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.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanisms of Qingchang Wenzhong Decoction （清肠温中方， QWD） in treating ulcerative colitis （UC）. MethodsA total of 100 male C57BL/6J mice were assigned to a pseudo-germ-free group （n=45） and a conventional group （n=55） using a random number table. Pseudo-germ-free model was established by giving antibiotic treatment and subsequently subjected to acute UC induction. After the model was successfully established， the 45 pseudo-germ-free acute UC mice were randomly allocated to a pseudo-germ-free model group， a pseudo-germ-free QWD group， and a pseudo-germ-free mesalazine group， with 15 mice in each group. The 55 conventional mice were randomly divided into a normal control group （n=10）， as well as a conventional model group， a conventional QWD group， and a conventional mesalazine group， with 15 mice in each group. Except for the normal control group， acute UC models were established in all other groups. Mice in the control group received no intervention. From day 32 of the experiment， mice in the pseudo-germ-free QWD group and the conventional QWD group were administered with QWD granules at a dose of 9.71 g/（kg·d） by gavage with deionized water， while those in the pseudo-germ-free mesalazine group and the conventional mesalazine group were given mesalazine enteric-coated tablets at a dose of 151.67 mg/（kg·d） by gavage. Mice in the remaining groups received an equal volume of deionized water once daily for 7 consecutive days. On day 25 of the experiment， six mice were randomly selected from both the pseudo-germ-free group and the conventional group to measure body weight， and fecal samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing to compare differences in gut microbiota， including operational taxonomic units （OTUs）， Shannon index， Observed_species index， and phylogenetic diversity （PD whole tree）. On day 39， body weight was measured in all groups， and the disease activity index （DAI） was evaluated. Colon length and colon wet weight were recorded. Histopathological changes in colonic tissues were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining， and histological injury scores were determined. In addition， the expression levels of mucopolysaccharides and mucin 2 （MUC2） in colonic tissues were measured. ResultsOn day 25， there was no significant difference in body weight between the pseudo-germ-free group and the conventional microbiota group （P＞0.05）. Compared to the conventional microbiota group， the pseudo-germ-free group showed significantly reduced OTUs， Shannon index， Observed_species index， and PD whole tree （P＜0.01）. On day 39， compared to the normal control group， mice in the conventional model group showed a significant decrease in the body weight and an increase in DAI， along with increased colon wet weight， shortened colon length， markedly elevated histopathological scores， and reduced expression of mucopolysaccharides and MUC2 （P＜0.01）. In contrast， no significant differences were observed in these parameters in the pseudo-germ-free model group （P＞0.05）. Compared to the conventional model group， the conventional QWD group showed significant improvement in all measured parameters， whereas the conventional mesalazine group showed reductions only in DAI scores and colon wet weight （P＜0.01）. No statistically significant differences were observed among the pseudo-germ-free model group， the pseudo-germ-free QWD group， and the pseudo-germ-free mesalazine group （P＞0.05）. ConclusionQWD may promote the reconstruction of the intestinal mucus barrier by regulating the intestinal flora， thereby exerting a therapeutic effect on acute UC.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanisms of Qingchang Wenzhong Decoction （清肠温中方， QWD） in treating ulcerative colitis （UC）. MethodsA total of 100 male C57BL/6J mice were assigned to a pseudo-germ-free group （n=45） and a conventional group （n=55） using a random number table. Pseudo-germ-free model was established by giving antibiotic treatment and subsequently subjected to acute UC induction. After the model was successfully established， the 45 pseudo-germ-free acute UC mice were randomly allocated to a pseudo-germ-free model group， a pseudo-germ-free QWD group， and a pseudo-germ-free mesalazine group， with 15 mice in each group. The 55 conventional mice were randomly divided into a normal control group （n=10）， as well as a conventional model group， a conventional QWD group， and a conventional mesalazine group， with 15 mice in each group. Except for the normal control group， acute UC models were established in all other groups. Mice in the control group received no intervention. From day 32 of the experiment， mice in the pseudo-germ-free QWD group and the conventional QWD group were administered with QWD granules at a dose of 9.71 g/（kg·d） by gavage with deionized water， while those in the pseudo-germ-free mesalazine group and the conventional mesalazine group were given mesalazine enteric-coated tablets at a dose of 151.67 mg/（kg·d） by gavage. Mice in the remaining groups received an equal volume of deionized water once daily for 7 consecutive days. On day 25 of the experiment， six mice were randomly selected from both the pseudo-germ-free group and the conventional group to measure body weight， and fecal samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing to compare differences