OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the efficacy and mechanisms of Qingjie Fuzheng Granules (QFG) in inhibiting colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) development via RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) correlation analysis. METHODS: CAC was induced in BALB/c mice using azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), and QFG was administered orally to the treatment group. The effects of QFG on CAC were evaluated using disease index, histology, and serum T-cell ratios. RNA-seq and 16S rRNA analysis assessed the transcriptome and microbiome change. Key pharmacodynamic pathways were identified by integrating these data and confirmed via Western blotting and immunofluorescence. The link between microbiota and CAC-related markers was explored using linear discriminant analysis effect size and Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: Long-term treatment with QFG prevented AOM/DSS-induced CAC formation, reduced levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-6, and interferon γ (IFN-γ), and increased CD3⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cells ratio, without causing hepatic or renal toxicity. A 16S rRNA analysis revealed that QFG rebalanced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and mitigated AOM/DSS-induced microbiota disturbances. Transcriptomics and Western blotting analysis identified the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway as key for QFG's treatment against CAC. Furthermore, QFG decreased the abundance of Bacilli, Bacillales, Staphylococcaceae, Staphylococcus, Lactobacillales, Aerococcus, Alloprevotella, and Akkermansia, while increasing Clostridiales, Lachnospiraceae, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Ruminococcaceae, and Muribaculaceae, which were highly correlated with CAC-related markers or NOD2/NF-κB pathway. CONCLUSION By mapping the relationships between CAC, immune responses, microbiota, and key pathways, this study clarifies the mechanism of QFG in inhibiting CAC, highlighting its potential for clinical use as preventive therapy.

Objective To explore the therapeutic mechanism of Modified Lugen Formula(Phragmitis Rhizoma,Cicadae Periostracum,Batryticatus Bombyx,Lonicerae Japonicae Flos,Glycyrrhiza,Menthae Haplocalycis Herba,Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix,Puerariae Lobatae Radix,Bupleuri Radix)in treating influenza from the virus-host interaction interface.Methods The phytocompounds were first collected from the HERB database,and then potential active compounds were screened out by Lipinski's rules of five.The targets of active compounds were further predicted through the SwissTargetPrediction platform.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were determined from the human H1N1 influenza dataset GSE90732 available in the Gene Expression Omnibus database(GEO).H1N1-Homo sapiens-related protein-protein interactions(PPIs)were gathered from the Pathogen-Host Interaction Search Tool(PHISTO).The above mentioned bioinformatic datasets were integrated.Then a PPI network and a Formula-virus-host interaction network were constructed using Cytoscape.Functional enrichment analyses were performed by using R software.Finally,molecular docking was carried out to evaluate the binding activities between the key compounds and targets.Results A total of 1 252 active compounds,1 415 targets,951 influenza-related DEGs,and 10 142 H1N1-Homo sapiens-related PPIs were obtained.There were 72 intersection targets between the Modified Lugen Formula and influenza.Functional enrichment analyses showed that these targets are closely related to host defense and programmed cell death.The network topological analysis showed that active compounds in the Modified Lugen Formula,such as oleanolic acid,γ-undecalactone,and longispinogenin,regulate viral proteins M2,NA,NS1,and HA and/or the host factors HSP90AA1,NRAS,and ITGB1,thus exert therapeutic effect.Molecular docking results confirmed that these compounds had a good binding ability with the targets.Conclusion Multiple active ingredients in Modified Lugen Formula directly target influenza virus proteins and/or host factors,thereby play an anti-influenza role in multiple dimensions,including inhibiting virus replication,regulating host defense and cell death.This study provides a theoretical basis for further experimental analysis of the action mechanism of the Modified Lugen Formula in treating influenza.

