ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Solanum nigrum on hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride （CCl₄） in rats. MethodsSixty SD rats were randomly allocated into blank， model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （0.9， 1.8， 3.6 g·kg^-1， respectively） S. nigrum， and silibinin capsules （18.9 mg·kg^-1） groups. Except the blank group， the other groups were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of 40% CCl₄ solution for the modeling of hepatic fibrosis. After 4 weeks of gavage， blood was collected from the abdominal aorta following intraperitoneal anesthesia. The rats were sacrificed， and the liver was separated. The pathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining. The levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， and liver fibrosis indexes ［type Ⅲ procollagen （PCⅢ）， type Ⅳ collagen （Col Ⅳ）， laminin （LN）， and hyaluronic acid （HA）］ in the rat serum were determined. The mRNA and protein levels of B cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）/Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）/cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3 （Caspase-3） pathway-related factors were determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group exhibited significant hepatocyte edema， infiltration of inflammatory cells， connective tissue proliferation， and collagen fiber deposition in the liver tissue. Compared with the model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose S. nigrum and silymarin capsules significantly improved the structure of liver cells and alleviated the edema， inflammatory cell infiltration， connective tissue proliferation， and collagen fiber deposition. Compared with those in the blank group， the serum levels of ALT， AST， PCⅢ， Col Ⅳ， LN， and HA were elevated in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the serum levels of ALT， AST， PCⅢ， Col Ⅳ， LN， and HA were reduced in all the treatment groups （P<0.05）. Real-time PCR and Western blot results showed that compared with the blank group， the model group had up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2 and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Bax and Caspase-3 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all the treatment groups showed down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2 and up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Bax and Caspase-3 （P<0.05）， with the high-dose S. nigrum group showing the best therapeutic effect. ConclusionS. nigrum modulates the progression of hepatic fibrosis in rats by regulating apoptosis through the Bcl-2/Bax/caspase-3 pathway.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide， and tumor metastasis is a key factor contributing to the mortality of most lung cancer patients. Aberrant activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） is a major driver of lung cancer progression and metastasis. EMT is characterized by the loss of apical-basal polarity and intercellular adhesion in highly differentiated， polarized， and organized epithelial cells， which acquire motility， migratory potential， and invasive properties. During this process， cells undergo cytoskeletal remodeling and transform into a mesenchymal phenotype， accompanied by associated changes in cellular markers. The EMT process is highly complex and is tightly regulated by intricate networks involving multiple transcription factors， post-translational controls， epigenetic modifications， and non-coding RNAs. Therefore， therapies targeting the mechanisms of malignant transformation and their associated pathways in lung cancer are of significant clinical importance. In recent years， EMT has attracted increasing attention as a potential target for cancer therapy. Chinese medicine， with its characteristics of multi-target action， low side effects， and good therapeutic efficacy， has demonstrated an important role in anticancer treatment. A series of studies have investigated the role of Chinese medicine in inhibiting EMT in lung cancer. Active ingredients of Chinese medicine， including flavonoids， glycosides， phenols， terpenoids， saccharides， and alkaloids， as well as Chinese medicine compound formulas， have shown significant regulatory effects on EMT. Their mechanisms mainly involve multiple pathways， targets， and links， including signaling pathways， exosomes， microRNAs （miRNAs）， and the tumor-associated immune microenvironment. This article summarizes the mechanisms by which EMT promotes malignant tumor progression and reviews the current research on how Chinese medicine active ingredients， monomers， and compound formulas inhibit EMT and suppress lung cancer cell migration and invasion. This study is expected to provide comprehensive theoretical information for basic and translational research on lung cancer.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of respiratory training based on core stabilization training on lumbar disc herniation. MethodsFrom January, 2023 to October, 2024, 96 patients with lumbar disc herniation admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University were divided into control group (n = 32), core group (n = 32) and respiratory group (n = 32). All the groups underwent conventional rehabilitation therapy, with core stabilization training in the core group and respiratory training combined with core stabilization training in the respiratory group, additionally, for four weeks. Before and after training, the scores of Visual Analogue Scale, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and Oswestry Dysfunction Index (ODI) were compared, the average electromyographic value (AEMG) and root mean square (RMS) value of the multifidus and transversus abdominis were detected by surface electromyography (sEMG); and the thickness of the multifidus and transversus abdominis were measured by musculoskeletal ultrasonography bilaterally. ResultsThe intra-group effect (F > 597.796, P < 0.001), inter-group effect (F > 16.535, P < 0.001) and interaction effect (F > 49.622, P < 0.001) were significant in the scores of VAS, JOA and ODI; which were better in the respiratory group than in the control group and the core group (P < 0.05), and were better in the core group than in the control group (P < 0.001). The intra-group effect (F > 7971.631, P < 0.001), inter-group effect (F > 177.760, P < 0.001) and interaction effect (F > 478.771, P < 0.001) were significant in the thickness of the transversus abdominis and multifidus; which were better in the respiratory group than in the control group and the core group (P < 0.001), and were better in the core group than in the control group (P < 0.001). The intra-group effect (F > 144303.007, P < 0.001), inter-group effect (F > 1495.458, P < 0.001) and interaction effect (F > 3121.361, P < 0.001) were significant in the RMS of the multifidus and transversus abdominis; which were better in the respiratory group than in the control group and the core group (P < 0.001), and were better in the core group than in the control group (P < 0.001). The intra-group effect (F > 1890.532, P < 0.001), inter-group effect (F > 607.132, P < 0.001) and interaction effect (F > 824.923, P < 0.001) were significant in the AEMG of the multifidus and transversus abdominis; which were better in the respiratory group than in the control group and core group (P < 0.001), and were better in the core group than in the control group (P < 0.001). ConclusionCore training combined with respiratory training can more effectively reduce pain and improve dysfunction by enhancing the strength and control of the core muscles， thus improving the quality of life of patients with lumbar disc herniation.