in gut microbiota， including operational taxonomic units （OTUs）， Shannon index， Observed_species index， and phylogenetic diversity （PD whole tree）. On day 39， body weight was measured in all groups， and the disease activity index （DAI） was evaluated. Colon length and colon wet weight were recorded. Histopathological changes in colonic tissues were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining， and histological injury scores were determined. In addition， the expression levels of mucopolysaccharides and mucin 2 （MUC2） in colonic tissues were measured. ResultsOn day 25， there was no significant difference in body weight between the pseudo-germ-free group and the conventional microbiota group （P＞0.05）. Compared to the conventional microbiota group， the pseudo-germ-free group showed significantly reduced OTUs， Shannon index， Observed_species index， and PD whole tree （P＜0.01）. On day 39， compared to the normal control group， mice in the conventional model group showed a significant decrease in the body weight and an increase in DAI， along with increased colon wet weight， shortened colon length， markedly elevated histopathological scores， and reduced expression of mucopolysaccharides and MUC2 （P＜0.01）. In contrast， no significant differences were observed in these parameters in the pseudo-germ-free model group （P＞0.05）. Compared to the conventional model group， the conventional QWD group showed significant improvement in all measured parameters， whereas the conventional mesalazine group showed reductions only in DAI scores and colon wet weight （P＜0.01）. No statistically significant differences were observed among the pseudo-germ-free model group， the pseudo-germ-free QWD group， and the pseudo-germ-free mesalazine group （P＞0.05）. ConclusionQWD may promote the reconstruction of the intestinal mucus barrier by regulating the intestinal flora， thereby exerting a therapeutic effect on acute UC.

Owing to its inherent advantages—such as being non-destructive, rapid, highly molecule-specific, and minimally interfered with by moisture—Raman spectroscopy has been widely adopted in the fields of skin barrier function assessment, monitoring the transdermal penetration of active cosmetic ingredients, and the identification and quality control of cosmetic products. Despite these strengths, the practical application of this technique faces a significant bottleneck: the strong fluorescence background generated by endogenous skin components and exogenous cosmetic additives. Endogenous skin substances, such as structural proteins (e.g., collagen and elastin), metabolic coenzymes (e.g., nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), and pigments (e.g., melanin), together with exogenous cosmetic constituents like organic colorants, chemical sunscreens, and fragrances, often possess strong absorption and emission characteristics. When excited by lasers, these components produce a fluorescence background that can be 10⁶ to 10⁸ times stronger than the Raman scattering signals, effectively masking the inherently weak vibrational fingerprint information. In recent years, driven by the rapid development of optoelectronic hardware and artificial intelligence algorithms, fluorescence suppression strategies have evolved from isolated, single-method approaches into comprehensive, multi-level synergistic systems. These systems are categorized into three distinct tiers: sample preparation, signal acquisition, and data processing. At the sample preparation level, techniques such as photobleaching and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are employed to eliminate or bypass the generation of fluorescence at the source. At the signal acquisition level, instrumental improvements—including the use of long-wavelength near-infrared excitation (typically 785 nm or 1 064 nm), confocal spatial filtering, and shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS)— are utilized to physically isolate Raman signals from the fluorescence background. Furthermore, at the data processing level, numerical baseline correction methods such as polynomial fitting, penalized least squares (e.g., airPLS, arPLS), wavelet transform, and derivative algorithms are increasingly integrated into the analytical pipeline to extract Raman spectral features from mixed signals without increasing hardware costs or acquisition time. This review provides a systematic categorization and critical evaluation of these fluorescence suppression methods, detailing their underlying principles, technical advantages, and inherent limitations in diverse experimental setups. By focusing on critical application scenarios—including skin barrier assessment, percutaneous absorption monitoring, the routine quality control of cosmetics, and the emerging field of portable on-site detection—this paper explores the current state of technique selection and optimization. Finally, the article discusses future development trends, emphasizing the necessity of constructing adaptive, tiered suppression strategies, developing intelligent and automated data processing algorithms, and promoting the integration of portable, multi-modal diagnostic devices. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive technical reference to facilitate the transition of Raman spectroscopy from a specialized laboratory tool into a routine, robust analytical platform for advancements in skin science and cosmetic research.

