory and bone-protective effects to achieve the goal of alleviating cancer pain. This article systematically elaborates on the pathogenesis of cancer pain， the clinical application of TCM in treating cancer pain， and its related mechanisms of action， aiming to provide a theoretical basis and new strategies for the integration of TCM into comprehensive cancer pain management.

Pain， as one of the most common symptoms in cancer patients， seriously affects the survival quality of patients. The three-step pain relief program currently used in clinical practice cannot completely relieve pain in cancer patients and is accompanied by many problems. From the perspective of Jueyin syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， this paper believed that the core pathogenesis of cancer pain was declined healthy Qi and cold and heat in complexity， and used Wumeiwan as the main formula with modification according to syndrome for clearing the upper， warming the lower part of the body， and harmonizing the cold and heat. It can regulate the pathological environment of deficiency， cold， stasis， toxicity， and heat， and restore the physiological function of Yang transforming Qi while Yin constituting form， so as to prevent， relieve， and even eliminate cancer pain， having achieved good clinical efficacy. It can not only help cancer patients relieve pain， but also control tumor and eliminate tumor， achieving a dual benefit of pain relief and tumor suppression. It gives full play to the characteristics and advantages of syndrome differentiation and treatment in TCM， and expands the scope of ZHANG Zhongjing's treatment for Jueyin syndrome， which provides ideas for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancer pain from the perspective of deficiency-excess in complexity and cold and heat in complexity.

Objective To introduce the causes of accidents and the diagnosis and treatment of two patients with radiation-induced skin injury admitted to our hospital in 2023, and to provide a reference for the clinical treatment of subsequent radiation-induced skin injury. Methods The clinical treatment process of two patients with acute skin injury caused by external radiation exposure were summarized and analyzed. Results The exposure history of the two patients was reconstructed, the flaw detection scenario was simulated, the biological dose and hand skin exposure dose were estimated, and the infrared thermal imaging device was used for dynamic monitoring. A comprehensive analysis was conducted based on clinical manifestations and other data. The diagnosis of “Xie” was excessive exposure combined with acute radiation-induced skin injury on both hands (Grade IV for the right hand palm, index finger, and middle finger and Grade II for the left hand little finger). The diagnosis of “Hao” was acute radiation-induced skin injury on both hands (Grade I). The two patients received different clinical treatment measures: “Xie” was treated with both local and systemic therapies, while “Hao” was mainly treated with systemic therapy. Conclusion After systematic and effective treatment, the radiation-induced skin injuries healed in both patients.

Malignant tumors are one of the major causes of death in the population. Owing to limited clinical treatments， susceptibility to drug resistance， and generally low cure rates of conventional therapies， new treatment strategies need to be explored. Compared with existing therapies， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has unique advantages， such as low side effects， in the treatment of malignant tumors. Ferroptosis is a recently characterized form of regulated cell death associated with iron metabolism imbalance， lipid peroxidation， antioxidant system malfunction and other aspects. Studies have shown that TCM regulates Fe³⁺， Fe²⁺， glutathione， glutathione peroxidase 4 and other substances related to ferroptosis， thereby affecting lipid peroxidation and antioxidant processes， and then inducing ferroptosis. Through these mechanisms， TCM plays a key role in inhibiting the growth and spread of tumor cells and is involved in multiple stages of malignant tumor progression. In this study， we systematically retrieved the literature indexed in PbuMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI） with the keywords TCM， ferroptosis， and malignant tumors. We outlined the mechanisms of ferroptosis and its association with malignant tumors， and summarized the research progress on the prevention and treatment of malignant tumors through the modulation of ferroptosis by TCM monomers， single herbs， and compounds. The study aims to provide new perspectives for the prevention and treatment of malignant tumors by TCM.

