Both cathartic colon （CC） and cathartic-dependent constipation （CDC） are caused by the abuse of stimulant laxatives， while their concepts are not completely the same.Starting from the disease name of CC， this article traced the origin and evolution of the concept of CC， summarizes and compared the similarities and differences between CC， CDC， and slow transit constipation （STC）， and called for strict differentiation among the three.Furthermore， this article explored the specific contents of Western medicine clinical subtypes and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome differentiation of CDC and delved into the TCM pathogenesis of CDC according to both literature and clinical practice.The relationship between clinical subtypes and TCM syndromes was established， and the syndrome characteristics of CDC of different clinical subtypes and TCM syndromes were summarized.The recommended prescriptions for corresponding syndromes were listed.A systematic CDC diagnosis and treatment approach of "clinical subtypes-syndrome differentiation-syndrome characteristics-recommended prescriptions" was thus formed.Additionally， the paper provides an overview of current research on CDC in both Western medicine and TCM contexts， identifies future research directions， and suggests research pathways for refining and advancing CDC studies.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of the Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue prescription （YYHP） in the treatment of cathartic colon （CC） and its effects on fecal short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs）， and to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria， 98 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine for CC with the syndrome of Qi-Yin deficiency complicated by blood stasis were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group. The observation group received YYHP granules， while the control group received lactulose. Both medications were administered twice daily， one sachet each time， half an hour after breakfast and dinner， with a treatment course of 8 weeks. The primary constipation symptom score， Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life （PAC-QOL） score， and TCM syndrome score were assessed before and after treatment and at the 8^th week after the end of treatment. The overall clinical effective rate， as well as the efficacy attenuation index and degree， were evaluated. Fecal SCFA levels were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS）. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. ResultsThe overall clinical effective rate in the observation group （95.83%） was higher than that in the control group （78.72%） （P<0.05）. After treatment， the total scores for primary constipation symptoms， PAC-QOL， and TCM syndromes decreased in both groups （P<0.05）， with more significant reductions in the observation group （P<0.05）. The severity of all primary constipation symptoms was alleviated in both groups （P<0.05）. In terms of "excessive straining and difficult defecation"， "anal heaviness， incomplete evacuation， and bloating sensation"， "abdominal distension"， and "defecation frequency"， the observation group showed better efficacy than the control group （P<0.05）. Scores of the four PAC-QOL dimensions and the scores and severity of primary and secondary TCM symptoms were reduced in both groups （P<0.05）， with more significant reductions in the observation group （P<0.05）. After treatment， acetic acid， propionic acid， butyric acid， and total SCFAs in the observation group increased significantly （P<0.05）. The efficacy attenuation index and degree in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （P<0.05）. No severe adverse reactions occurred in either group， and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. Positive correlations of varying degrees were observed among the total scores of primary constipation symptoms， PAC-QOL， and TCM syndromes， as well as between these scores and the history of stimulant laxative use， disease duration， and age. ConclusionYYHP can effectively alleviate the primary constipation symptoms in CC patients， improve quality of life， and ameliorate TCM syndromes， with good safety. It also has the advantage of a lower rebound degree after drug withdrawal， and its mechanism may be related to increasing fecal SCFA levels. Long-term abuse of stimulant laxatives may aggravate the severity of CC and prolong the disease course.

Background: Adrenocortical hormones, particularly 11-oxygenated androgens, are pivotal in female reproductive health and fertility. Standardized detection kits and population-specific reference intervals are lacking in China, hindering related clinical applications. Methods: A HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) pipeline was developed, rigorously validated, and applied to simultaneously quantify corticosterone, cortisone, cortisol, 18-OH cortisol, androstenedione (A4), 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OH A4), dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum samples from 455 reproductive-aged women (18–45 yrs) in Guangxi, China. Age-dependent concentration trends were analyzed, and reference intervals stratified by age (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles) were established. Correlations with body-composition metrics, ethnicity, and the menstrual cycle were investigated. Results: The HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated high precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs < 15%), accuracy, and sensitivity. All eight hormones exhibited significant age-related declines (P < 0.001 for seven hormones; P = 0.001 for 11-OH A4). Notably, 11-OH A4 levels were significantly lower in the 35–45-yr (3.05 nmol/L) and 25–34-yr (3.09 nmol/L) age groups than in the 18–24-yr (3.57 nmol/L) age group, whereas no significant difference was observed between the 35–45-yr and 25–34-yr age groups. Weak negative correlations were observed between the body mass index and corticosterone and cortisone levels, whereas ethnicity and the menstrual cycle showed no significant associations with hormone levels. Conclusions We developed an HPLC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneously quantifying eight adrenocortical hormones, including 11-OH A4, and defined age-specific reference intervals for reproductive-aged Chinese women. These findings advance the clinical utility of adrenocortical hormones in diagnosing and managing reproductive disorders.