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the ameliorative effects and mechanisms of Miao medicine Euphorbia humifusa on hepatic fibrosis （HF） model rats. METHODS Thirty-eight rats were randomly assigned according to a random number table into control group （normal saline， n＝7）， model group （normal saline， n＝7）， E. humifusa low-， medium- and high-dose groups （0.675， 1.35， 2.70 g/kg， n＝6）， and silybin group （positive control， 18.9 mg/kg， n＝6）. All groups except the control group were subjected to HF induction via intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride. After modeling， rats were administered their respective drugs/normal saline by gavage， once a day， for 30 days. At the last medication， the liver index was calculated， and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-17 （IL-17）， IL-1β， IL-6， alanine transaminase （ALT）， aspartate transaminase （AST）， and hydroxyproline （HYP） were measured. Liver morphology and HF changes were observed. Levels of transforming growth factor- β1 （TGF- β1） and α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， as well as the expressions of α -SMA， proteins related to TNF- α/NF- κB signaling pathway， mRNA expressions of TNF-α and NF-κB p65 in liver tissue were determined. RESULTS Compared with model group， liver index， serum levels of TNF-α， IL-17， IL-1β， IL-6， ALT， AST and HYP， relative expression of NF-κB p65 mRNA， and the levels of TNF-α and α-SMA proteins and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 in liver tissues of rats from administration groups， the expressions of α-SMA and TGF-β1 in liver tissue of rats from E. humifusa medium-dose and high-dose groups， as well as positive staining percentage and mRNA expression of TNF- α in liver tissue of rats from E. humifusa high-dose group were all decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； IκBα protein expression from administration groups was significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Pathological changes and the degree of HF in the liver tissues of rats from administration groups were ameliorated to various extents. CONCLUSIONS E. humifusa may alleviate HF in rats by inhibiting the activation of the TNF-α/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Damage to barrier function due to a loss of moisture in the skin can lead to skin diseases, such as atopy and psoriasis. Hyaluronic acid (HA) has the ability to retain large amounts of moisture and thereby protects the skin against moisture loss. In addition, tight junctions prevent water loss and maintain barrier functions by restricting molecular movement through cell-to-cell connections. In this study, the effects of Prunus yedoensis bark water extract (PYBWE) on HA synthesis and tight junction protein expression in HaCaT cells were evaluated.In HaCaT cells, PYBWE had effects on the MAPKs, CREB, AKT, NF-κB, and CLDN-4 signaling pathways, at 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL concentrations increasing the amount of HA produced via HAS-2 and effectively improving skin barrier function.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to use plasma metabolites to identify clusters of breast cancer survivors and to compare their dietary characteristics and health-related factors across the clusters using unsupervised machine learning. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 419 breast cancer survivors were included in this crosssectional study. We considered 30 plasma metabolites, quantified by high-throughput nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics. Clusters were obtained based on metabolites using 4 different unsupervised clustering methods: k-means (KM), partitioning around medoids (PAM), self-organizing maps (SOM), and hierarchical agglomerative clustering (HAC). The t-test, χ2 test, and Fisher’s exact test were used to compare sociodemographic, lifestyle, clinical, and dietary characteristics across the clusters. P-values were adjusted through a false discovery rate (FDR). RESULTS: Two clusters were identified using the 4 methods. Participants in cluster 2 had lower concentrations of apolipoprotein A1 and large high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles and smaller HDL particle sizes, but higher concentrations of chylomicrons and extremely large very-low-density-lipoprotein (VLDL) particles and glycoprotein acetyls, a higher ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids to total fatty acids, and larger VLDL particle sizes compared with cluster 1. Body mass index was significantly higher in cluster 2 compared with cluster 1 (FDR adjusted-PKM < 0.001; PPAM = 0.001; PSOM < 0.001; and PHAC = 0.043). CONCLUSION The breast cancer survivors clustered on the basis of plasma metabolites had distinct characteristics. Further prospective studies are needed to investigate the associations between metabolites, obesity, dietary factors, and breast cancer prognosis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Isoflavones are estrogen-like compounds found in plants and their health effects remain equivocal. We investigated dietary isoflavone intake and its associated factors in Korean breast cancer survivors, with a comparison to cancer-free women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The usual dietary intake of breast cancer survivors (n = 981, mean age 52 yrs) in 9 hospitals between 2012 and 2019 was assessed using 3-day food records or food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). They were age-matched to 2,943 cancer-free women who completed FFQs as part of a nationwide study conducted between 2012 and 2016. We used the flavonoid database of common Korean foods and the Phenol-Explorer database to estimate isoflavone intake. The contribution of each food or food group to the total isoflavone intake was calculated. The adjusted least-squares means of dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle and clinical factors were calculated using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Breast cancer survivors had a higher mean dietary isoflavone intake (23.59 mg/day) than cancer-free women (17.81 mg/day). Major food sources, including tofu, soybeans, and doenjang, contributed to over 70% of the isoflavone intake in both groups. When we estimated dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle characteristics, isoflavone intake increased with higher scores of adherence to the American Cancer Society dietary guidelines but decreased with increasing body mass index in both groups. Among cancer-free women, dietary isoflavone intake was higher among those who had never smoked and among dietary supplement users. Among breast cancer survivors, dietary isoflavone intakes did not vary with clinical characteristics, including time since surgery and estrogen receptor status. CONCLUSION Breast cancer survivors were more likely to consume isoflavones than agematched cancer-free women. Dietary isoflavone intake was associated with healthy lifestyle characteristics in women both with and without breast cancer. Further research is needed to understand the role of the higher isoflavone intake among breast cancer survivors compared to cancer-free women on their prognosis.

