ObjectiveTo analyze the processing mechanism underlying the enhanced effect of invigorating spleen and stopping diarrhea of soil-fried Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma（AMR） by analyzing the changes of microstructure， chemical composition and anti-ulcerative colitis（UC） activity before and after soil stir-frying. MethodsThe microstructure and elemental composition of AMR before and after soil stir-frying were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy（SEM-EDS）， to investigate the differences in microstructure and the underlying causes. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS） coupled with UNIFI 1.9.2 natural product analysis platform were used to analyze and identify the chemical constituents in raw and soil-fried products， and multivariate statistical methods including principal component analysis（PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA） were used to explore the differences and sources of chemical constituents between them. A dextran sulfate sodium（DSS）-induced UC mouse model was established. The method of disease activity index（DAI） was used to evaluate the severity of intestinal inflammation. Hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was used to observe the pathological changes of colon tissue， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors， Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） and Western blot were used to analyze the expressions of key genes and proteins involved in the intestinal mucosal barrier. The 16S rRNA sequencing was used to evaluate the diversity of intestinal flora， headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（HS-GC-MS） was used to explore the levels of short-chain fatty acids（SCFAs） in feces. Base on the above findings， this paper investigated the effects of raw and soil-fried AMR on the biological， chemical， mechanical and immune barriers of model animals， and the differences in pharmacological effects and underlying mechanisms from the perspective of regulating the intestinal mucosal barrier in UC mice. ResultsSEM observation revealed numerous hearth soil particles on the surface of soil-fried AMR， accompanied by bubble-like bulges. At the same time， there were many cracks and folds on the surface of the hearth soil. EDS analysis revealed that the contents of Si， Al， Mg and Ca in soil-fried AMR were significantly higher than those of raw products， and these elements constituted the primary components of hearth soil. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with database comparison was used to identify the chemical constituents of raw and soil-fried AMR. In positive ion mode， a total of 132 components were identified， primarily comprising three categories of terpenoids， polyphenols and amino acids. In negative ion mode， a total of 40 components were identified， primarily polyphenolic and glycoside compounds. Among them， the contents of sesquiterpenes and polyphenolic acids were changed significantly before and after processing. Soil-fried AMR could reduce the DAI score of UC mice， alleviate the shortening of colon length， reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukin（IL）-17， IL-18， γ-interferon（IFN-γ） and tumor necrosis factor（TNF）-α in serum， increase the levels of anti-inflammatory factors such as secretory immunoglobulin A（sIgA）， IL-10， IL-4 and transforming growth factor-β（TGF-β） in serum， increase the expressions of key genes and proteins of intestinal mucosal barrier such as tight junction protein-1（ZO-1）， Occludin， Claudin-1 and mucin 2（MUC2） in colonic mucosa， and improve the disorders of intestinal flora diversity and the levels of SCFAs（P<0.05， P<0.01）. The raw and stir-fried products of AMR also exhibited the aforementioned effects， but they were weaker than the soil-fried products. Additionally， the auxiliary material hearth soil also had a certain pharmacodynamic effect. ConclusionSoil-fried AMR can enhance the protective effect on intestinal mucosal barrier in UC mice. These changes or heating-induced alterations in the microscopic structure and chemical composition of AMR may be attributed to the dual effects of adsorption of hearth soil.

