ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanisms of action of the modified Duhuo Jisheng Mixture （JDJM） in treating synovial lesions in knee osteoarthritis （KOA）. MethodsA total of 43 male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly allocated into a blank group （n=8） and a model group （n=35）. The KOA model was induced by immobilizing the right hind limb with a high-molecular resin plaster bandage， with a modeling period of 6 weeks， resulting in successful modeling in 32 rabbits. These rabbits were then randomly allocated to the model group， celecoxib group， JDJM group and JDJM+740Y-P group， each consisting of 8 rabbits. The celecoxib group received celecoxib via gavage at a single dose of 0.009 3 g·kg^-1， while the JDJM was administered a single dose of 6.8 mL·kg^-1 （4.515 2 g·kg^-1） of the herbal preparation via gavage. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin （PI3K/Akt/mTOR） pathway activator + JDJM group received 4.515 2 g·kg^-1 of the herbal preparation via gavage along with an auricular vein injection of 0.15 μmol·kg^-1 740Y-P. For a period of 6 weeks， the remaining groups received an equal volume of physiological saline via gavage daily. After the medication period， the knee joint pain threshold and circumference were measured， and hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to assess the pathological changes in the synovial tissues. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） measured the levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-18） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in the joint fluid. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to assess the mRNA expression of PI3K， Akt， mTOR， NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， cysteine-requiring aspartate protease-1 （Caspase-1） and gasdermin D （GSDMD） in the synovial tissues. Immunohistochemical （IHC） assay was performed to assess the protein expression of NLRP3， Caspase-1 and GSDMD. Western blot was carried out to analyze the protein expression of p-PI3K/PI3K， p-Akt/Akt， p-mTOR/mTOR， NLRP3， Caspase-1 and GSDMD. ResultsCompared to the blank group， the model group showed a significant increase in knee joint circumference and decrease in pain threshold， the synovial tissue pathology score was higher （P<0.05）， and the levels of IL-1β， IL-18， and TNF-α in the joint fluid significantly increased （P<0.01）. PI3K， Akt， mTOR phosphorylation as well as mRNA and protein expression increased （P<0.01）， while the mRNA and protein expression levels of NLRP3， Caspase-1 and GSDMD also significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared to the model group， the celecoxib and JDJM groups exhibited a significant reduction in knee joint circumference and increase in pain threshold， the synovial tissue pathology score was lower （P<0.05）， and the levels of IL-1β， IL-18， and TNF-α in the joint fluid decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression of p-PI3K， p-Akt， p-mTOR， NLRP3， Caspase-1 and GSDMD were reduced （P<0.01）. Compared to the JDJM group， the JDJM+740Y-P group showed a decrease in the improvement of synovial lesions， an increase in knee joint circumference， and a decrease in pain threshold. The synovial tissue pathology score was lower （P<0.05）， and the levels of IL-1β， IL-18， and TNF-α in the joint fluid were higher （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression of p-PI3K/PI3K， p-Akt/Akt， p-mTOR/mTOR， NLRP3， Caspase-1 and GSDMD increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionJDJM is effective in treating KOA. Its mechanism may involve modulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in synovial tissues， inhibiting pyroptosis， reducing inflammatory factor release， and protecting bony structures.

Objective To construct a lung cancer surgery-oriented disease-specific database covering the entire perioperative care pathway, thereby improving the quality and usability of key surgical data elements. Methods Real-world clinical data were extracted from a single-center thoracic surgery department. A standardized data model was established based on the open electronic health record (openEHR) standard. Large language model (LLM), optical character recognition (OCR), and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven techniques were employed to extract, structure, and perform quality control on unstructured clinical narratives, imaging reports, and radiological data, with a focus on capturing surgically relevant perioperative indicator. Results A multimodal database comprising 19 917 patients was established, including 7 930 males and 11 987 females, with ages ranging from 15 to 97 (61.7±9.7) years. The database includes 582 structured data variables, textual report data corresponding to 69 clinical indicators, 13 000 pulmonary function test PDF reports, and chest CT imaging data from 16 884 patients. This database comprehensively covers major information relevant to surgical diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, significantly improving the completeness and granularity of surgical detail data. Large language models (LLMs) and optical character recognition (OCR) technologies enhanced the efficiency of converting unstructured data into structured formats, while a multi-level manual verification process ensured data accuracy and traceability. The database supports real-world research including comparisons of surgical procedures, prediction of postoperative complications, prognosis assessment, and multimodal data association analyses.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of fms-like tyrosine kinase-1(sFlt-1)to placental growth factor(PLGF)ratio(sFlt-1/PLGF),serum uric acid(UA)and albumin(ALB)for preeclampsia(PE).Methods A total of 110 pregnant women with PE who underwent prenatal examination,delivery and had complete data at the Affiliated Women's and Children's Medical Center of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2022 to July 2023 were selected as the PE group,and another 47 healthy pregnant women during the same period were selected as the control group.A retrospective analysis was conducted.The general data of the two groups of pregnant women,such as gestational weeks at delivery,blood pressure,body mass index(BMI),the second trimester and biochemical indicators,such as serum sFlt-1 and PLGF were compared.Lo-gistic regression Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for the occurrence of PE,and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of sFlt-1/PLGF and biochemical indicators for PE.Results The levels of serum UA and sFlt-1/PLGF in the PE group were higher than those in the control group,while the level of serum ALB was lower than that in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The results of ROC curve analysis showed that sFlt-1/PLGF,UA,and ALB all had certain diagnostic value for PE.The areas under the curve(AUC)were 0.854,0.825,and 0.778 respectively,and the AUC of the combination of the three was 0.894,which was higher than that of the single detection(P＜0.05).Conclusion The three indicators,sFlt-1/PLGF,UA and ALB,are all have reference value for predicting the occurrence and development of PE.The combined detec-tion of the three has a better diagnostic efficacy for PE..