Cardiotoxicity induced by antineoplastic agents is an important factor affecting the prognosis of cancer patients. This article systematically summarizes the clinical manifestations of cardiotoxicity caused by chemotherapeutic drugs, molecular targeted cancer therapies, and immunotherapeutic drugs, and identifies the core injury mechanisms, including cardiomyocyte apoptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, anticancer drug-induced cardiotoxicity falls under the category of “heat toxins” characterized by dual deficiency of qi and blood, upward flaming of heart heat, stagnation of the heart vessels, and meridian obstruction induced by phlegm-dampness. Therefore, by reviewing the preventive and therapeutic effects and the underlying mechanisms of tonic medicines, interior heat-clearing medicines, blood-circulating and stasis-resolving medicines, phlegm-transforming, cough-suppressing and panting-relieving medicines, and interior-warming medicines, this paper concludes that TCM prevention and treatment of this condition adheres to the formulation principle of “reinforcing healthy qi, removing toxins, and resolving blood stasis”. Its mechanisms of action—including antioxidation effects, regulation of autophagic balance, antagonism of inflammatory responses, and improvement of microcirculation—are highly consistent with modern medical treatment strategies (e.g., dexrazoxane for inhibiting iron-dependent oxidative stress, statins for anti-inflammatory effects). This study provides theoretical support and practical guidance for the collaborative and precise prevention and treatment of anticancer drug-induced cardiotoxicity through the integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

ObjectiveTo reveal the compatibility rules of the core compound formula and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） components for prevention and treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis （CAG） by Huazhuo Jiedu （turbidity-resolving and detoxifying） therapy through uniform design in view of the potential regulatory pathway of endogenous turbid-toxin retention in CAG， elucidate the potential pathway by which the compound formulas regulate the Wnt/β-catenin-connexin 43 （CX43） signaling axis， demonstrated the efficacy enhancement and toxicity attenuation among the components， thus providing experimental evidence for the scientific application of multi-component， multi-target compatibility in TCM compound formulas. MethodsA mouse model of CAG was established with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea （MNU）. Sixty mice were randomly allocated into 5 groups （n=12 per group）： blank control， model， low-dose Huazhuo Jiedu core compound formula （HXFF-L， 4.004 g·kg^-1）， high-dose Huazhuo Jiedu core compound formula （HXFF-H， 8.008 g·kg^-1）， and positive control （folic acid at 11 mg·kg^-1 + vitamin B₁₂ at 14 mg·kg^-1）. The therapeutic efficacy and molecular mechanism of the core compound formula were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff （AB-PAS） staining， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， transmission electron microscopy （TEM）， immunofluorescence assay， and Western blot. The chemical components of the core compound formula were detected and effective components were screened by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry （UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS）. Another 120 mice were randomized into blank control， model， and 8 HXFF component-combination groups with different dosages （uniform design groups 1-8， n=12 per group）. A uniform design was adopted， with pathological scores of mouse gastric tissue as well as serum levels of pepsinogen Ⅰ （PGⅠ）， pepsinogen Ⅱ （PGⅡ）， and gastrin 17 （GAS17） set as dependent variables. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to predict the optimal proportion of core components in the compound formula and explore its compatibility rules. ResultsPharmacodynamic validation showed that compared with the blank control group， the model group had decreased gastric weight index （P<0.01） and increased pathological damage score and inflammatory factor levels （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， these indicators were reversed in the HXFF-L， HXFF-H， and positive control groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Immunofluorescence results showed that CX43 expression was downregulated in the model group compared with the blank control group （P<0.01） and upregulated in the HXFF-H and positive control groups compared with the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Western blot results showed that compared with the blank control group， the model group demonstrated upregulated protein levels of Wnt and β-catenin in the gastric tissue （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the model group， the protein level of Wnt was downregulated in the HXFF-L， HXFF-H， and positive control groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while that of β-catenin was downregulated only in the HXFF-H group （P<0.05）. A total of 25 compounds were identified in the core compound formula， including 9 from Coptidis Rhizoma， 10 from Pogostemonis Herba， 2 from Scorpio， and 4 from Lilii Bulbus. According to the category and origin of compounds， Coptidis Rhizoma alkaloids， Pogostemonis Herba volatile oils， Scorpio peptides， and Lilii Bulbus alkaloids were finally selected for component research. The predicted optimal combination of TCM components was as follows： Coptidis Rhizoma alkaloids at 75 mg·kg^-1， Pogostemonis Herba volatile oils at 2.25 mg·kg^-1， Scorpio protein extract at 90 mg·kg^-1， and Lilii Bulbus alkaloids at 9 mg·kg^-1. Coptidis Rhizoma alkaloids， Scorpio protein extract， Pogostemonis Herba volatile oils， and Lilii Bulbus alkaloids can ameliorate pathological lesions of the gastric tissue. Scorpio protein extract exerted positive regulatory effects on the gastric function， while Pogostemonis Herba volatile oils and Lilii Bulbus alkaloids showed negative correlations with partial gastric function indicators. Further investigations are required to clarify their dose-effect relationships and safety profiles. ConclusionThis study， for the first time， predicts the optimal proportion and synergistic regulatory mechanism of the core compound formula of Huazhuo Jiedu therapy， revealing the synergistic compatibility logic of its components. It provides a novel strategy for the precise TCM treatment of CAG and the modern development of compound formulas.