Objectives: Hypoparathyroidism (HP) is a rare endocrine disorder caused by parathyroid hormone (PTH) defi ciency. The PTH is a candidate gene for familial isolated hypoparathyroidism (FIH). This study aimed to investigate the pathogenicity of two novel rare variants (RVs) ofPTH through in vitro functional study. Methods: Targeted next-generation sequencing was used to identify candidate gene mutations. Clinical data were retrospectively collected. Wild-type (WT) PTH was used as a template for site-directed mutagenesis to create mutant eukaryotic expression plasmids, which were transfected into cells. Treated with or without 4-phenylbu tyric acid (4-PBA), the levels of intact PTH (iPTH) and PTH (1-84) were measured by chemiluminescence, and protein expression was assessed using Western blotting. Results: Two patients carrying PTH mutations (c.154G > A: p.Val52Ile, c.270G > T: p.Leu90Phe) were identified.Patient 1, a 45-year-old male, presented with carpal and pedal numbness, muscle cramps, and low serum calcium (1.29 mmol/L). Patient 2, a 12-year-old female, had muscle twitches, convulsions, low calcium (1.50 mmol/L), and iPTH of 4 pg/mL. The iPTH or PTH (1-84) levels in the medium transfected with mutant Val52Ile and Leu90Phe PTH decreased by 31%–38%, and 51%–96% compared to WT (allP < 0.05), which were not rescued by 4-PBA. No significant changes in intracellular PTH expression were observed. Conclusions In this study, two novel RVs of PTH(Val52Ile and Leu90Phe) were identified that may impair hormone synthesis and secretion. Our study has broadened the mutation spectrum of the PTH and shed light on potential mechanisms underlying FIH.

Objective: Objective of this study is to evaluate the association between high risk of depression and metabolic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia in Korean cervical cancer patients. Methods: A total of 330 women with cervical cancer were included in this study, using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2010 to 2021. Participants were categorized into two groups—high risk of depression and non-depression—based on their answers to survey items related to depression. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the influence of metabolic diseases on high risk of depression in patients with cervical cancer. Results: A total of 78 (23.64%) and 252 (76.36%) women were classified into the high risk of depression and non-depression groups, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, menopausal status, and smoking status, diabetes was associated with an odds ratio of 2.47 (95% confidence interval: 1.205, 5.071) for high risk of depression in cervical cancer patients. However, among the metabolic diseases, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were not associated with high risk of depression in patients with cervical cancer. Conclusion This study suggests that diabetes may be associated with a increased risk of high risk of depression in cervical cancer patients. Therefore, appropriate treatment of diabetes in cervical cancer patients may contribute to lowering the risk of depression in the future.

This review examines the challenges associated with occupational disease surveillance in Korea, particularly emphasizing the limitations of current data sources such as the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance (IACI) statistics and special health examinations. The IACI system undercounts cases due to its emphasis on severe diseases and restrictions on approvals. Special health examinations, although they cover a broad workforce, are constrained by their annual scheduling, which leads to missed acute illnesses and subclinical conditions. The paper also explores the history of occupational disease surveillance in Korea, highlighting the fragmented and disease-specific approach of earlier systems. The authors introduce the newly established Korea Occupational Disease Surveillance Center (KODSC), a comprehensive nationwide system designed to gather, analyze, and interpret data on occupational diseases through a network of regional centers. By incorporating hospital-based surveillance and focusing on acute poisonings and other sentinel events, the KODSC aims to overcome the limitations of previous systems and promote collaboration with various agencies. Although it is still in the early stages of implementation, the KODSC demonstrates potential for improving data accuracy and contributing valuable insights for public health policy.