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with western medicine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)complicated with mild anemia under the guidance of"Dongyuan acupuncture".Methods A total of 80 cases of patients definitively diagnosed as RA complicated with mild anemia of deficiency of qi and blood were selected and randomly divided into the observation group and the control group according to the random number table method,those who were admitted to the wards and outpatient clinics of the Department.of Rheumatology,Chongqing Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from February 2024 to September 2024,with 40 cases in each group.The control group was given conventional treatment with western medicines,while the observation group was additionally treated with acupuncture under the guidance of"Dongguan acupuncture".The course of treatment covered four consecutive weeks.After one month of treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated,and the changes in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)of pain scores,as well as Disease Activity Scores(DAS-28)before and after treatment were observed in the two groups.The changes of rheumatoid factor(RF),C-reactive protein(CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),red blood cell count(RBC),and hemoglobin(Hb)levels before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.The safety and incidence of adverse reactions in the two groups were also evaluated.Results(1)After treatment,the TCM syndrome scores of the patients in the observation group were improved significantly(P＜0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the VAS scores and DAS-28 scores of the patients in the two groups were improved significantly(P＜0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the RF,CRP,and ESR levels of patients in the two groups were improved significantly(P＜0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.05);after treatment,there was a significant improvement in the RBC level of the observation group(P＜0.05),but the difference was not statistically significant when compared with the control group(P＞0.05);after treatment,the Hb level of patients in the two groups were improved significantly(P＜0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.05).(4)The total effective rate was 95.00％(38/40)in the observation group and 87.50％(35/40)in the control group,and the efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.05).(5)The incidence of adverse reactions was 7.50％(3/40)in the observation group and 27.50％(11/40)in the control group,the incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Under the guidance of"Dongyuan acupuncture",the application of acupuncture combined with western medicine in the treatment of RA complicated with mild anemia can not only realize the complementarity of acupuncture and medicine,improve the clinical efficacy,reduce the level of inflammatory factors,and significantly alleviate the joint symptoms of the patients,but also increase the level of blood cells,improve the anemia condition of the patients and have fewer adverse reactions,thus enhancing their quality of life.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Shengqing Jiangzhuo(lifting lucid yang and lowering turbid yin)Acupuncture Method,based on the"turbidity-clearness interaction"theory,combined with western medicine in treating gouty nephropathy(GN)patients with damp-heat accumulation syndrome.Methods A total of 117 patients diagnosed with GN from September 2023 to September 2024 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine Chongqing Hospital were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups,with 39 cases in each group.The western medicine group received Febuxostat Tablets,the control group was given western medicine+conventional acupuncture,and observation group was given western medicine+Shengqing Jiangzhuo Acupuncture Method.All groups received 4 weeks of treatment.Clinical efficacy,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,visual analogue scale(VAS)of pain scores,and laboratory parameters—including serum uric acid(UA),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),creatinine(Scr),estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),β2-microglobulin(β2-MG),24-hour urinary protein(24h-UTP),cystatin C(CysC)were assessed.The erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),and C-reactive protein(CRP)were compared before and after treatment.Results(1)The total effective rate was 71.79%(28/39)in the western medicine group,84.62%(33/39)in the control group,and 92.31%(36/39)in the observation group.The observation group demonstrated statistically significant superiority over the western medicine group(P＜0.05),while showing marginally better efficacy than the control group without statistical significance(P＞0.05).(2)After treatment,all three groups exhibited significant improvements in ESR,CRP,and UA levels(P＜0.05).The observation group significantly outperformed the other two groups in reducing ESR and CRP levels(P＜0.05),and was statistically superior to the western medicine group in lowering UA levels(P＜0.05),though no significant difference was observed versus the control group for UA improvement(P＞0.05).The control group showed significantly greater reductions in ESR,CRP,and UA levels than the western medicine group(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,Scr,BUN,and eGFR levels were significantly improved in all groups(P＜0.05).The observation group achieved significantly better improvements in Scr and eGFR than the other two groups(P＜0.05).However,no statistical difference existed between the control and western medicine groups for Scr or eGFR enhancement(P＞0.05).No intergroup differences were detected in BUN improvement(P＞0.05).(4)Significant differences emerged in β2-MG and CysC levels among all groups after treatment(P＜0.05).Both observation and control groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in 24-hour 24h-UTP(P＜0.05),whereas the western medicine group showed no significant change(P＞0.05).The observation group significantly outperformed the other groups in reducing 24h-UTP and β2-MG levels(P＜0.05),and was superior to the western medicine group in lowering CysC(P＜0.05),though no difference versus the control group was observed for CysC reduction(P＞0.05).The control group showed no statistical advantage over the western medicine group in improving 24h-UTP,β 2-MG,or CysC(P＞0.05).(5)After treatment,TCM syndrome scores and VAS scores were significantly improved in all groups(P＜0.05).The observation group achieved significantly greater reductions in TCM syndrome scores and VAS scores than the western medicine group(P＜0.05).The control group showed statistically superior VAS score improvement versus the western medicine group(P＜0.05),but no significant differences emerged in TCM syndrome score improvement compared to either group(P＞0.05).No statistical difference existed between observation and control groups for VAS score reduction(P＞0.05).Conclusion Shengqing Jiangzhuo Acupuncture Method,grounded in the"turbidity-clearness interaction"theory,effectively reduces serum UA,controls inflammation,and preserves renal function in damp-heat accumulation type of GN,demonstrating significant therapeutic benefits.

