ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy and mechanisms of Sini San in the treatment of depression and liver injury based on gut microbiota. MethodsThirty-two male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a normal group， model group （M）， Sini San group （MS， 2.5 g·kg^-1）， and fluoxetine group （MF， 2 mg·kg^-1）. Except for the normal group， rats in the other three groups were subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS）. After 8 weeks， the open-field test and sucrose preference test were conducted. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect serum corticosterone （CORT）， adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH）， corticotropin-releasing factor （CRF）， lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， Zonulin， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA） levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex， and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） levels in the hippocampus. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect hippocampal BDNF mRNA expression. Serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） levels were measured using the ultraviolet lactate dehydrogenase method. The ultrastructure of the intestinal epithelium was observed by electron microscopy， and gut microbiota in rat feces were analyzed using 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the sucrose preference of rats in the model group was significantly reduced （P0.01）， whereas it was significantly increased in the Sini San group compared with the model group （P0.05）. Compared with the normal group， hippocampal GABA protein levels and BDNF mRNA expression in the model group were significantly decreased （P0.05）， and compared with the model group， both were significantly increased in the Sini San group （P0.05， P0.01）. Compared with the normal group， serum LPS and Zonulin levels in the model group were significantly increased （P0.05， P0.01）， and compared with the model group， Zonulin levels in the Sini San group were significantly decreased （P0.05）. No obvious changes were observed in the ultrastructure of the jejunal mucosa among groups. Compared with the normal group， widened and blurred tight junctions， sparse and shortened microvilli， and mitochondrial swelling with cristae disruption in epithelial cells were observed in the ileal and colonic mucosa of the model group， which were markedly improved in the Sini San and fluoxetine groups. The results of 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing showed that Sini San improved CUMS-induced dysbiosis of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Correlation analysis indicated that Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were significantly correlated with depression-related indicators， liver function， and intestinal mucosal permeability. ConclusionSini San exerts antidepressant and hepatoprotective effects by improving Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria and inhibiting the increase in intestinal mucosal permeability in CUMS rats.

ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy and mechanisms of Sini San in the treatment of depression and liver injury based on gut microbiota. MethodsThirty-two male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a normal group， model group （M）， Sini San group （MS， 2.5 g·kg^-1）， and fluoxetine group （MF， 2 mg·kg^-1）. Except for the normal group， rats in the other three groups were subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS）. After 8 weeks， the open-field test and sucrose preference test were conducted. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect serum corticosterone （CORT）， adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH）， corticotropin-releasing factor （CRF）， lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， Zonulin， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA） levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex， and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） levels in the hippocampus. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect hippocampal BDNF mRNA expression. Serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） levels were measured using the ultraviolet lactate dehydrogenase method. The ultrastructure of the intestinal epithelium was observed by electron microscopy， and gut microbiota in rat feces were analyzed using 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the sucrose preference of rats in the model group was significantly reduced （P<0.01）， whereas it was significantly increased in the Sini San group compared with the model group （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， hippocampal GABA protein levels and BDNF mRNA expression in the model group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）， and compared with the model group， both were significantly increased in the Sini San group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the normal group， serum LPS and Zonulin levels in the model group were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and compared with the model group， Zonulin levels in the Sini San group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. No obvious changes were observed in the ultrastructure of the jejunal mucosa among groups. Compared with the normal group， widened and blurred tight junctions， sparse and shortened microvilli， and mitochondrial swelling with cristae disruption in epithelial cells were observed in the ileal and colonic mucosa of the model group， which were markedly improved in the Sini San and fluoxetine groups. The results of 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing showed that Sini San improved CUMS-induced dysbiosis of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Correlation analysis indicated that Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were significantly correlated with depression-related indicators， liver function， and intestinal mucosal permeability. ConclusionSini San exerts antidepressant and hepatoprotective effects by improving Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria and inhibiting the increase in intestinal mucosal permeability in CUMS rats.

