The historical development of endogenous wind （内风） is traced with time as the thread， based on the progression of factors such as syndromes， causes of disease， and pathogenesis. It is believed that the concept of wind syndrome originated in The Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor （《黄帝内经》）， encompassing both exogenous wind （外风） and endogenous wind syndrome. Over time， exogenous wind syndrome gradually evolved into mild syndromes and severe syndromes， while endogenous wind syndrome emerged from severe syndromes of exogenous wind. Endogenous wind syndrome has both syndrome and pathogenic attributes， and its theoretical system has gradually become more refined. Based on the theories of ancient and modern medical practitioners， and combining the holistic perspectives with Xiang （象） thinking， it is proposed that endogenous wind has both physiological and pathological distinctions. The physiological endogenous wind refers to the liver's moderate dispersing and regulating function， which helps to distribute qi （气）， blood， and body fluids， while pathological endogenous wind arises from abnormal liver dispersal. Therefore， in clinical practice， different treatment methods， such as tonifying， unblocking， and warming， can be applied according to the differentiation of deficiency and excess in the pathogenesis.

Objective To explore the association between long working hours, anxiety symptoms, and insomnia symptoms among footwear industry workers, and to examine the mediating effect of anxiety symptoms between long working hours and insomnia symptoms. Methods A total of 710 workers from 15 footwear manufacturing enterprises in Guangdong Province were selected as study subjects using a stratified random sampling method. Long working hours, anxiety symptoms, and insomnia symptoms among the workers were assessed using the National Key Population Occupational Health Literacy Monitoring Questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Self-Rating Scale, and the Self-Rating Sleep Questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was applied to analyze the associations of long working hours and anxiety symptoms with insomnia symptoms, and a mediation effect model was used to examine the mediating role of anxiety symptoms. Results The workers with long working hours accounted for 69.6% of participants. The detection rates of anxiety symptoms and insomnia symptoms were 17.0% and 20.7% in these workers, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that both long working hours and anxiety symptoms were influencing factors for insomnia symptoms (both P<0.01). Mediation analysis indicated that long working hours had a direct effect on insomnia symptoms, accounting for 67.9% of the total effect. Anxietysymptoms played a partial mediating role between long working hours and insomnia symptoms, with an effect value of 0.18 (95% confidence interval 0.07-0.30, P<0.01), accounting for 32.1% of the total effect. Conclusion Both long working hours and anxiety symptoms are influencing factors for insomnia symptoms among the footwear industry workers, and anxiety symptoms partially mediate the impact of long working hours on insomnia symptoms.

Aim To observe the interventional effects of Polygala fallax Hemsl.(PFH)on diabetic kidney disease(DKD)rats and the regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis.Methods Thirty-six SD rats were ran-domly divided into the control group,DKD group,fer-rostatin-1(Fer-1)group,PFH-L group,PFH-M group,and PFH-H group,with six rats in each group.Model-ing was induced by a one-time intraperitoneal injection of 35 mg·kg-1 streptozocin(STZ)in combination with high-sugar and high-fat feed.Ferrostatin-1(25μmol·kg-1)was injected intraperitoneally in Fer-1 group.The PFH-L,PFH-M,and PFH-H groups were gavaged with 50,100 and 200 mg·kg-1 of alcoholic extracts of PFH respectively,and the control and DKD groups were gavaged with an equal volume of distilled water once a day for eight weeks.At the end of drug administration,blood glucose,24h-UP,BUN and Scr levels were measured in each group of rats.HE stai-ning and Masson staining were used to observe renal histopathological changes.ELISA was employed to de-termine the levels of total iron,MDA and GSH activity.IHC was used to observe the expression of Nrf2,SLC7A11,and GPX4 in renal tissues.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of COL1A1,α-SMA,TGF-,FTH-1,TFR-1,Nrf2,SLC7A1 1,GPX4,in renal tissues.RT-qPCR was used to detect the ex-pression levels of Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4 mRNA in re-nal tissues.Results Compared with the control group,blood glucose,24h-UP,BUN,Scr increased(P＜0.05);glomerular volume increased,tubular dilata-tion and collagen fiber deposition were obvious;total i-ron,MDA content increased and GSH activity de-creased(P＜0.05);there was increased protein ex-pression of COL1A1,α-SMA,TGF-β,TFR-1 and de-creased protein expression of FTH-1(P＜0.01);there was decreased mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4 in DKD group rats(P＜0.01).Compared with the DKD group,blood glucose,24h-UP,BUN and Scr decreased(P＜0.05);renal tissue le-sions were significantly reduced;total iron and MDA content decreased,and GSH activity increased(P＜0.05);COL1A1,α-SMA,TGF-β,and TFR-1 protein expression decreased and FTH-1 protein expression in-creased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4 mRNA and protein expression increased in Fer-1 and PFH dose groups(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusions PFH attenuates renal histopathological injury in DKD rats,and the mechanism may be related to the regula-tion of the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway.