Metal ion-promoted chemodynamic therapy(CDT) combined with photodynamic therapy(PDT) offers broad application prospects for enhancing anti-tumor effects. In this study, glycyrrhizic acid(GA), copper ions(Cu~(2+)), and norcantharidin(NCTD) were co-assembled to successfully prepare a natural small-molecule, carrier-free hydrogel(NCTD Gel) with excellent material properties. Under 808 nm laser irradiation, NCTD Gel responded to the tumor microenvironment(TME) and acted as an efficient Fenton reagent and photosensitizer, catalyzing the conversion of endogenous hydrogen peroxide(H_2O_2) within the tumor into oxygen(O_2), and hydroxyl radicals(·OH, type Ⅰ reactive oxygen species) and singlet oxygen(~1O_2, type Ⅱ reactive oxygen species), while depleting glutathione(GSH) to stabilize reactive oxygen species and alleviate tumor hypoxia. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that NCTD Gel exhibited significant CDT/PDT synergistic therapeutic effects. Further safety evaluation and metabolic testing confirmed its good biocompatibility and safety. This novel hydrogel is not only simple to prepare, safe, and cost-effective but also holds great potential for clinical transformation, providing insights and references for the research and development of metal ion-mediated hydrogel-based anti-tumor therapies.
Hydrogels/chemistry* ; Animals ; Photochemotherapy ; Humans ; Mice ; Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage* ; Photosensitizing Agents/chemistry* ; Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Female ; Copper/chemistry* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Male

This study explores the therapeutic differences and mechanisms of salt-processed Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex in improving insulin resistance(IR) based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and cellular experiments. The components and intersection targets of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex in improving IR were collected from databases, and a "drug-component-target-disease" network and protein-protein interaction(PPI) network were constructed to screen core components and targets. A total of 29 active components and 240 intersection targets were identified, of which 13 were core targets. Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were used to identify key signaling pathways, and molecular docking was performed to validate the binding activity between core components and targets. An IR model in HepG2 cells was induced using insulin combined with high glucose, and the effects of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex before and after salt-processing on cell glucose consumption were evaluated. The expression of proteins related to the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-protein kinase B(AKT) signaling pathways was detected by Western blot. The cellular experimental results showed that, compared with the model group, glucose consumption in the drug-treated groups was significantly increased(P<0.01), the phosphorylation level of extracellular regulated protein kinase(ERK) was decreased(P<0.05), the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and AKT were increased, and the expression of glucose transporter 4(GLUT4) was also upregulated(P<0.05). Furthermore, the effect of salt-processed Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex was better than that of raw Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex. The study demonstrates that Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex, both before and after salt-processing, improves IR by regulating the expression of related proteins in the MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways, with enhanced effects after salt-processing.
Humans ; Network Pharmacology ; Phellodendron/chemistry* ; Insulin Resistance ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Hep G2 Cells ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Glucose/metabolism*