ObjectiveTo explore the diagnostic value of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and to investigate the changes in brain functional connectivity in default mode network (DMN) and medial temporal lobe (MTL) regions. MethodsLiteratures were retrieved from multiple databases including CNKI, PubMed, Medline, and Embase, etc. from January, 2020 to October, 2025, investigating the changes in functional connectivity of DMN and MTL in patients with MCI compared to health control (HC) using rs-fMRI. Two researchers independently screened and extracted the literatures and methodological quality was assessed using QUADAS-2. Review Manager 5.4 was used to perform a meta-analysis of neuroimaging indicators in MCI patients and HC subjects. Stata and SDM were utilized to summarize diagnostic efficacy and brain functional connectivity, calculating the over all sensitivity, specificity and summary receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve (SROC-AUC). Deeks funnel plots were drawn, literature weights were analyzed, and subgroup analyses were conducted. ResultsA total of ten literatures were ultimately included, involving 1 010 patients with MCI and 1 714 HC subjects. MCI patients showed decreased or abnormal blood oxygen level dependence signals in DMN, focusing on bilateral medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and posterior cingulate cortex. The SROC-AUC was 0.91. In MTL, there was a characteristic decrease of spontaneous neural functional connectivities between the hippocampus and other regions, reflecting the obstruction of information transmission from episodic memory to the central nodes. Abnormal functional connectivity in DMN and MTL resulted in compensatory resting-state functional connectivity enhancement in other subnetworks or local functional connections, such as frontoparietal network and the hippocampal-parietal network. Abnormal activation of mPFC suggested atrophy of the hippocampus or abnormal brain function. The decline in functional connectivity between DMN and MTL indicated impairment of memory and information processing in the early stage. ConclusionThe early functional decoupling between DMN and MTL is a crucial neural mechanism at the MCI stage of AD, providing important neuroimaging evidence for the early diagnosis of AD.

Objective:To investigate the staging of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome before onset, and to analyze its impact on short-term prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods:The clinical data of 2 993 patients with AMI from January 2017 to December 2023 in Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. The basic information, baseline data, in-hospital data, cardiac-related examination results, CKM syndrome staging and in-hospital outcomes were recorded.Results:Among the 2 993 patients with AMI, the CKM syndrome stage 0 was in 23 cases (0.77%), stage 1 in 35 cases (1.17%), stage 2 in 2 015 cases (67.32%), stage 3 to 4 in 920 cases (30.74%). The male proportion, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with CKM syndrome stage 0 and 1 were significantly higher than those in patients with CKM syndrome stage 2 and 3 to 4, the hypertension proportion, diabetes proportion, chronic kidney disease proportion, triglyceride (TG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1c) and creatinine were significantly lower than those in patients with CKM syndrome 2 stage 3 to 4, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); the body mass index (BMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) proportion in patients with CKM syndrome stage 0 were significantly lower than those in patients with CKM syndrome stage 1, 2 and 3 to 4, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); the cerebrovascular diseases proportion, Killip stage ≥3 proportion, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and left main coronary artery lesions proportion in patients with CKM syndrome stage 0, 1 and 2 were significantly lower than those in patients with CKM syndrome stage 3 to 4, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); the global registry of acute coronary events score (GRACE score) in patients with CKM syndrome stage 0 was significantly lower than that in patients with CKM syndrome stage 3 to 4, and there was statistical difference ( P<0.05). Although there were statistical differences in low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and number of blood vessels involved among the four groups ( P<0.05), but pairwise comparisons showed no statistically significant differences ( P>0.05). There were no statistical differences in age, smoking history, hyperlipidemia, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, uric acid, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) peak, left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter among the four groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of in-hospital major adverse coronary events (MACE) was 10.76% (322/2 993). Among them, the incidence of MACE, all-cause mortality and longer length of stay in patients with CKM syndrome stage 0, 1 and 2 were significantly lower than those in patients with CKM syndrome stage 3 to 4: 4.35% (1/23), 8.57% (3/35) and 8.59% (173/2 015) vs. 15.76% (145/920), 0, 2.86% (1/35) and 2.38% (48/2 015) vs. 4.78% (44/920), (8.17 ± 3.87), (8.15 ± 5.32) and (8.89 ± 6.42) d vs. (9.81 ± 9.29) d, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); the incidences of acute kidney injury and atrial fibrillation in patients with CKM syndrome stage 0 and 1 were significantly lower than those in patients with CKM syndrome stage 2 and 3 to 4: 8.70% (2/23) and 8.57% (3/35) vs. 24.17% (487/2 015) and 34.35% (316/920), 0 and 0 vs. 3.52% (71/2 015) and 10.00% (92/920), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); there were no statistical differences in the incidences of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrest, mechanical complications and mechanical circulatory support among the four groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The severity of CKM syndrome is closely related to the occurrence of AMI. CKM patients with higher CKM stages have more severe AMI and poorer in-hospital prognosis. CKM syndrome staging can serve as a potential prognostic indicator for AMI patients.