ObjectiveType I interferon (IFN-I) signaling is essential for antiviral innate immunity, yet its sustained or excessive activation contributes to the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases and interferonopathies, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Aicardi-Goutières syndrome. Current strategies targeting this pathway, exemplified by JAK inhibitors, act mainly on downstream signal transduction and provide limited direct control over upstream IFN-I production, while also carrying the risk of broad immunosuppression. Phyllanthus emblica L. has long been used in traditional medicine for inflammatory disorders, but the bioactive constituent responsible for its regulation of IFN-I signaling and the underlying molecular mechanism have not been clearly defined. This study aimed to identify the active anti-inflammatory component of P. emblica and to characterize its mechanism of action on the IFN-I pathway in macrophages. MethodsActive components ofP. emblica and their candidate targets were screened by network pharmacology using the TCMSP and DrugBank databases (oral bioavailability≥30%, drug-likeness≥0.18) and intersected with inflammation-related genes retrieved from public databases. The predicted interaction between EGCG and IFN-I pathway proteins (TBK1, IRF3, STAT1) was evaluated by molecular docking, with BX795 and GSK8612 used as reference TBK1 inhibitors. Mechanistic experiments were performed in THP-1-derived macrophages and primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). Upstream signaling was activated by transfection of the nucleic acid analogs poly(I∶C) and poly(dA∶dT) or by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, whereas downstream signaling was activated by exogenous IFN-β. An siRNA-mediated TREX1 knockdown model was used to mimic endogenous nucleic acid-driven interferonopathy. Expression of IFN-β1 and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) was measured by RT-qPCR, protein phosphorylation by Western blot, and IFN-β secretion by ELISA. Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) were used to probe the interactionbetween EGCG and IRF3. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as a candidate IFN-I-suppressive constituent of P. emblica, with predicted binding to TBK1, IRF3, and STAT1. Molecular docking yielded binding energies of -9.2, -7.2, and -8.2 kcal/mol for TBK1, IRF3, and STAT1, respectively, indicating an affinity for TBK1 comparable to that of the reference inhibitors BX795 (-5.7 kcal/mol) and GSK8612 (-6.4 kcal/mol). EGCG suppressed IFN-β1 and ISG mRNA expression under poly (I∶C), poly (dA∶dT), and LPS stimulation in both THP-1 macrophages and BMDM. At the protein level, EGCG reduced the phosphorylation of TBK1 and IRF3 without affecting the levels of the upstream sensors cGAS and RIG-I, and lowered IFN-β secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. CETSA and DARTS showed that EGCG did not enhance the thermal stability or protease resistance of IRF3, indicating that its effect on IRF3 is indirect. Following IFN-β stimulation, prolonged EGCG treatment reduced STAT1 phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner without an apparent change in IRF9, and partially attenuated ISG transcription; this effect was not monotonicly concentration-dependent, and CXCL10 showed the most consistent suppression. In TREX1-knockdown cells, the elevated mRNA levels of ISG15, ISG56, and CXCL10 were reduced by EGCG. ConclusionEGCG suppresses IFN-I responses by concurrently inhibiting TBK1-IRF3-dependent IFN‑β production and JAK-STAT1-mediated downstream transcription. These in vitro findings provide a mechanistic basis for the anti-inflammatory use of P. emblica in traditional medicine and identify EGCG as a candidate for further evaluation in interferon-driven autoimmune disease models.

