BACKGROUND:Eucommia ulmoides has a certain osteogenic effect,which can promote the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts.However,it is unclear whether Eucommia ulmoides has effects on alveolar bone formation and Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanism by which Eucommia ulmoides promotes alveolar bone formation in ovariectomized rats based on the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway. METHODS:Sixty female Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and randomly divided into five groups:blank control group,sham-operation group,model group,low-dose group Eucommia ulmoides group,and high-dose Eucommia ulmoides group,with twelve rats in each group.Osteoporosis animal models were constructed by bilateral oophorectomy in the model group and the low-dose and high-dose Eucommia ulmoides groups.The sham-operation group underwent the same method to remove adipose tissue of equal mass around the bilateral ovaries.Three months after surgery,the low-and high-dose Eucommia ulmoides groups were given 2.1 g/kg/d and 4.2 g/kg/d Eucommia ulmoides by gavage,respectively.The sham-operation group and model group were given the same amount of physiological saline by gavage.After 12 weeks of drug intervention,the changes in alveolar bone mass of rats in each group were observed through Micro-CT;hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological structural changes of alveolar bone in rats;enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the expression levels of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin in the serum of rats;western blot was used to detect the expression levels of β-Catenin and Frizzled9 receptor proteins in the alveolar bone of rats;and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of osteocalcin,Runt-related transcription factor 2(Runx2),alkaline phosphatase,β-catenin,and frizzled9 mRNAs in alveolar bone tissues of rats. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the blank control group,bone volume fraction,trabecular number,trabecular thickness,and bone mineral density were reduced in the model group(P＜0.05),and trabecular separation was elevated(P＜0.05).Pathological observation showed that the arrangement of trabeculae was disordered and irregular,the trabeculae were thinned or broken,and the marrow cavity was enlarged in the model group,with a significant reduction in bone volume;the level of alkaline phosphatase in the serum was increased(P＜0.05),and the level of osteocalcin was decreased(P＜0.05);mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase,osteocalcin,Runx2,β-catenin,and frizzled9 were decreased(P＜0.05);protein expression of β-Catenin and Frizzled9 was decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the low-and high-dose Eucommia ulmoides groups showed an increase in bone volume fraction,trabecular number,trabecular thickness,and bone mineral density(P＜0.05)and a decrease in trabecular separation(P＜0.05).In the low-and high-dose Eucommia ulmoides groups,bone trabeculae were slightly aligned and thickened,with a significant increase in bone mass.Compared with the model group,the serum level of alkaline phosphatase was reduced(P＜0.05)and the serum level of osteocalcin was elevated(P＜0.05)in the low-and high-dose Eucommia ulmoides groups.Compared with the model group,the mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase,osteocalcin,Runx2,β-catenin,and frizzled9 were increased in the low-and high-dose Eucommia ulmoides groups(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the protein expression of Frizzled9 was increased in the low-dose Eucommia ulmoides group(P＜0.05),while the protein expression of β-Catenin and Frizzled9 was increased in the high-dose Eucommia ulmoides group(P＜0.05).Compared with the low-dose Eucommia ulmoides group,the high-dose Eucommia ulmoides group had a more significant improvement in the above indexes.To conclude,Eucommia ulmoides can effectively promote the alveolar bone formation,and its mechanism of action might be related to the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence （AI） technology provides new opportunities for the modernisation of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） diagnosis. By analysing the foundation， research progress and difficulties of the combination of AI and TCM diagnosis， it is concluded that AI has made remarkable development in intelligence-driven modernization of TCM tongue diagnosis， pulse diagnosis， listening and smelling diagnosis and text processing， and there are useful explorations in the field of constructing data-driven TCM diagnostic model and multidisciplinary integration of TCM diagnostic models. However， the current integration of AI technology in TCM diagnosis still faces many challenges， such as the scarcity and uneven quality of clinical data， the limited ability of AI algorithms to express TCM thinking model of syndrome differentiation and empirical knowledge， and the possible existence of ethical and privacy issues. By systematically sorting out the current research status and development direction of AI-empowered TCM diagnostics， it is proposed to promote the application of AI technology in TCM diagnostics in four aspects， namely， strengthening the construction of TCM big data and talent cultivation， encouraging cross-disciplinary cooperation， improving the legal and ethical framework， and promoting the popularity of the technology in primary care， so as to enhance the modernisation of TCM diagnostics.

Eight new diterpenoids, Isodons A-H (1-8), comprising seco-abietane and abietane-type structures, together with 13 known analogues (9-21), were isolated from Isodon lophanthoides (Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don) Hara. The compounds (+)-3/(-)-3, (+)-4/(-)-4, and (+)-5/(-)-5 were identified as three enantiomeric pairs. The planar structures and absolute configurations of 1-8 were determined through high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS), 1D & 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and X-ray diffraction crystallography. A cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1) luciferase reporter assay revealed significant anti-cholestatic activities for compounds 1, (+)-4, 6, 7, 12-14, and 16. Additionally, compound 6 demonstrated anti-cholestatic effects through the farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-associated signaling pathways in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest potential applications for I. Lophanthoides in pharmaceutical development.
Abietanes/pharmacology* ; Molecular Structure ; Animals ; Isodon/chemistry* ; Humans ; Diterpenes/pharmacology* ; Plant Extracts/chemistry*