AIM:To investigate the short-term efficacy of autologous serum eye drops combined with prednisolone acetate in the treatment of severe dry eye with grade II-III corneal injury.METHODS:Prospective, randomized, controlled single center study. Totally 122 patients(122 eyes, all enrolled patients had bilateral disease, with the more severely affected eye selected as the study eye; if the severity was similar between both eyes, the right eye was chosen as the study eye)with severe dry eye and grade II-III corneal injury who were treated at Wuhan University Affiliated Aier Eye Hospital from March 2023 to March 2025 were randomly divided into a control group(treated with sodium hyaluronate eye drops combined with autologous serum eye drops)and an observation group(treated with sodium hyaluronate eye drops, autologous serum eye drops combined with prednisolone acetate eye drops)using a random number table method. After continuous administration for 2 wk, the tear inflammatory reaction [interleukin-6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)], subjective symptoms [ocular surface disease index(OSDI)score], lacrimal gland function [tear film break-up time(TBUT)and Schirmer tear secretion test(SⅠt)], corneal injury degree [corneal fluorescein staining(CFS)score] and corneal nerve function [total number and density of corneal subepithelial nerve(SBN)] before and after treatment were compared between the two groups, and the occurrence of adverse reactions during treatment was recorded. RESULTS:All patients have completed follow-up. The control group consisted of 61 cases and 61 eyes, with 24 males and 37 females, with an average age of 43.87±5.12y. There were 61 cases and 61 eyes in the observation group, including 21 males and 40 females, with an average age of 42.15±4.76y. At 1 and 2 wk after treatment, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in tears, OSDI score, and CFS score of the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment, and those in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(all P<0.05). The total number of TBUT, SⅠt, SBN, and SBN density in both groups of patients increased significantly compared to before treatment, and the observation group was higher than the control group(all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups of patients during treatment(P=0.717).CONCLUSION:The combination of autologous serum eye drops and prednisolone acetate is effective in treating severe dry eye with grade II-III corneal injury. It can reduce patients' inflammatory reactions, subjective symptoms, and degree of corneal injury, promote the improvement of lacrimal gland function and corneal nerve function, providing a new strategy for corneal nerve repair. Furthermore, the combination therapy does not increase the risk of adverse reactions and shows good safety in short-term application.

ObjectiveTo analyze the processing mechanism underlying the enhanced effect of invigorating spleen and stopping diarrhea of soil-fried Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma（AMR） by analyzing the changes of microstructure， chemical composition and anti-ulcerative colitis（UC） activity before and after soil stir-frying. MethodsThe microstructure and elemental composition of AMR before and after soil stir-frying were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy（SEM-EDS）， to investigate the differences in microstructure and the underlying causes. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS） coupled with UNIFI 1.9.2 natural product analysis platform were used to analyze and identify the chemical constituents in raw and soil-fried products， and multivariate statistical methods including principal component analysis（PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA） were used to explore the differences and sources of chemical constituents between them. A dextran sulfate sodium（DSS）-induced UC mouse model was established. The method of disease activity index（DAI） was used to evaluate the severity of intestinal inflammation. Hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was used to observe the pathological changes of colon tissue， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors， Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） and Western blot were used to analyze the expressions of key genes and proteins involved in the intestinal mucosal barrier. The 16S rRNA sequencing was used to evaluate the diversity of intestinal flora， headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（HS-GC-MS） was used to explore the levels of short-chain fatty acids（SCFAs） in feces. Base on the above findings， this paper investigated the effects of raw and soil-fried AMR on the biological， chemical， mechanical and immune barriers of model animals， and the differences in pharmacological effects and underlying mechanisms from the perspective of regulating the intestinal mucosal barrier in UC mice. ResultsSEM observation revealed numerous hearth soil particles on the surface of soil-fried AMR， accompanied by bubble-like bulges. At the same time， there were many cracks and folds on the surface of the hearth soil. EDS analysis revealed that the contents of Si， Al， Mg and Ca in soil-fried AMR were significantly higher than those of raw products， and these elements constituted the primary components of hearth soil. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with database comparison was used to identify the chemical constituents of raw and soil-fried AMR. In positive ion mode， a total of 132 components were identified， primarily comprising three categories of terpenoids， polyphenols and amino acids. In negative ion mode， a total of 40 components were identified， primarily polyphenolic and glycoside compounds. Among them， the contents of sesquiterpenes and polyphenolic acids were changed significantly before and after processing. Soil-fried AMR could reduce the DAI score of UC mice， alleviate the shortening of colon length， reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukin（IL）-17， IL-18， γ-interferon（IFN-γ） and tumor necrosis factor（TNF）-α in serum， increase the levels of anti-inflammatory factors such as secretory immunoglobulin A（sIgA）， IL-10， IL-4 and transforming growth factor-β（TGF-β） in serum， increase the expressions of key genes and proteins of intestinal mucosal barrier such as tight junction protein-1（ZO-1）， Occludin， Claudin-1 and mucin 2（MUC2） in colonic mucosa， and improve the disorders of intestinal flora diversity and the levels of SCFAs（P<0.05， P<0.01）. The raw and stir-fried products of AMR also exhibited the aforementioned effects， but they were weaker than the soil-fried products. Additionally， the auxiliary material hearth soil also had a certain pharmacodynamic effect. ConclusionSoil-fried AMR can enhance the protective effect on intestinal mucosal barrier in UC mice. These changes or heating-induced alterations in the microscopic structure and chemical composition of AMR may be attributed to the dual effects of adsorption of hearth soil.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib combined with low-dose hormone for patients with acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods: Thirty patients with aGVHD after allo-HSCT admitted to the Department of Hematology of the General Hospital of Western Theater Command from November 2021 to November 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were treated with low-dose hormone (methylprednisolone 0.3-1 mg kg -d ) combined with ruxolitinib 5-10 mg d . The efficacy and adverse reactions were observed during the follow-up period to analyze the survival outcomes of the patients. Results: A total of 30 patients with aGVHD after allo-HSCT were included in this study, consisting of 15 (50%) males and 15 (50%) females with a median age of 34 year-old (ranging from 14 to 62). Classification by disease type: there were 18 cases of acute myeloid leukemia, 4 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 4 cases of aplastic anemia, and 4 cases of myelodysplastic syndrome. Classification by aGVHD severity: there were 27 cases (90%) of Ⅱ-Ⅳ degree aGVHD and 11 cases (36.7%) of Ⅲ-Ⅳ degree aGVHD. Ruxolitinib in combination with low-dose glucocorticoid treatment yield responses in 28 (93.3%) patients, of which 27 (90%) achieved complete remission (CR), while 1 (3.3%) showed partial remission (PR). One patient (3.3%) had no response (NR), and 1 patient (3.3%) exhibited progressed disease (PD). Overall survival (OS) at 1 year of transplantation was 73.9% (95%CI 49.5% to 87.7%), progression-free survival (PFS) was 93.3% (95%CI 75.9% to 98.3%), non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 20.6% (95%CI 7.9% to 47.4%), and median survival time was 27.6 months. Conclusion: Ruxolitinib combined with low-dose hormones is safe and effective in the treatment of aGVHD after allo-HSCT.

Background/Aims: Acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) is one of the most essential metabolites in cell metabolism but its function and concentration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain elusive and controversial. Methods: A comprehensive analysis of acetyl-CoA levels and acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2) expression across a range of samples, including patient specimens from both hepatitis B virus (HBV) positive and HBV negative HCC individuals, HBV-transgenic mouse HCC models, and multiple cell lines. Furthermore, to evaluate the functional significance of ACSS2 in HBV-related HCC, we implemented both genetic and pharmacological inhibition strategies targeting ACSS2. Molecular mechanism and mitophagy assessment were revealed by cleavage under target and tagmentation sequencing, RNA sequencing, bioinformatic analyses, transmission electron microscopy and JC-1 staining. Results: Our study revealed a distinct metabolic signature of HBV-related HCC, marked by elevated acetyl-CoA, which was driven by ACSS2. ACSS2 was upregulated by the carbohydrate response element-binding protein in HBV-related HCC. Furthermore, ACSS2 improved tumor cell proliferation, an effect that was dependent on its enzymatic activity. Mechanistically, ACSS2-induced acetyl-CoA accumulation activated voltage-dependent anion channels 1 transcription through increased H3K27ac occupancy, which subsequently promoted mitophagy and HBV-related HCC tumorigenesis. Notably, targeting ACSS2 by depletion or inhibition with a catalytic inhibitor significantly suppressed tumor growth. Conclusions These findings not only illustrate the interplay between metabolic reprogramming, epigenetic modification, and tumorigenesis in the context of HBV infection, but also highlight ACSS2 as a novel metabolic vulnerability in HBV-related HCC. Therefore, targeting ACSS2 could be a novel strategy against HBV-related HCC.