ObjectiveTo investigate the processing technology of calcined Haematitum based on the concept of quality by design（QbD） and to assess its health risk. MethodsTaking whole iron content， Fe²⁺ dissolution content and looseness as critical quality attributes（CQAs）， and calcination temperature， calcination time， spreading thickness and particle size as critical process parameters（CPPs） determined by the failure mode and effect analysis（FMEA）， the processing technology of calcined Haematitum was optimized by orthogonal test combined with analytic hierarchy process-criteria importance through intercriteria correlation（AHP-CRITIC） hybrid weighting method. The contents of heavy metals and harmful elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry， and the health risk assessment was carried out by daily exposure（EXP）， target hazard quotient（THQ） and lifetime cancer risk（LCR）， and the theoretical value of the maximum limit was deduced. ResultsThe optimal processing technology for calcined Haematitum was calcination at 650 ℃， calcination time of 1 h， particle size of 0.2-0.5 cm， spreading thickness of 1 cm， and vinegar quenching for 1 time［Haematitum-vinegar（10：3）］. The contents of 5 heavy metals and harmful elements in 13 batches of calcined Haematitum were all decreased with reductions of up to 5-fold. The cumulative THQ of 2 batches of samples was>1， while the cumulative THQ of all batches of Haematitum was>1. The LCR of As in 1 batches of Haematitum was 1×10^-6-1×10^-4， and the LCR of the rest was<1×10^-6， and the LCRs of calcined Haematitum were all<1×10^-6， indicating that the carcinogenic risk of calcined Haematitum was low， but special attention should still be paid to Haematitum medicinal materials. Preliminary theoretical values of the maximum limits of Cu， As， Cd， Pb and Hg were formulated as 1 014， 25， 17， 27， 7 mg·kg^-1. ConclusionThe optimized processing technology of calcined Haematitum is stable and feasible， and the contents of heavy metals and harmful elements are reduced after processing. Preliminary theoretical values of the maximum limits of Cu， As， Cd， Pb and Hg are formulated to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of standards for the limits of harmful elements in Haematitum.

ObjectiveTo investigate the processing technology of calcined Haematitum based on the concept of quality by design（QbD） and to assess its health risk. MethodsTaking whole iron content， Fe²⁺ dissolution content and looseness as critical quality attributes（CQAs）， and calcination temperature， calcination time， spreading thickness and particle size as critical process parameters（CPPs） determined by the failure mode and effect analysis（FMEA）， the processing technology of calcined Haematitum was optimized by orthogonal test combined with analytic hierarchy process-criteria importance through intercriteria correlation（AHP-CRITIC） hybrid weighting method. The contents of heavy metals and harmful elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry， and the health risk assessment was carried out by daily exposure（EXP）， target hazard quotient（THQ） and lifetime cancer risk（LCR）， and the theoretical value of the maximum limit was deduced. ResultsThe optimal processing technology for calcined Haematitum was calcination at 650 ℃， calcination time of 1 h， particle size of 0.2-0.5 cm， spreading thickness of 1 cm， and vinegar quenching for 1 time［Haematitum-vinegar（10：3）］. The contents of 5 heavy metals and harmful elements in 13 batches of calcined Haematitum were all decreased with reductions of up to 5-fold. The cumulative THQ of 2 batches of samples was>1， while the cumulative THQ of all batches of Haematitum was>1. The LCR of As in 1 batches of Haematitum was 1×10^-6-1×10^-4， and the LCR of the rest was<1×10^-6， and the LCRs of calcined Haematitum were all<1×10^-6， indicating that the carcinogenic risk of calcined Haematitum was low， but special attention should still be paid to Haematitum medicinal materials. Preliminary theoretical values of the maximum limits of Cu， As， Cd， Pb and Hg were formulated as 1 014， 25， 17， 27， 7 mg·kg^-1. ConclusionThe optimized processing technology of calcined Haematitum is stable and feasible， and the contents of heavy metals and harmful elements are reduced after processing. Preliminary theoretical values of the maximum limits of Cu， As， Cd， Pb and Hg are formulated to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of standards for the limits of harmful elements in Haematitum.