ObjectiveTo reveal the compatibility rules of the core compound formula and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） components for prevention and treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis （CAG） by Huazhuo Jiedu （turbidity-resolving and detoxifying） therapy through uniform design in view of the potential regulatory pathway of endogenous turbid-toxin retention in CAG， elucidate the potential pathway by which the compound formulas regulate the Wnt/β-catenin-connexin 43 （CX43） signaling axis， demonstrated the efficacy enhancement and toxicity attenuation among the components， thus providing experimental evidence for the scientific application of multi-component， multi-target compatibility in TCM compound formulas. MethodsA mouse model of CAG was established with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea （MNU）. Sixty mice were randomly allocated into 5 groups （n=12 per group）： blank control， model， low-dose Huazhuo Jiedu core compound formula （HXFF-L， 4.004 g·kg^-1）， high-dose Huazhuo Jiedu core compound formula （HXFF-H， 8.008 g·kg^-1）， and positive control （folic acid at 11 mg·kg^-1 + vitamin B₁₂ at 14 mg·kg^-1）. The therapeutic efficacy and molecular mechanism of the core compound formula were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff （AB-PAS） staining， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， transmission electron microscopy （TEM）， immunofluorescence assay， and Western blot. The chemical components of the core compound formula were detected and effective components were screened by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry （UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS）. Another 120 mice were randomized into blank control， model， and 8 HXFF component-combination groups with different dosages （uniform design groups 1-8， n=12 per group）. A uniform design was adopted， with pathological scores of mouse gastric tissue as well as serum levels of pepsinogen Ⅰ （PGⅠ）， pepsinogen Ⅱ （PGⅡ）， and gastrin 17 （GAS17） set as dependent variables. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to predict the optimal proportion of core components in the compound formula and explore its compatibility rules. ResultsPharmacodynamic validation showed that compared with the blank control group， the model group had decreased gastric weight index （P<0.01） and increased pathological damage score and inflammatory factor levels （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， these indicators were reversed in the HXFF-L， HXFF-H， and positive control groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Immunofluorescence results showed that CX43 expression was downregulated in the model group compared with the blank control group （P<0.01） and upregulated in the HXFF-H and positive control groups compared with the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Western blot results showed that compared with the blank control group， the model group demonstrated upregulated protein levels of Wnt and β-catenin in the gastric tissue （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the model group， the protein level of Wnt was downregulated in the HXFF-L， HXFF-H， and positive control groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while that of β-catenin was downregulated only in the HXFF-H group （P<0.05）. A total of 25 compounds were identified in the core compound formula， including 9 from Coptidis Rhizoma， 10 from Pogostemonis Herba， 2 from Scorpio， and 4 from Lilii Bulbus. According to the category and origin of compounds， Coptidis Rhizoma alkaloids， Pogostemonis Herba volatile oils， Scorpio peptides， and Lilii Bulbus alkaloids were finally selected for component research. The predicted optimal combination of TCM components was as follows： Coptidis Rhizoma alkaloids at 75 mg·kg^-1， Pogostemonis Herba volatile oils at 2.25 mg·kg^-1， Scorpio protein extract at 90 mg·kg^-1， and Lilii Bulbus alkaloids at 9 mg·kg^-1. Coptidis Rhizoma alkaloids， Scorpio protein extract， Pogostemonis Herba volatile oils， and Lilii Bulbus alkaloids can ameliorate pathological lesions of the gastric tissue. Scorpio protein extract exerted positive regulatory effects on the gastric function， while Pogostemonis Herba volatile oils and Lilii Bulbus alkaloids showed negative correlations with partial gastric function indicators. Further investigations are required to clarify their dose-effect relationships and safety profiles. ConclusionThis study， for the first time， predicts the optimal proportion and synergistic regulatory mechanism of the core compound formula of Huazhuo Jiedu therapy， revealing the synergistic compatibility logic of its components. It provides a novel strategy for the precise TCM treatment of CAG and the modern development of compound formulas.

Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver injury resulting from factors like viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, fatty liver disease, and cholestatic liver disease. Liver transplantation is currently the gold standard for treating severe liver diseases. However, it is limited by a shortage of donor organs and the necessity for lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into various liver cells and enhance liver function when transplanted into patients due to their differentiation and proliferation capabilities. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative therapy for treating liver diseases, especially for liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver transplant complications. However, due to the potential tumorigenic effects of MSCs, researchers are exploring a new approach to treating liver fibrosis using extracellular vesicles (exosomes) secreted by stem cells. Many studies show that exosomes released by stem cells can promote liver injury repair through various pathways, contributing to the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms by which stem cell exosomes affect liver fibrosis through different pathways and their potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, we discuss the advantages of exosome therapy over stem cell therapy and the possible future directions of exosome research, including the prospects for clinical applications and the challenges to be overcome.

Objective:To analyze the current status of red blood cell transfusion in very preterm infants (VPI) (gestational age at birth <32 weeks) from Chinese Neonatal Network (CHNN) in 2022.Methods:This cross-sectional study was based on the CHNN VPI cohort. It included 6 985 VPI admitted to CHNN 89 participating centers within 24 hours after birth in 2022. VPI with major congenital anomalies or those transferred to non-CHNN centers for treatment or discharged against medical advice were excluded. VPI were categorized based on whether they received red blood cell transfusions, their gestational age at birth, the type of respiratory support received during transfusion, and whether the pre-transfusion hemoglobin levels exceeded the thresholds. General characteristics, red blood cell transfusion rates, number of transfusions, timing of the first transfusion, and pre-transfusion hemoglobin levels were compared among different groups. The incidence of adverse outcomes between the group of VPI who received transfusions above the threshold and those who received transfusions below the threshold were compared. Comparison among different groups was conducted using χ2 tests, Kruskal-Wallis H tests, Mann-Whitney U test, and so on. Trends by gestational age at birth were evaluated by Cochran-Armitage tests and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests for trend. Results:Among the 6 985 VPI, 3 865 cases(55.3%) were male, with a gestational age at birth of 30.0 (28.6, 31.0) weeks and a birth weight of (1 302±321) g. Overall, 3 617 cases (51.8%) received red blood cell transfusion, while 3 368 cases (48.2%) did not. The red blood cell transfusion rate was 51.8% (3 617/6 985), with rates of 77.7% (893/1 150) for those born before 28 weeks gestational age and 46.7% (2 724/5 835) for those born between 28 and 31 weeks gestational age. A total of 9 616 times red blood cell transfusions were administered to 3 617 VPI, with 632 times missing pre-transfusion hemoglobin data, and 8 984 times included in the analysis. Of the red blood cell transfusions, 25.6% (2 459/9 616) were administered when invasive respiratory support was required, 51.3% (4 934/9 616) were receiving non-invasive respiratory support, while 23.1% (2 223/9, 616) were given when no respiratory support was needed. Compared to the non-transfusion group, the red blood cell transfusion group had a higher rate of pregnancy-induced hypertension in mothers, lower rates of born via cesarean section and mother′s antenatal steroid administration, smaller gestational age, lower birth weight, a higher proportion of small-for-gestational-age, multiple births, and proportions of Apgar score at the 5 th minute after birth ≤3 (all P<0.05). They were also less likely to be female, born in hospital or undergo delayed cord clamping (all P<0.01). Additionally, higher transport risk index of physiologic stability score at admission were observed in the red blood cell transfusion group ( P<0.001). The number of red blood cell transfusion was 2 (1, 3) times, with the first transfusion occurring at an age of 18 (8, 29) days, and a pre-transfusion hemoglobin level of 97 (86, 109) g/L. For VPI ≤7 days of age, the pre-transfusion hemoglobin levels for invasive respiratory support, non-invasive respiratory support, or no respiratory support, respectively, with no statistically significant differences between groups ( H=5.59, P=0.061). For VPI aged 8 to 21 days and≥22 days, the levels with statistically differences between groups (both P<0.01). Red blood cell transfusions above recommended thresholds were observed in all respiratory support categories at different stages of life, with the highest prevalence in infants aged 8 to 21 days and≥22 days who did not require respiratory support, at 90.1% (264/273) and 91.1%(1 578/1 732), respectively. The rate of necrotizing enterocolitis was higher in the above-threshold group ( χ2=10.59, P=0.001), and the duration of hospital stay was longer in the above-threshold group ( Z=4.67, P<0.001) compared to the below-threshold group. Conclusions:In 2022, the red blood cell transfusion rate was relatively high among VPI from CHNN. Pre-transfusion hemoglobin levels frequently exceeded recommended transfusion thresholds.