Background/Aims: Liver transplantation (LT) following total hepatectomy is a life-saving treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HCC recurrence after LT hinders the effectiveness of the procedure. The objective of this study is to develop a pre-operative risk stratification model based on a liquid biopsy. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive multi-omics study of 260 HCC patients from three centers, including clinical data, low-coverage whole-genome sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from plasma, as well as whole-exome, single-nucleus RNA, and spatial transcriptomics from matched tumor and non-tumor tissues. Results: We identified cfDNA-derived copy number alteration (CNA) signatures associated with post-transplant recurrence. By integrating cfDNA-derived CNA profiles with single-cell transcriptomic data, we traced recurrence-associated cfDNA to a distinct subpopulation of malignant cells within the primary tumor. These cells were embedded in a pro-metastatic microenvironment of specialized endothelial subtypes and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Notably, most recurrence-associated lesions were detectable in cfDNA prior to liver transplantation (LT). Building on these insights, we developed the ZJU Criteria based on CNA fragments and tumor markers, a pre-LT risk prediction tool that integrates conventional clinical factors with cfDNA-derived CNA signatures, and validated it using internal and independent external cohorts. Conclusion Our findings suggest that post-transplant recurrence commonly originates from advanced subclones that emerge late during tumor evolution. The ZJU Criteria provides an accurate, non-invasive strategy that significantly improves pre-LT risk stratification and clinical decision-making for patients with HCC.

By reviewing modern research and integrating clinical practice， this paper interprets the correlation between "deep heat， deep syncope" and the "macrocirculation-microcirculation" uncoupling in sepsis， alongside its clinical applications in sepsis prevention and treatment. It is considered that "deep heat" corresponds to peripheral vasodilation and the hypermetabolic state at the macrocirculation level， whereas "deep syncope" manifests as hypoperfusion and impaired oxygen utilization at the microcirculation level. These two states interact detrimentally， forming the core contradiction of macrocirculation-microcirculation uncoupling in sepsis. Based on the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） connotations of "deep heat， deep syncope" and modern medical research， this paper elucidates the systemic pathological evolution of sepsis from the inflammatory cascade to impaired oxygen utilization. Accordingly， the following therapeutic principles are proposed. In the early stage， it is suggested to clear heat and drain fire to vent the constrained yang. In the progressive stage， the focus is put on unblocking the lower jiao （焦） and expelling stasis to dredge the vessels and collaterals. In the recovery stage， the method of regulating and harmonizing yin and yang can be used to smooth the flow of qi and blood.

This article reports the medical records of a patient with spontaneous internal jugular vein thrombosis manifesting as cough-induced headache who were diagnosed by digital subtraction angiography （DSA） in The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University. The patient was a male individual aged 33 years and had the main clinical manifestation of bilateral frontal pain after severe coughing， with no headache during the interictal period. DSA showed occlusion of the left internal jugular vein， which suggested thrombosis； cranial MRI， cerebrospinal fluid examination， and D-dimer test showed no abnormalities； initial lumbar puncture showed an intracranial pressure of 330 mm H2O. Headache was improved after anticoagulant therapy and symptomatic treatment. This case report suggests that for patients presenting with cough-induced headache accompanied by high intracranial pressure， the possibility of jugular vein thrombosis should be considered in addition to the causes such as posterior fossa lesions， obstructive hydrocephalus， subdural hematoma， and jugular valve insufficiency， and jugular vein ultrasound should be performed to assist in diagnosis and facilitate timely anticoagulant therapy.