Malignant tumors are one of the major causes of death in the population. Owing to limited clinical treatments， susceptibility to drug resistance， and generally low cure rates of conventional therapies， new treatment strategies need to be explored. Compared with existing therapies， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has unique advantages， such as low side effects， in the treatment of malignant tumors. Ferroptosis is a recently characterized form of regulated cell death associated with iron metabolism imbalance， lipid peroxidation， antioxidant system malfunction and other aspects. Studies have shown that TCM regulates Fe³⁺， Fe²⁺， glutathione， glutathione peroxidase 4 and other substances related to ferroptosis， thereby affecting lipid peroxidation and antioxidant processes， and then inducing ferroptosis. Through these mechanisms， TCM plays a key role in inhibiting the growth and spread of tumor cells and is involved in multiple stages of malignant tumor progression. In this study， we systematically retrieved the literature indexed in PbuMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI） with the keywords TCM， ferroptosis， and malignant tumors. We outlined the mechanisms of ferroptosis and its association with malignant tumors， and summarized the research progress on the prevention and treatment of malignant tumors through the modulation of ferroptosis by TCM monomers， single herbs， and compounds. The study aims to provide new perspectives for the prevention and treatment of malignant tumors by TCM.

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Wendan Ningxin granules （WNG） on susceptibility to atrial fibrillation （AF） in mice with inflammatory injury. Methods100 C57BL/6 mice were divided into a blank control group， a model group， a low-dose WNG group （2.34 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， a high-dose WNG group （4.68 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and an amiodarone positive control group （0.091 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， with 20 mice in each group. Except for the blank control group， mice in other groups received intraperitoneal injections of lipopolysaccharide （LPS） to establish an inflammatory injury model. Treatment groups received continuous intragastric administration of their respective interventions for four weeks. During the fourth week， the treatment groups received LPS injections concurrently with their treatments. The blank control and model groups received distilled water （10 mL·kg^-1·d^-1） by gavage， with a gavage volume of 10 mL·kg^-1 for all groups， once daily. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Sirius red staining were used to observe atrial tissue morphology and fibrosis degree. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the expression of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） in mouse atrial tissue. Electrophysiological detection was performed using a multi-channel electrophysiology mapping system to measure AF inducibility， AF duration， and atrial effective refractory period （AERP）. High-resolution optical mapping was used to measure action potential duration （APD） dispersion， conduction heterogeneity index， and calcium transient （CaT） dispersion. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect mRNA expression of proteins related to diastolic calcium leakage in mouse atria： Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ（CaMKⅡ）， ryanodine receptor 2（RyR2）， sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase （SERCA）， and sodium-calcium exchanger （NCX）. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of CaMKII， RyR2， SERCA， and NCX proteins in myocardial tissue from each group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure serum levels of inflammatory factors interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）. ResultsPathological staining results showed that compared with the blank control group， the model group exhibited disrupted atrial tissue structure， inflammatory cell infiltration， atrial fibrosis， and diffuse infiltration of numerous brown α-SMA positive cells in the atrial interstitium （P<0.01）. AF could be induced by electrical stimulation with a longer duration. AERP was shortened， while APD dispersion， conduction heterogeneity index， and CaT dispersion were increased （P<0.01）. The expression of proteins associated with diastolic calcium leakage， including CaMKⅡ， RyR2， and NCX1， showed elevated mRNA and protein levels， whereas SERCA2a mRNA and protein expression decreased （P<0.05）. Serum levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α were elevated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， intervention with WNG alleviated cardiac structural damage， reduced inflammatory cell infiltration， improved atrial fibrosis， and reduced the diffuse infiltration of α-SMA positive cells （P<0.01）. AF inducibility and AF duration upon electrical stimulation were significantly reduced （P<0.05）， AERP was prolonged （P<0.05）， mRNA and protein expression of CaMKⅡ， RyR2， and NCX1-proteins associated with diastolic calcium leakage-were reduced， whilst mRNA and protein expression of SERCA2a increased （P<0.05）， and serum levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were decreased （P<0.01）. ConclusionBoth low‑ and high‑dose WNG can effectively reduce susceptibility to inflammation-related AF. The mechanism by which WNG reduce AF susceptibility may be related to regulating proteins involved in sarcoplasmic reticulum diastolic calcium leak， thereby improving cardiac electrical remodeling， and alleviating inflammation-induced myocardial fibrosis， thus improving cardiac structural remodeling.