Objective:To monitor intra-fractional set-up errors in tumor radiotherapy using a real-time intelligent capture system for precision displacement.Methods:A simulated radiotherapy environment was created in both the laboratory and the treatment room. A three-axis ( xyz) displacement platform (LD60-LM) and dial gauges were used as displacement measurement tools. Moreover, a real-time intelligent capture system for precision displacement was developed for displacement monitoring. With 23 patients treated with radiotherapy enrolled in this study, the above system was employed to monitor their intra-fractional set-up errors in fractionated radiotherapy. Descriptive analyses were conducted on the deviations between the data captured by cameras and the actual displacement, obtaining the mean values and standard deviation. Results:The monitoring calibration data from the laboratory revealed displacement differences of ≤ 0.5 mm within 20 mm and a maximum displacement difference of 1.47 mm for 50 mm. In contrast, the calibration result from the treatment room exhibited deviations of ± 0.2 mm on the y- z axes, as displayed by both the left and right cameras, and ± 0.31 mm on the x- z axes, as displayed by the middle camera. During 37 radiotherapy sessions in 23 patients, the monitoring result from the middle camera revealed five deviations exceeding the threshold of 5 mm, with the maximum deviation duration and displacement of 57.2 s and 9.24 mm, respectively. Conclusions:The real-time intelligent capture system for precision displacement based on machine vision can achieve real-time monitoring of set-up errors during tumor radiotherapy. Nevertheless, further improvements and service testing are necessary for this system.

Objective The goals of this study were to identify early warning markers of severe dengue based on bioinformatics com-bined with machine learning,and explore the evaluation system of the risk of occurrence of severe dengue.Methods Based on the Gene Expression Omnibus database,the differentially expressed genes between dengue and severe dengue were analyzed,and Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were conducted.Early warning genes of severe dengue were screened using a random forest model,and the accuracy of the genes was verified using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Finally,nomograms were constructed to quantify the warning genes and predict the risk of progression from dengue to severe dengue based on the expression level of these genes.Results A total of 817 differentially expressed genes were identified,along with the associated biolo-gical processes that may be closely related to the occurrence and development of severe dengue,namely,antimicrobial humoral response,humoral immune response,serine hydrolase activity,and arachidonic acid metabolism.Based on this analysis,five early warning genes were isolated:AZU1,PDCD4,COL4A3BP,TRPM4,and ATP4A.Among these,ATP4A,COL4A3BP,and TRPM4 showed low expression levels,whereas AZU1and PDCD4were highly expressed.The ROC curves indicated that these genes were accurate pre-dictors of severe dengue.The nomograms indicated good predictive accuracy,clinical benefit rate,and clinical effectiveness of the model.Conclusion Measuring the expression levels of five warning genes(AZU1,PDCD4,COL4A3BP,TRPM4,and ATP4A)may help to evaluate the risk of severe dengue.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of modified Weijing Decoction in the treatment of stable stage of bronchiectasis(phlegm heat accumulating in the lung pattern).Methods A series of N-of-1 trials using bronchiectasis patients in stable stage with phlegm heat accumulation in the lung pattern were performed.Participants meeting inclusion criteria underwent two distinct treatment protocols during a therapy period.Modified Weijing Decoction was used in the experimental period and ambroxol tablets were used in the control period,washout periods were set.The medication-use order in the control period and experimental period is random.The visual analog scale(VAS)was used to assess symptom changes before and after treatment.24-hour sputum volume and COPD self-assessment test(CAT)scores were recorded,while adverse reactions were monitored during the study period.Statistical analysis and drawing were performed on SPSS 25.0 and GraphPad Prism 8.Comparison of inter-group differences before grouping was assessed by independent samples t-test.Analysis of symptom score,24-hour sputum volume and CAT scores in the experimental and control periods,as well as comparison of differences between the above two groups before and after treatment were performed using paired t-test,which enabled comprehensive exploration of clinical and statistical distinctions.Results A total of 9 patients participated in 16 rounds of analysis.Statistically significant differences(P＜0.05)before and after the treatment in the experimental period were noted in total Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)symptom scores,cough,sputum,sputum color,chest tightness and chest pain,bitter and dry mouth,fatigue and tiredness,24-hour sputum volume,and CAT score.Paired t-tests revealed significant variations(P＜0.05)in the total TCM symptom scores,sputum color scores,scores of chest tightness and pain,and 24-hour sputum volume between experimental and control periods.No adverse events related to the test methods or drugs occurred during the observation period.Conclusion Modified Weijing Decoction could comprehensively improve clinical symptoms of bronchiectasis patients in stable stage.It exhibits superior efficacy compared to ambroxol,and maintains a favorable safety profile.

Pancytopenia is one of the serious complications of Graves disease, and its clinical treatment is quite challenging. Based on traditional Chinese medicine theory and combining with literature reports and clinical practice in China, we discuss the etiology, pathogenesis, and syndromes-based treatment of pancytopenia, hoping to open up new treatment approaches, guide clinical practice, and improve treatment effectiveness.