Periodontitis constitutes the primary cause of tooth loss among adults in China. The disease is characterized by the high morbidity, which significantly impairs both oral and systemic health. As the key insights of initial periodontal therapy, subgingival scaling and root planing (SRP) have been considered as simple, effective, and cost-efficient treatment approaches for managing periodontal inflammation. Substantial published evidences indicated that the majority of patients diagnosed with periodontitis could achieve lifelong retention of their natural teeth through standardized initial periodontal therapy, rigorous plaque control, and long-term supportive periodontal treatment. However, the proficiency in periodontal diagnosis and treatment among general dental practitioners in China is heterogeneous, with a notable scarcity of periodontists and a suboptimal level of SRP standardization. Drawing upon over four decades of clinical expertise from Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology as well as comprehensive literature reviews, this paper meticulously outlines the standardized procedures for SRP, aiming at guiding clinicians to perform standardized SRP step by step, and thereby enhancing clinical efficacy of periodontal treatment, promoting periodontal health, and ultimately improving patients′ quality of life.

[Objective]To explore the pattern of analogical pharmacology and efficacy of"Chinese medicines from covering",which refers to the barks of plants,skins of animals and peels of fruits used as medicines to treat diseases.[Methods]Based on the principle of analogical pharmacology and on the basis of the principle that"Chinese medicines from covering affecting the skin",this paper combines the records in herbal medical classics and clinical medication experience to further analyze the efficacy characteristics of Chinese medicines from covering and summarize the efficacy characteristics of subdivided categories such as fruit peels,bark of trunks,root barks and animal skins.[Results]Chinese medicines from covering have the characteristics of functioning well at entering the lung and large intestine and exerting the effects of relieving cough and diarrhea.This is particularly true for medicines made from fruit peels,such as Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.peel,Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim.peel,Exocarpium Citri Grandis and Papaver somniferum L.pericarp.In addition,Morus alba L.root-bark,Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance bark,Erinaceus europaeus L.skin and Ailanthus altissima(Mill.)Swingle bark also have a preference for entering the lung and large intestine meridians.Chinese medicines from covering have the efficacy characteristic of adepting at nourishing Yin,such as Colla Corii Asini(E jiao),pig skin and Bos taurus domesticus Gmelin hide gelatin,etc.This kind of Chinese medicines from covering generally comes from animal skins.Chinese medicines from covering like Citrus reticulata Blanco pericarp,Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride,Poncirus trifoliata(L.)Raf.fruit,Areca catechu L.peel and Magnolia officinalis Rehd.et Wils.bark are rich in volatile oils and good at regulating Qi and relieving distension.Chinese medicines from covering have the characteristics of being good at entering the lower-Jiao,tonifying the liver and kidney,strengthening the muscles and bones,and consolidating kidney Qi,This is especially true for medicines made from trunk and root barks,such as Phellodendron chinense Schneid.bark,Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.root-bark,Lycium chinense Mill.root-bark,Eleutherococcus gracilistylus W.W.Smith bark and Cinnamomum cassia Presl bark.[Conclusion]In addition to"affecting the skin",Chinese medicines from covering possess various characteristics of efficacy patterns.In the theory of the Five Elements,Chinese medicines from covering pertain to metal.The characteristics of metal Qi,such as its high-rising nature,its functions of ripening,descending and its dryness,are the root causes of the efficacy characteristics of Chinese medicines from covering.These include acting on the skin and the exterior,entering the lungs and large intestine,being rich in colloids and oils,being good at tonifying the liver and kidney,and clearing heat and drying dampness.