Pheochromocytoma is a neuroendocrine tumor that produces catecholamines, leading to elevated blood pressure and metabolic changes in patients. It can result in serious complications affecting the heart, brain, kidneys, and blood vessels, potentially becoming a primary cause of death. Most pheochromocytoma patients present with atypical symptoms, making misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis common. This article reports a case of pheochromocytoma crisis misdiagnosed as severe viral myocarditis and includes a review of the relevant literature.

Objective:To analyze the iodine nutrition status and its related factors among adults aged 18 years and above in Zhejiang Province in 2022.Methods:A multistage stratified sampling method was used to select 4 320 adults aged 18 years and above from 16 on-site survey sites in Zhejiang Province for the study. A questionnaire was used to investigate the general demographic information and personal dietary characteristics of the study participants. Household edible salt and urine samples were collected to detect salt iodine content and urinary iodine level by using direct titration and cerium arsenate-catalyzed spectrophotometry, respectively, to evaluate the iodine nutritional status according to the standard. The multiple-ordered logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors influencing the urinary iodine concentration.Results:The age of the 4 320 study participants was (51.19±15.33) years, with males accounting for 44.44% (1 920). About 40.16% of adults (1 735) were from coastal areas and 56.37% (2 435) from urban areas. The salt iodine content, M ( Q1, Q3), of the 4 320 household edible salt samples was 21.10 (0.00, 24.16) mg/kg, including 1 662 non-iodized salt samples, 182 unqualified iodized salt samples and 2 476 qualified iodized salt samples. The rate of iodized salt coverage was 61.53%, and the rate of qualified iodized salt consumption was 57.31%. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of qualified iodized salt in adult households among different regions ( P<0.001), with the proportion of non-iodized salt gradually decreasing from coastal to inland areas ( χ 2trend=618.458, P<0.001). The urinary iodine concentration M ( Q1, Q3) was 137.60 (86.85, 210.60) μg/L in 4 320 adult urine samples, with the urinary iodine levels of<100, 100-199, 200-299, and≥300 μg/L accounting for 31.64% (1 367), 40.56% (1 752), 17.66% (763), and 10.14% (438), respectively. There was a nonlinear positive correlation between household salt iodine content and urinary iodine level in adults aged 18 years and above by using the χ 2 test for trend ( χ 2regression=231.10, P<0.001 and χ 2skew=28.81, P<0.001). Urinary iodine concentrations were higher in men than in women ( P=0.029) and higher in adults in rural areas than in urban areas ( P<0.001). There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of iodine nutritional status among adults of different ages, regions, and urban and rural areas (all P<0.001). The proportion of those with urinary iodine levels<100 μg/L gradually increased with age ( χ 2trend=37.493, P<0.001), and gradually decreased from coastal areas to inland areas ( χ 2trend=71.381, P<0.001). The results of the multiple-ordered logistic regression model analysis showed that compared with adults aged 18 to 44 years and male adults, those aged 45 to 59 years and female adults had lower urinary iodine levels, with OR (95% CI) of 0.75 (0.68-0.83) and 0.85 (0.76-0.95), respectively. Compared with adults in coastal and urban adults, those in sub-coastal, inland and rural adults had higher levels of urinary iodine, with OR (95% CI) of 1.89 (1.63-2.19), 2.02 (1.72-2.37) and 1.46 (1.28-1.66), respectively. Conclusion:The overall iodine nutrition level of adults aged 18 years and above in Zhejiang Province in 2022 is generally appropriate. However, there is a potential risk of iodine deficiency among adults in coastal areas.