Chronic liver diseases are a group of diseases in which the liver is subjected to a variety of injuries over a long period of time， resulting in irreversible pathological changes that last longer than 6 months. Emodin （EMO） is a natural anthraquinone derivative derived from Rheum officinale， and its pharmacological effect has been extensively studied， exhibiting a variety of biological properties and involving multiple signaling molecules and pathways. Western medicine or surgical treatment is currently the main treatment regimen for chronic liver diseases， and the advance in treatment is limited by various reasons such as side effects and high costs. Due to its natural origin and efficacy， EMO has unique advantages in the treatment of chronic liver diseases and has now become a research hotspot. This article summarizes the therapeutic effect of EMO on chronic liver diseases and its mechanism， in order to provide a certain scientific basis for the traditional Chinese medicine treatment of chronic liver diseases and the development of drugs in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effect and mechanism of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglucoside （TWM） on nephrotic syndrome in rats. METHODS The nephrotic syndrome model was established by intravenous injection of adriamycin via the tail vein. The modeling rats were randomly divided into the model group （distilled water）， prednisone group （10 mg/kg）， and TWM high- and low-dose groups （10 and 5 mg/kg， respectively）. Additionally， blank group （distilled water） without model induction was established. Each group consisted of 9 rats. Rats in each group were administered the corresponding drugs or distilled water by gavage， once a day， for 6 consecutive weeks. The histopathological morphology of kidney tissues in rats was observed； the levels of 24-hour urinary protein （24 h-UTP） and serum biochemical indicators [albumin （ALB）， blood urea nitrogen （BUN）， serum creatinine （SCr）， cholesterol （CHOL）， and triglyceride （TG）] in rats were determined； the levels of oxidative stress indicators [superoxide dismutase （SOD）， malondialdehyde （MDA）] in kidney tissue of rats were determined； expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α）/microRNA-155-5p （miR-155-5p）/nuclear factor erythriod 2- related factor 2 （Nrf2） signaling pathway-related mRNA and protein in the renal tissues of rats were detected. RESULTS Compared with the blank group， the rats in the model group exhibited disordered renal tissue structure， with a small amount of glomerular necrosis and edema of the renal tubular epithelial cells. 24 h-UTP， serum levels of SCr， BUN， CHOL and TG， MDA content， mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α and Keap1 as well as the expression of miR-155-5p in renal tissues were increased significantly （ P ＜0.05）. Serum level of ALB， SOD level in renal tissue as well as mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2 were decreased significantly （ P ＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， TWM high-dose and low-dose groups exhibited significant improvements in renal injury， with notable reversals in the levels of the above quantitative indicators （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS TWM can alleviate oxidative stress-induced damage and thereby improve nephrotic syndrome in rats by regulating the HIF-1α/miR-155-5p/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of zolbetuximab combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for CLDN18.2-positive and HER2-negative advanced gastric cancer from the perspective of China’s healthcare system. METHODS Based on individual data from the GLOW clinical trial involving CLDN18.2-positive and HER2-negative patients with advanced gastric cancer， a comparison was made between the zolbetuximab combined with chemotherapy regimen and the chemotherapy alone regimen. A dynamic Markov model was employed for simulation， with a cycle length of 21 days and a time horizon of ten years. A cost-utility analysis was employed， with both costs and health outcomes discounted at an annual rate of 5%. The primary outcome measures included total cost， quality-adjusted life years （QALY） and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio （ICER）， with the willingness-to-pay （WTP） threshold set at three times China’s per capita gross domestic product in 2024 （287 247 yuan/QALY）. One-way analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed to assess the robustness of the model. Furthermore， scenario analysis and threshold analysis were conducted to explore the impact of drug price adjustments on cost-effectiveness and the threshold price. RESULTS Compared with the chemotherapy alone regimen， the ICER of zolbetuximab combined with chemotherapy was 2 611 943.00 yuan/QALY. One-way sensitivity analysis indicated that the utility value of the progression free survival， the cost of zolbetuximab and body surface area were the three most influential parameters affecting the ICER. The results of the probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that when the WTP threshold was set at 2 617 450 yuan/QALY， the probability that the combined regimen was cost-effective approached 50%. Scenario analysis revealed that only when the price of zolbetuximab was reduced to 10% of the baseline price did the ICER of the combined regimen fall below the aforementioned WTP threshold. Threshold analysis further indicated that when the unit price of zolbetuximab dropped to 3.81 yuan/mg， the probability of the combination regimen being cost-effective was approximately 50%. CONCLUSIONS From the perspective of China’s healthcare system， zolbetuximab combined with chemotherapy regimen as first-line treatment for CLDN18.2-positive and HER2-negative advanced gastric cancer is not cost-effective compared with chemotherapy alone regimen. When the unit price of zolbetuximab drops to 3.81 yuan/mg or below， the regimen becomes cost-effective.

Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound in treating pulmonary nodules, providing evidence-based medical evidence for TCM intervention in pulmonary nodules. Methods Computer search of PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and SinoMed was conducted to select randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TCM compound intervention in pulmonary nodules, with the retrieval time from the inception to November 29, 2023. The Cochrane bias risk assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies, and Review Manager 5.4 was used for Meta-analysis. Results A total of 18 RCTs were included, covering 8 provinces across the country, with a total sample size of 1301 patients. The TCM compounds used in the included studies all incorporated the method of dissolving phlegm and dissipating nodules. There was a high risk of bias uncertainty in the included studies. Meta-analysis results suggested that TCM compound could significantly reduce the diameter of pulmonary nodules [MD=−1.41, 95%CI (−1.70, −1.13), P<0.001], decrease the number of nodules [MD=−0.37, 95%CI (−0.73, −0.01), P=0.05], alleviate clinical symptoms [MD=−4.84, 95%CI (−6.04, −3.64), P<0.001], and improve lung function [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), MD=0.55, 95%CI (0.09, 1.01), P=0.02; FEV1/forced vital capacity, MD=6.12, 95%CI (4.47, 7.78), P<0.001]. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the probability of malignancy between the experimental group and the control group [MD=−0.01, 95%CI (−0.01, 0.00), P=0.09]. Conclusion TCM compound can significantly reduce the diameter of pulmonary nodules, decrease the number of nodules, alleviate clinical symptoms, and improve lung function, but future multicenter, large-sample, high-quality RCTs are still needed to further explore and verify this conclusion.

Background and aims The mechanism of cholestatic liver injury (CLI) is unclear, and effective therapies are lacking. While peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) agonists show potential hepatoprotective effect and pyroptosis is implicated in hepatocellular damage, how PPARα activation mitigates lithocholic acid (LCA)-induced pyroptosis remains unknown. Methods The hepatoprotective effect of PPARα agonists was evaluated in a mouse model of intrahepatic cholestasis induced by LCA. Liver injury was assessed via serum biochemistry, hematoxylin and eosin and TUNEL staining, and electron microscopy. Pyroptosis pathways were analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and co-immunoprecipitation. Results Combined morphological, histopathological, and biochemical analyses confirmed that PPARα activation protects against CLI. Compared with LCA treatment alone, PPARα activation significantly attenuated the elevation of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the increased TUNEL-positive cells, and the formation of hepatocyte membrane pores. Mechanistically, PPARα activation suppressed both NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis and apoptosis protease-activating factor-1 (APAF-1)/CASPASE-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis. Furthermore, PPARα agonist pretreatment inhibited activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) signaling pathways. Conclusions PPARα protects against LCA-induced CLI by inhibiting both NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis associated with NF-κB and APAF-1/CASPASE-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis associated with the FOXO1 signaling pathway.

The core pathogenesis of pediatric IgA vasculitis （IgAV） is considered to involve qi movement disorder， with the failure of clear-turbid separation and internal generation of turbid pathogens. Accordingly， the viewpoint of "qi disorder causing turbidity" is proposed. In clinical practice， the disease is divided into the acute， persistent， and stable stages. The acute stage is characterized by impaired dispersion of wei （卫） qi and the internal generation of heat turbidity， while the persistent stage by congestion of ying （营） qi and retention of stasis-turbidity， and the stable stage by depletion of pectoral qi with lingering latent turbidity. In clinical practice， regulating qi and transforming turbidity is taken as the basic therapeutic principle， and the self-formulated Tiaoqi Huazhuo Decoction （调气化浊汤） is used as the basic prescription for staged treatment with flexible modifications. Specifically， the acute stage is treated with the method of dispersing wei qi and clearing heat-turbidity； the persistent stage is recommended to harmonize ying qi and purging stasis-turbidity； and the stable stage should focus on securing pectoral qi and venting latent turbidity.

Objective: To analyze the serotypes and VP1 coding region genetic characteristics of poliovirus (PV) isolated from Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) Surveillance System and environmental sewage surveillance samples in Anhui Province. Methods: PV was isolated from fecal samples of polio cases and their close contacts in the AFP Surveillance System and environmental sewage surveillance samples in Anhui Province in 2023. Intratype identification was performed by rRT-PCR method. The nucleotide sequence variation sites and variation numbers in the VP1 coding region were amplified and determined. The mutation hotspots, neurovirulence determinants, and antigenic determinant site changes were analyzed. A PV phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the VP1 coding region gene, and the genetic association between PV in Anhui Province and other foreign vaccine-derived PV (VDPV) was analyzed. Results: A total of 35 PV strains were isolated in Anhui Province in 2023, including 10 strains from AFP Surveillance System samples and 25 strains from environmental sewage surveillance samples. By intratype identification, there were 14 type Ⅰ PV strains and 21 type Ⅲ PV strains. By VDPV screening, there were 2 type Ⅰ VDPV strains, with VP1 coding region nucleotide sequence variation numbers of 10-<150; all others were vaccine-like strains. The mutation rates of nt2747 and nt2795 sites in type Ⅰ PV were higher, which were 78.57% and 21.43%, respectively. Three strains had revertant mutations at the attenuated site nt2795. Twelve strains had mutations at antigenic determinant site 1. The mutation rates of nt3353, nt3346, and nt3357 sites in type Ⅲ PV were higher, which were 42.86%, 28.57%, and 28.57%, respectively. No revertant mutations were found at attenuated sites. Four strains had mutations at antigenic determinant site 2, and 6 strains had mutations at antigenic determinant site 3. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the isolated 2 type Ⅰ VDPV strains were on the same independent main branch, which was different from other isolated type Ⅰ PV strains, and had a distant genetic relationship with other VDPV monitored abroad. Conclusions In 2023, the VP1 coding regions of type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ PV isolated in Anhui Province had mutation hotspots, and revertant mutations occurred at attenuated sites. Type Ⅰ VDPV had no genetic association with previously discovered VDPV. It is recommended to strengthen PV surveillance and sequence analysis capabilities to reduce the risk of circulating VDPV.

Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Diterpenoid ferruginol is a key intermediate in biosynthesis of active ingredients such as tanshinone and carnosic acid.However, the traditional process of obtaining ferruginol from plants is often cumbersome and inefficient. In recent years, the increasingly developing gene editing technology has been gradually applied to the heterologous production of natural products, but the production of ferruginol in microbe is still very low, which has become an obstacle to the efficient biosynthesis of downstream chemicals, such as tanshinone. In this study, miltiradiene was produced by integrating the shortened diterpene synthase fusion protein,and the key genes in the MVA pathway were overexpressed to improve the yield of miltiradiene. Under the shake flask fermentation condition, the yield of miltiradiene reached about(113. 12±17. 4)mg·L~(-1). Subsequently, this study integrated the ferruginol synthase Sm CYP76AH1 and Sm CPR1 to reconstruct the ferruginol pathway and thereby realized the heterologous synthesis of ferruginol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The study selected the best ferruginol synthase(Il CYP76AH46) from different plants and optimized the expression of pathway genes through redox partner engineering to increase the yield of ferruginol. By increasing the copy number of diterpene synthase, CYP450, and CPR, the yield of ferruginol reached(370. 39± 21. 65) mg·L~(-1) in the shake flask, which was increased by 21. 57-fold compared with that when the initial ferruginol strain JMLT05 was used. Finally, 1 083. 51 mg·L~(-1) ferruginol was obtained by fed-batch fermentation, which is the highest yield of ferruginol from biosynthesis so far. This study provides not only research ideas for other metabolic engineering but also a platform for the construction of cell factories for downstream products.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics* ; Diterpenes/metabolism* ; Metabolic Engineering ; Fermentation ; Abietanes

Emodin is a hydroxyanthraquinone compound that is widely distributed and has multiple pharmacological activities, including anti-diarrheal, anti-inflammatory, and liver-protective effects. Research indicates that emodin may be one of the main components responsible for inducing hepatotoxicity. However, studies on the mechanisms of liver injury are relatively limited, particularly those related to bile acids(BAs) metabolism. This study aims to systematically investigate the effects of different dosages of emodin on BAs metabolism, providing a basis for the safe clinical use of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)containing emodin. First, this study evaluated the safety of repeated administration of different dosages of emodin over a 5-week period, with a particular focus on its impact on the liver. Next, the composition and content of BAs in serum and liver were analyzed. Subsequently, qRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of nuclear receptors and transporters related to BAs metabolism. The results showed that 1 g·kg~(-1) emodin induced hepatic damage, with bile duct hyperplasia as the primary pathological manifestation. It significantly increased the levels of various BAs in the serum and primary BAs(including taurine-conjugated and free BAs) in the liver. Additionally, it downregulated the mRNA expression of farnesoid X receptor(FXR), retinoid X receptor(RXR), and sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide(NTCP), and upregulated the mRNA expression of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase(CYP7A1) in the liver. Although 0.01 g·kg~(-1) and 0.03 g·kg~(-1) emodin did not induce obvious liver injury, they significantly increased the level of taurine-conjugated BAs in the liver, suggesting a potential interference with BAs homeostasis. In conclusion, 1 g·kg~(-1) emodin may promote the production of primary BAs in the liver by affecting the FXR-RXR-CYP7A1 pathway, inhibit NTCP expression, and reduce BA reabsorption in the liver, resulting in BA accumulation in the peripheral blood. This disruption of BA homeostasis leads to liver injury. Even doses of emodin close to the clinical dose can also have a certain effect on the homeostasis of BAs. Therefore, when using traditional Chinese medicine or formulas containing emodin in clinical practice, it is necessary to regularly monitor liver function indicators and closely monitor the risk of drug-induced liver injury.
Emodin/administration & dosage* ; Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism* ; Animals ; Male ; Liver/injuries* ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Mice ; Rats