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 investigates the mechanism by which Xintong Granules improve myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MIRI) through the regulation of gut microbiota and their metabolites, specifically short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs). Rats were randomly divided based on body weight into the sham operation group, model group, low-dose Xintong Granules group(1.43 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), medium-dose Xintong Granules group(2.86 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), high-dose Xintong Granules group(5.72 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and metoprolol group(10 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)). After 14 days of pre-administration, the MIRI rat model was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. The myocardial infarction area was assessed using the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining method. Apoptosis in tissue cells was detected by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL) assay. Pathological changes in myocardial cells and colonic tissue were observed using hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), creatine kinase MB isoenzyme(CK-MB), and cardiac troponin T(cTnT) in rat serum were quantitatively measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) kits. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), creatine kinase(CK), and superoxide dismutase(SOD) in myocardial tissue, as well as the level of malondialdehyde(MDA), were determined using colorimetric assays. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing, and fecal SCFAs were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS). The results show that Xintong Granules significantly reduced the myocardial infarction area, suppressed cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and decreased serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), myocardial injury markers(CK-MB, cTnT, LDH, and CK), and oxidative stress marker MDA. Additionally, Xintong Granules significantly improved intestinal inflammation in MIRI rats, regulated gut microbiota composition and diversity, and increased the levels of SCFAs(acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, etc.). In summary, Xintong Granules effectively alleviate MIRI symptoms. This study preliminarily confirms that Xintong Granules exert their inhibitory effects on MIRI by regulating gut microbiota imbalance and increasing SCFA levels.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Rats ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Humans ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism*

Kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome is a common geriatric disease that underlies chronic conditions such as diabetic nephropathy, chronic kidney disease, and osteoporosis. As age progresses, the kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome showcases increasingly pronounced manifestations, emerging as a key factor in the comorbidities experienced by elderly patients and affecting their quality of life and overall health status. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has been extensively utilized in the treatment of kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome, with Epimedii Folium, Cinnamomi Cortex, and Lycii Fructus widely used in clinical settings. Despite the complexity of the molecular mechanisms involved in treating kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome, the potential therapeutic value of TCM remains compelling. Delving into the mechanisms of TCM treatment of kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome by regulating the neuro-endocrine-immune system can provide a scientific basis for targeted treatments of this syndrome and lay a foundation for the modernization of TCM. The pathophysiology of kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome involves multiple systems, including the interaction of the neuro-endocrine-immune system, the decline in renal function, the intensification of oxidative stress responses, and energy metabolism disorders. Understanding these mechanisms and their interrelationships can help untangle the etiology of kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome, aiding clinicians in making more precise diagnoses and treatments. Furthermore, the research on the specific applications of TCM in research on these pathological mechanisms can enhance the international recognition and status of TCM, enabling it to exert a greater global influence.
Humans ; Yang Deficiency/physiopathology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Kidney Diseases/physiopathology* ; Neurosecretory Systems/physiopathology* ; Animals ; Kidney/physiopathology* ; Endocrine System/physiopathology* ; Immune System/physiopathology*