Headache ; Cough

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP)infection among pediatric inpatients with respiratory tract infections(RTIs)at Children's Hospital of Hebei Province,providing evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 79 546 children hospitalized for RTIs between January 2016 and February 2024.Nasopharyngeal aspirates or deep sputum samples were collected,and polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was used to detect nucleic acids of 13 respiratory pathogens,including MP and adenovirus.The epidemiological trends across different years,seasons,genders,and age groups were analyzed.Results Among the 79 546 enrolled cases(male:47 437,59.6%;female:32 109,40.4%),the MP-positive rate was 17.7%(14 106/79 546),peaking in 2023(28.8%)and reaching the lowest in 2021(7.0%).Except for the period from July 2020 to March 2021 with exceptionally low MP positivity,epidemic peaks consistently occurred between August and February or March of the following year.Seasonal analysis revealed significantly higher MP positivity in autumn and winter compared to spring(P<0.001).Female children exhibited a higher MP-positive rate(20.1%,6444/32 109)than males(16.2%,7662/47 437)(P<0.001).The MP-positive rate increased with age:infancy(3.2%,849/26 741),toddlerhood(9.3%,1935/20 763),preschool(21.2%,3918/18 448),and school-age(54.5%,7404/13 594)(P<0.001).Co-infections with other respiratory pathogens were observed in 37.3%(5264/14 106)of MP-positive cases,with human rhinovirus(HRV)being the most frequent co-pathogen(43.3%,2279/5264 of mixed infections).Conclusion MP is a major pathogen of RTIs in hospitalized children at Children's Hospital of Hebei Province.Infections occur year-round but predominantly in autumn,with higher susceptibility in females and school-age children.Targeted preventive measures should be implemented during peak seasons to mitigate transmission risks.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy,safety,and cost-effectiveness of berberine-based quadruple therapy vs.the clarithromycin-based quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)eradication in treatment-na?ve patients.Methods This was a single-center,prospective,open-label randomized controlled trial.A total of 404 treatment-naive patients with H.pylori infection who visited the Outpatient Department of Gastroenterology,the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from September 2021 to May 2024 were enrolled.The patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to two groups:berberine quadruple therapy group(berberine+amoxicillin+esomeprazole+colloidal bismuth pectin;n=202)and clarithromycin quadruple therapy group(clarithromycin+amoxicillin+esomeprazole+colloidal bismuth pectin;n=202).Both groups received a 14-day treatment course.The H.pylori eradication rate,incidence of adverse reactions,medication compliance,and treatment costs were compared between the two groups.Results By intention-to-treat(ITT)analysis,eradication rate did not differ significantly between the two groups[89.1%(180/202)in berberine quadruple therapy group vs.89.6%(181/202)in clarithromycin quadruple therapy group,P=0.872].The per-protocol(PP)analysis also showed no significant difference in the eradication rate between the two groups[90.4%(179/198)vs.91.3%(178/195),P=0.763].The incidence of adverse reactions in berberine quadruple therapy group was significantly lower than that in clarithromycin quadruple therapy group[18.2%(36/198)vs.38.5%(75/195),P<0.001].Specifically,the incidence of taste disturbance in berberine quadruple therapy group was significantly lower than that in clarithromycin quadruple therapy group(3.0%vs.15.4%,P<0.001).There was no statistically significant difference in medication compliance between the two groups[98.5%(195/198)in berberine quadruple therapy group vs.97.9%(191/195)in clarithromycin quadruple therapy group,P=0.688].The fixed direct medical cost per patient was significantly lower in berberine quadruple therapy group than that in clarithromycin quadruple therapy group(402.08 yuan vs.693.94 yuan).Conclusions The berberine-based quadruple therapy is as effective as traditional clarithromycin-based quadruple therapy for eradicating H.pylori,with the advantages of a lower incidence of adverse reactions and lower cost.It represents a safe,effective,and economical treatment option worthy of further promotion and application.