Mycophenolic acid (MPA), the active moiety of both mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS), serves as a primary immunosuppressant for maintaining solid organ transplants. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) enhances treatment outcomes through tailored approaches. This study aimed to develop an evidence-based guideline for MPA TDM, facilitating its rational application in clinical settings. The guideline plan was drawn from the Institute of Medicine and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Using the Delphi method, clinical questions and outcome indicators were generated. Systematic reviews, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) evidence quality evaluations, expert opinions, and patient values guided evidence-based suggestions for the guideline. External reviews further refined the recommendations. The guideline for the TDM of MPA (IPGRP-2020CN099) consists of four sections and 16 recommendations encompassing target populations, monitoring strategies, dosage regimens, and influencing factors. High-risk populations, timing of TDM, area under the curve (AUC) versus trough concentration (C₀), target concentration ranges, monitoring frequency, and analytical methods are addressed. Formulation-specific recommendations, initial dosage regimens, populations with unique considerations, pharmacokinetic-informed dosing, body weight factors, pharmacogenetics, and drug‍-‍drug interactions are covered. The evidence-based guideline offers a comprehensive recommendation for solid organ transplant recipients undergoing MPA therapy, promoting standardization of MPA TDM, and enhancing treatment efficacy and safety.
Mycophenolic Acid/administration & dosage* ; Drug Monitoring/methods* ; Humans ; Organ Transplantation ; Immunosuppressive Agents/administration & dosage* ; Delphi Technique

The translocator protein (TSPO) positron emission tomography (PET) can noninvasively detect neuroinflammation associated with epileptogenesis and epilepsy. This study explored the role of the TSPO-targeting radioligand [¹⁸F]F-TFQC, an m-trifluoromethyl ER176 analog, in the PET neuroimaging of epileptic rats. Initially, [¹⁸F]F-TFQC was synthesized with a radiochemical yield of 8%-10% (EOS), a radiochemical purity of over 99%, and a specific activity of 38.21 ± 1.73 MBq/nmol (EOS). After determining that [¹⁸F]F-TFQC exhibited good biochemical properties, [¹⁸F]F-TFQC PET neuroimaging was performed in epileptic rats at multiple time points in various stages of disease progression. PET imaging showed specific [¹⁸F]F-TFQC uptake in the right hippocampus (KA-injected site, i.e., epileptogenic zone), which was most pronounced at 1 week (T/NT 1.63 ± 0.21) and 1 month (T/NT 1.66 ± 0.20). The PET results were further validated using autoradiography and pathological analysis. Thus, [¹⁸F]F-TFQC can reflect the TSPO levels and localize the epileptogenic zone, thereby offering the potential for monitoring neuroinflammation and guiding anti-inflammatory treatment in patients with epilepsy.

Among tumor microenvironment (TME), the entire metabolic characteristics of tumor-resident cells are reprogrammed to benefit the expansion of tumor cells, which count on glutamine in large part to fuel the tricarboxylic acid cycle for energy generation and anabolic metabolism support. Endothelial cells that are abducted by tumor cells to form a pathological tumor vascular network for constructing the hypoxic immunosuppressive TME, also rely on glutaminolysis as the "engine" of angiogenesis. Additionally, the glutamine metabolic preference benefits the polarization of TAMs towards pro-tumoral M2 phenotype as well. Herein, we developed a type of siRNA micelleplexes (MH@siGLS1) to reverse immunosuppressive TME by targeting glutaminolysis within tumor-resident cells for tumor vasculature normalization- and TAMs repolarization-enhanced photo-immunotherapy. Tumor cell starvation and antioxidant system destruction achieved by MH@siGLS1-mediated glutaminolysis inhibition could promote photodynamic therapy efficacy, which was available to trigger immunogenic cell death for adaptive antitumor immune responses. Meanwhile, glutaminolysis inhibition of tumor endothelial cells and TAMs could realize tumor vascular normalization and TAMs repolarization for antitumor immunity amplification. This study provides a unique perspective on cancer treatments by focusing on the interrelations of metabolic characteristics and the biofunctions of various cell types within TME.