Aim To observe the interventional effects of Polygala fallax Hemsl.(PFH)on diabetic kidney disease(DKD)rats and the regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis.Methods Thirty-six SD rats were ran-domly divided into the control group,DKD group,fer-rostatin-1(Fer-1)group,PFH-L group,PFH-M group,and PFH-H group,with six rats in each group.Model-ing was induced by a one-time intraperitoneal injection of 35 mg·kg-1 streptozocin(STZ)in combination with high-sugar and high-fat feed.Ferrostatin-1(25μmol·kg-1)was injected intraperitoneally in Fer-1 group.The PFH-L,PFH-M,and PFH-H groups were gavaged with 50,100 and 200 mg·kg-1 of alcoholic extracts of PFH respectively,and the control and DKD groups were gavaged with an equal volume of distilled water once a day for eight weeks.At the end of drug administration,blood glucose,24h-UP,BUN and Scr levels were measured in each group of rats.HE stai-ning and Masson staining were used to observe renal histopathological changes.ELISA was employed to de-termine the levels of total iron,MDA and GSH activity.IHC was used to observe the expression of Nrf2,SLC7A11,and GPX4 in renal tissues.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of COL1A1,α-SMA,TGF-,FTH-1,TFR-1,Nrf2,SLC7A1 1,GPX4,in renal tissues.RT-qPCR was used to detect the ex-pression levels of Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4 mRNA in re-nal tissues.Results Compared with the control group,blood glucose,24h-UP,BUN,Scr increased(P＜0.05);glomerular volume increased,tubular dilata-tion and collagen fiber deposition were obvious;total i-ron,MDA content increased and GSH activity de-creased(P＜0.05);there was increased protein ex-pression of COL1A1,α-SMA,TGF-β,TFR-1 and de-creased protein expression of FTH-1(P＜0.01);there was decreased mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4 in DKD group rats(P＜0.01).Compared with the DKD group,blood glucose,24h-UP,BUN and Scr decreased(P＜0.05);renal tissue le-sions were significantly reduced;total iron and MDA content decreased,and GSH activity increased(P＜0.05);COL1A1,α-SMA,TGF-β,and TFR-1 protein expression decreased and FTH-1 protein expression in-creased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4 mRNA and protein expression increased in Fer-1 and PFH dose groups(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusions PFH attenuates renal histopathological injury in DKD rats,and the mechanism may be related to the regula-tion of the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of Dongjing Tiaoshen Comprehensive Therapy combined with computerized cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia(CCBT-I)in the treatment of chronic insomnia patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome.Methods A total of 60 patients with chronic insomnia of liver depression and spleen deficiency type were randomly divided into observation group and control group,30 cases in each group.Both groups of patients were treated with CCBT-I as the basic treatment,the observation group was additionally treated with Dongjing Tiaoshen Comprehensive Therapy,i.e.,mind-regulating acupuncture therapy combined with regular aerobic exercises and Dantian Qigong exercises,and the control group was additionally treated with cranial electrotherapy stimulation.The course of treatment for the two groups covered 4 weeks.The changes of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)score,Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)score and Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS)score in the two groups were observed before and after treatment,and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated after treatment.Results(1)After 4 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was 86.67%(26/30),and that of the control group was 70.00%(21/30).The intergroup comparison(tested by rank sum test)showed that the curative effect of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the PSQI scores of the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of PSQI scores 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 SAS and SDS scores of the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of SAS and SDS scores in the observation group tended to be superior to that in the control group,but there was no significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion For the treatment of chronic insomnia of liver depression and spleen deficiency type,the combination of Dongjing Tiaoshen Comprehensive Therapy with CCBT-I can significantly improve the sleep quality,relieve anxiety and depression,and improve the quality of life of the patients,which exerts significant efficacy.

Human brain banks use a standardized protocol to collect,process and store post-mortem human brains and related tissues,along with relevant clinical information,and to provide the tissue samples and data as a resource to foster neuroscience research according to a standardized operating protocols(SOP).Human brain bank serves as the foundation for neuroscience research and the diagnosis of neurological disorders,highlighting the crucial rule of ensuring the consistency of standardized quality for brain tissue samples.The first version of SOP in 2017 was published by the China Human Brain Bank Consortium.As members increases from different regions in China,a revised SOP was drafted by experts from the China Human Brain Bank Consortium to meet the growing demands for neuroscience research.The revised SOP places a strong emphasis on ethical standards,incorporates neuropathological evaluation of brain regions,and provides clarity on spinal cord sampling and pathological assessment.Notable enhancements in this updated version of the SOP include reinforced ethical guidelines,inclusion of matching controls in recruitment,and expansion of brain regions to be sampled for neuropathological evaluation.

Objective To observe the value of self-supervised deep learning artificial intelligence(AI)noise reduction technology based on the nearest adjacent layer applicated in ultra-low dose CT(ULDCT)for urinary calculi.Methods Eighty-eight urinary calculi patients were prospectively enrolled.Low dose CT(LDCT)and ULDCT scanning were performed,and the effective dose(ED)of each scanning protocol were calculated.The patients were then randomly divided into training set(n=75)and test set(n=13),and a self-supervised deep learning AI noise reduction system based on the nearest adjacent layer constructed with ULDCT images in training set was used for reducing noise of ULDCT images in test set.In test set,the quality of ULDCT images before and after AI noise reduction were compared with LDCT images,i.e.Blind/Referenceless Image Spatial Quality Evaluator(BRISQUE)scores,image noise(SDROI)and signal-to-noise ratio(SNR).Results The tube current,the volume CT dose index and the dose length product of abdominal ULDCT scanning protocol were all lower compared with those of LDCT scanning protocol(all P＜0.05),with a decrease of ED for approximately 82.66％.For 13 patients with urinary calculi in test set,BRISQUE score showed that the quality level of ULDCT images before AI noise reduction reached 54.42％level but raised to 95.76％level of LDCT images after AI noise reduction.Both ULDCT images after AI noise reduction and LDCT images had lower SDROI and higher SNR than ULDCT images before AI noise reduction(all adjusted P＜0.05),whereas no significant difference was found between the former two(both adjusted P＞0.05).Conclusion Self-supervised learning AI noise reduction technology based on the nearest adjacent layer could effectively reduce noise and improve image quality of urinary calculi ULDCT images,being conducive for clinical application of ULDCT.