[Objective]To deepen the theoretical grasp of"the concept of circular transformation"and apply it to unpack the complex pathogenesis of coronary heart disease(CHD),offering a holistic,unified,and adaptable diagnostic and management framework.[Methods]Through historical review and medical principle analysis,it elucidates"the concept of circular transformation"basics and nuances.Merging this with modern research,it discerns CHD's tangled progression,also refers classic formulas,common drugs and diverse clinical practice to pinpoint effective therapeutic approaches.[Results]"The concept of circular transformation"posits that all phenomena are in cyclic and dynamic flux,with human life exhibiting three cycles:Yin-Yang dynamics,the five elements and Qi movement.This framework can explain CHD pathogeneses as:Yin-Yang imbalance from Yang's failure to disperse and Yin evil obstruction;five elements disharmony due to heart and spleen malnourishment and kidney water overflowing into the heart;and Qi circulation disruption from chaotic ascending-descending and misdirected entry-exit.The treatment strategies include warming Yang Qi,dissipating pathogens,harmonizing Yin-Yang;invigorating the spleen and protecting,the heart warming the kidney,supporting Yang and promoting element interaction;and balancing Qi's movements.This work aims to refine"the concept of circular transformation"and offer systematic,dynamic traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)approaches for CHD diagnosis and treatment.[Conclusion]"The concept of circular transformation"blends concepts of perpetual cycles and evolutionary shifts with traditional Chinese medicine's views on Yin-Yang balance,the five elements'interplay and the movements of Qi.This perspective facilitates sophisticated analysis of CHD's complexity,guiding medication choices and dynamic treatment applications in clinical settings.

Periodontitis constitutes the primary cause of tooth loss among adults in China. The disease is characterized by the high morbidity, which significantly impairs both oral and systemic health. As the key insights of initial periodontal therapy, subgingival scaling and root planing (SRP) have been considered as simple, effective, and cost-efficient treatment approaches for managing periodontal inflammation. Substantial published evidences indicated that the majority of patients diagnosed with periodontitis could achieve lifelong retention of their natural teeth through standardized initial periodontal therapy, rigorous plaque control, and long-term supportive periodontal treatment. However, the proficiency in periodontal diagnosis and treatment among general dental practitioners in China is heterogeneous, with a notable scarcity of periodontists and a suboptimal level of SRP standardization. Drawing upon over four decades of clinical expertise from Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology as well as comprehensive literature reviews, this paper meticulously outlines the standardized procedures for SRP, aiming at guiding clinicians to perform standardized SRP step by step, and thereby enhancing clinical efficacy of periodontal treatment, promoting periodontal health, and ultimately improving patients′ quality of life.