Pathological insulin resistance (IR) is closely related to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with GDM. Increasing studies have investigated the efficacy of IR indices, such as quantitative insulin sensitivity index, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, triglyceride-glucose index and sex hormone-binding globulin, in predicting GDM and related complications in recent years. This article reviews the research progress in the above topics.

ObjectiveTo investigate the changes of differential metabolites in the serum of mice at different stages of bleomycin sulfate（BLM）-induced pulmonary fibrosis modeling and administration， and the mechanism of Wenfei Huaxian granules（WHG）against idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. MethodMice were randomly divided into control group， control group of 14 days， model group， model group of 14 days， low-dose WHG group and high-dose WHG group. BLM（0.04 U per mouse）was injected into the trachea of mice in the model group， model group of 14 days， low-dose WHG group and high-dose WHG group， and sterile normal saline was injected into the trachea of mice in the control group and control group of 14 days. Mice of low-dose WHG group and high-dose WHG group were given different doses of WHG by gavage every day after injection of BLM， and mice of control group， control group of 14 days， model group and model group of 14 days were given sterile water by gavage every day. The peripheral blood of mice in the control group of 14 days and model group of 14 days were taken to prepare serum after injection of BLM for 14 days， and the peripheral blood and other materials of mice in the other groups were taken after continuous administration for 28 days. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid（BALF）was collected for leucocyte differential count， the pathological examination and hydroxyproline（HYP）content determination of lung tissues of mice were performed， and the small molecule metabolites in serum samples of mice in each group were determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry（UHPLC-MS）. Principal component analysis（PCA）and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA）were conducted to screen differential metabolites and their biological functions were analyzed. ResultCompared with the control group， a large number of continuous fibrotic foci appeared in the lung tissue of mice in the model group， the alveolitis score， fibrosis degree score and HYP content increased significantly（P<0.01）， and the total number of leukocytes， macrophages and lymphocytes in BALF increased significantly（P<0.05）. A total of 33 differential metabolites were screened between the control group of 14 days and model group of 14 days， mainly lipid metabolites， which were mainly involved in oxidative damage and inflammatory process. A total of 34 differential metabolites， mainly amino acid metabolites， were screened between the control group and model group， mainly involving nucleic acid damage and inflammatory process. Compared with the model group， the HYP content， fibrosis score and alveolitis score in the lung tissue of mice from high-dose WHG group decreased significantly（P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the total number of lymphocytes in BALF decreased significantly（P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， 27， 40 differential metabolites were identified in the serum of mice from the low-dose WHG group and high-dose WHG group separately. There were totally 9 common differential metabolites between the model group and low-dose WHG group/high-dose WHG group， which mainly involved in the metabolic pathways of inflammation related lipids metabolism， arginine and tryptophan metabolism， and the change trends in low-dose WHG group and high-dose WHG group were significantly back-regulated compared with the model group. ConclusionWHG can alleviate BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis， collagen deposition and inflammatory reaction in mice， and its anti-fibrotic effect may be related to the adjusting of inflammatory factors， nitric oxide and oxidative stress related metabolic pathways.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM），as a chronic disease with an increasing prevalence，has greatly affected the quality of life of patients， and aroused widespread concern in society. Previous studies have shown that inflammation is closely related to the occurrence and development of T2DM. The role of inflammatory response and its signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of T2DM has become a research hotspot，and the intervention of inflammatory response to control the progression of T2DM has become a new approach for treatment. With the deepening in the research field of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM），the generation of inflammation is attributed to turbid phlegm and blood stasis， whose mutual transformation results in the impairment of body functions. However，the monomers and compounds of Chinese medicine in the treatment of T2DM based on inflammatory signaling pathways are advantageous in multiple targets，multiple pathways， and few side effects，which can significantly relieve the symptoms of T2DM. In recent years，there has been an increasing number of studies on TCM intervention in T2DM. The present article elaborated the understanding of the relationship between T2DM and inflammation in TCM and the seven signaling pathways related to the regulation of inflammation in T2DM by TCM， including nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway，mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）-dependent signaling pathway，phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway，protein kinase C （PKC） signaling pathway，adenosine 5′-monophosphate （AMP）-activated kinase （AMPK） signaling pathway，Wnt signaling pathway，and transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β） signaling pathway.