Purpose: This study evaluated a school-based mental health program within a psychiatry clerkship to enhance medical students’ competencies in mental health literacy, empathy, communication, and adaptability. The program aimed to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical skills through experiential learning in a real-world, community-based setting. Methods: The study utilized convenience sampling to select 32 medical students from the 2023–2024 psychiatry clerkship cohort. Four focus group discussions, each lasting 60–90 minutes, provided qualitative data, which were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis in Atlas.ti (ATLAS.ti GmbH, Germany) to identify themes related to professional development. Results: Five key themes emerged, highlighting significant gains in context-sensitive communication, empathy, and mental health literacy specific to adolescent issues. The students reported increased clinical confidence, enhanced resilience through psychological techniques such mindfulness and motivational interviewing, and benefited from sustained engagement and peer support, fostering collaboration and stress management. Conclusion The school-based mental health program enhanced essential competencies in mental health literacy, empathy, communication, and practical skills for medical students. By integrating experiential learning into medical education, the program addressed training gaps, equipping future healthcare providers with the skills necessary for holistic and patient-centered mental healthcare across diverse clinical settings. The approach showed potential for broader applications in medical education to prepare students for comprehensive mental health support skills.

OBJECTIVE: Myocardial inflammation during myocardial infarction (MI) could be inhibited by regulating arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. Recent studies demonstrated that Sini Decoction (SND) was identified to be an effective prescription for treating heart failure (HF) caused by MI. But the anti-inflammatory mechanism of SND remained unclear. The work was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of SND through the AA metabolism pathway in vitro and in vivo experiments. METHODS: An inflammatory injury model of H9c2 cells was established by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage-conditioned medium (CM). The MI model was built by the ligation of left anterior descending (LAD) branch of coronary artery in rat. Meanwhile, the rats were divided into five groups: sham group, MI group, MI + Celecoxib group, MI + low-dose SND group (SND-L) and MI + high-dose SND group (SND-H). Cardiac function, histopathological changes and serum cytokines were examined four weeks later. Western blot analysis was conducted to verify the key enzymes levels in the AA metabolic pathway, including phospholipase A2 (PLA2), cyclooxygenases (COXs) and lipoxygenases (LOXs). RESULTS: These in vivo results demonstrated that SND could improve the cardiac function and pathological changes of rats with MI, and regulate the key inflammatory molecules in the AA metabolism pathway, including sPLA2, COX-1, COX-2, 5-LOX and 15-LOX. In vitro, SND could decrease the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α and IL-6 and inhibit cell apoptosis in CM-induced H9c2 cells. Moreover, SND could protect H9c2 cells from the damage of CM by regulating nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signal pathway and the expression of COX-2. CONCLUSION SND may be a drug candidate for anti-inflammatory treatment during MI by regulating the multiple targets in the AA metabolism pathway.

Purpose: This study evaluated a school-based mental health program within a psychiatry clerkship to enhance medical students’ competencies in mental health literacy, empathy, communication, and adaptability. The program aimed to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical skills through experiential learning in a real-world, community-based setting. Methods: The study utilized convenience sampling to select 32 medical students from the 2023–2024 psychiatry clerkship cohort. Four focus group discussions, each lasting 60–90 minutes, provided qualitative data, which were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis in Atlas.ti (ATLAS.ti GmbH, Germany) to identify themes related to professional development. Results: Five key themes emerged, highlighting significant gains in context-sensitive communication, empathy, and mental health literacy specific to adolescent issues. The students reported increased clinical confidence, enhanced resilience through psychological techniques such mindfulness and motivational interviewing, and benefited from sustained engagement and peer support, fostering collaboration and stress management. Conclusion The school-based mental health program enhanced essential competencies in mental health literacy, empathy, communication, and practical skills for medical students. By integrating experiential learning into medical education, the program addressed training gaps, equipping future healthcare providers with the skills necessary for holistic and patient-centered mental healthcare across diverse clinical settings. The approach showed potential for broader applications in medical education to prepare students for comprehensive mental health support skills.