Objective:To investigate the staging of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome before onset, and to analyze its impact on short-term prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods:The clinical data of 2 993 patients with AMI from January 2017 to December 2023 in Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. The basic information, baseline data, in-hospital data, cardiac-related examination results, CKM syndrome staging and in-hospital outcomes were recorded.Results:Among the 2 993 patients with AMI, the CKM syndrome stage 0 was in 23 cases (0.77%), stage 1 in 35 cases (1.17%), stage 2 in 2 015 cases (67.32%), stage 3 to 4 in 920 cases (30.74%). The male proportion, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with CKM syndrome stage 0 and 1 were significantly higher than those in patients with CKM syndrome stage 2 and 3 to 4, the hypertension proportion, diabetes proportion, chronic kidney disease proportion, triglyceride (TG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1c) and creatinine were significantly lower than those in patients with CKM syndrome 2 stage 3 to 4, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); the body mass index (BMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) proportion in patients with CKM syndrome stage 0 were significantly lower than those in patients with CKM syndrome stage 1, 2 and 3 to 4, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); the cerebrovascular diseases proportion, Killip stage ≥3 proportion, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and left main coronary artery lesions proportion in patients with CKM syndrome stage 0, 1 and 2 were significantly lower than those in patients with CKM syndrome stage 3 to 4, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); the global registry of acute coronary events score (GRACE score) in patients with CKM syndrome stage 0 was significantly lower than that in patients with CKM syndrome stage 3 to 4, and there was statistical difference ( P<0.05). Although there were statistical differences in low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and number of blood vessels involved among the four groups ( P<0.05), but pairwise comparisons showed no statistically significant differences ( P>0.05). There were no statistical differences in age, smoking history, hyperlipidemia, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, uric acid, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) peak, left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter among the four groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of in-hospital major adverse coronary events (MACE) was 10.76% (322/2 993). Among them, the incidence of MACE, all-cause mortality and longer length of stay in patients with CKM syndrome stage 0, 1 and 2 were significantly lower than those in patients with CKM syndrome stage 3 to 4: 4.35% (1/23), 8.57% (3/35) and 8.59% (173/2 015) vs. 15.76% (145/920), 0, 2.86% (1/35) and 2.38% (48/2 015) vs. 4.78% (44/920), (8.17 ± 3.87), (8.15 ± 5.32) and (8.89 ± 6.42) d vs. (9.81 ± 9.29) d, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); the incidences of acute kidney injury and atrial fibrillation in patients with CKM syndrome stage 0 and 1 were significantly lower than those in patients with CKM syndrome stage 2 and 3 to 4: 8.70% (2/23) and 8.57% (3/35) vs. 24.17% (487/2 015) and 34.35% (316/920), 0 and 0 vs. 3.52% (71/2 015) and 10.00% (92/920), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); there were no statistical differences in the incidences of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrest, mechanical complications and mechanical circulatory support among the four groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The severity of CKM syndrome is closely related to the occurrence of AMI. CKM patients with higher CKM stages have more severe AMI and poorer in-hospital prognosis. CKM syndrome staging can serve as a potential prognostic indicator for AMI patients.

[Objective]To explore the pattern of analogical pharmacology and efficacy of"Chinese medicines from covering",which refers to the barks of plants,skins of animals and peels of fruits used as medicines to treat diseases.[Methods]Based on the principle of analogical pharmacology and on the basis of the principle that"Chinese medicines from covering affecting the skin",this paper combines the records in herbal medical classics and clinical medication experience to further analyze the efficacy characteristics of Chinese medicines from covering and summarize the efficacy characteristics of subdivided categories such as fruit peels,bark of trunks,root barks and animal skins.[Results]Chinese medicines from covering have the characteristics of functioning well at entering the lung and large intestine and exerting the effects of relieving cough and diarrhea.This is particularly true for medicines made from fruit peels,such as Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.peel,Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim.peel,Exocarpium Citri Grandis and Papaver somniferum L.pericarp.In addition,Morus alba L.root-bark,Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance bark,Erinaceus europaeus L.skin and Ailanthus altissima(Mill.)Swingle bark also have a preference for entering the lung and large intestine meridians.Chinese medicines from covering have the efficacy characteristic of adepting at nourishing Yin,such as Colla Corii Asini(E jiao),pig skin and Bos taurus domesticus Gmelin hide gelatin,etc.This kind of Chinese medicines from covering generally comes from animal skins.Chinese medicines from covering like Citrus reticulata Blanco pericarp,Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride,Poncirus trifoliata(L.)Raf.fruit,Areca catechu L.peel and Magnolia officinalis Rehd.et Wils.bark are rich in volatile oils and good at regulating Qi and relieving distension.Chinese medicines from covering have the characteristics of being good at entering the lower-Jiao,tonifying the liver and kidney,strengthening the muscles and bones,and consolidating kidney Qi,This is especially true for medicines made from trunk and root barks,such as Phellodendron chinense Schneid.bark,Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.root-bark,Lycium chinense Mill.root-bark,Eleutherococcus gracilistylus W.W.Smith bark and Cinnamomum cassia Presl bark.[Conclusion]In addition to"affecting the skin",Chinese medicines from covering possess various characteristics of efficacy patterns.In the theory of the Five Elements,Chinese medicines from covering pertain to metal.The characteristics of metal Qi,such as its high-rising nature,its functions of ripening,descending and its dryness,are the root causes of the efficacy characteristics of Chinese medicines from covering.These include acting on the skin and the exterior,entering the lungs and large intestine,being rich in colloids and oils,being good at tonifying the liver and kidney,and clearing heat and drying dampness.