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Methods This single-center prospective study involved 97 IC/BPS patients treated in our hospital during Sep.2023 and Apr.2025, who underwent transurethral bladder injection of PRP. The injections were administered once a month for four sessions. The global response assessment (GRA) score,24-hour urinary frequency, maximum single voiding volume, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, O'Leary score, pelvic pain, urgency and frequency (PUF) score, and Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) score were analyzed. Results All 97 patients completed four injections. The GRA score,24-hour urinary frequency, VAS score, O'Leary score and PUF score were improved significantly after treatment (P<0.007). Intraoperative bladder capacity with significant improvement were observed after the first injection (P<0.01), and the maximum urine output were observed after the fourth injection (P<0.007). The SAS score was not significantly improved. Conclusion Repeated PRP injections can effectively alleviate bladder pain, improve frequent and urgent urination symptoms, and increase the bladder capacity.

Objective To investigate the application value of ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) technique in the assessment of carotid artery elasticity decline in the patients with simple hypertriglyceridemia (TG).Methods The patients visiting the cardiology outpatient department of Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine/Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to March 2022 were selected,the serum lipid satisfied:TG≥1.7 mmol/L,moreover total cholesterol (TC)<5.2 mmol/L,low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)<3.4 mmol/L and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)>1.0 mmol/L,they were included into the simple high TG group (n=63).Sixty-eight healthy subjects undergoing physical examination in this hospital were selected as the normal blood lipid group and their blood lipid indicators TG,TC,LDL-C and HDL-C all were within the normal range.The clinical data of all subjects were collected.The ufPWV technique was used to detect the common carotid artery pulse wave velocity of beginning systole (PWV-BS),pulse wave velocity of ending systolic (PWV-ES) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT).Results The body mass index (BMI),systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pres-sure,TG,fasting blood glucose (FBG),cIMT and PWV-ES value had statistical differences between the sim-ple high TG group and normal blood lipid group (P<0.05);PWV-BS,PWV-ES and cIMT were positively correlated with age,and the PWV-ES correlation was the highest (r=0.607,P<0.001),followed by cIMT (r=0.590,P<0.001),and PWV-BS (r=0.325,P<0.001) was the lowest;the Logistic regression analysis showed that PWV-ES could serve as a predictive factor of carotid artery elasticity decline in the population with simple TG,moreover which was independent of the factors such as age,gender,BMI,systolic blood pres-sure,diastolic blood pressure and FBG (OR=1.449,P<0.005).Conclusion The ufPWV technique could e-valuate the decline phenomenon of carotid artery elasticity in the population with simple high TG,and the ele-vated PWV-ES is an independent risk factor for carotid artery elasticity decline in this population.

Objective To investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of sodium butyrate on rats exposed to hypoxia and cold conditions.Methods Fifty-eight male SD rats (aged 7～8 weeks,weighing 240～260 g ) were randomly divided into normoxia normothermia saline control (NNC ) group (n=10),normoxia normothermia sodium butyrate(NNB)group(n=10),hypoxia cold saline control (HCC) group (n=19),and hypoxia cold sodium butyrate (HCB)group (n=19).The intragastric dose of sodium butyrate was 200 mg/kg for the NNB and HCB groups,while the NNC and HCC groups were given normal saline of 5 mL/kg.①After continuous intragastric administration for 7 d,the rats in the HCC and HCB groups were placed in a low-pressure hypoxic chamber to simulate an altitude of 5000 m and exposed to a temperature of 8 ℃ for 7 d.Subsequently,blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta for blood gas analysis,blood routine test,and detection for serum biochemical indicators.ELISA was used to determine serum inflammatory cytokines and endocrine hormones.The rats in the NNC and NNB groups(n=10)were fed outside the chamber and underwent the same tests in 7 d later to evaluate the protective effects of sodium butyrate on the body.②Core body temperature monitoring was conducted to assess the impact of sodium butyrate on the rmoregulation in rats exposed to hypoxia and cold(n=3).③Hypoxia exercise tolerance of the HCC group and HCB group in a hypoxic chamber (11％O2 )was evaluated for their hypoxia resistance (n=6).Results Compared to the NNC group,the rats in the HCC group exhibited significant decreases in arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2 )and arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2 ),serum levels of IL-4,estradiol (E2)and cortisol (F),core temperature,and exercise duration (P<0.05),and had notably increased levels of red blood cell (RBC)count,hemoglobin (HGB),hematocrit (HCT),cardiac troponin (CRDAC-T),uric acid (UA),alanine aminotransferase (ALT),total cholesterol (TC),low-density lipoprotein (LDL),IL-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)(P<0.05).Compared to the HCC group,the rats in the HCB group exhibited significant increases in SaO2,PaO2,IL-4,E2,F,corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)(P<0.05),remarkably longer exercise duration under hypoxic exposure (P<0.05 ),but decreases in RBC count,serum levels of HGB,HCT,CRDAC-T,UA,ALT,TC,LDL,IL-6,GM-CSF and free thyroxine (FT4 ),and core temperature (P<0.05).Conclusion Sodium butyrate exhibits protective effects on rats exposed to hypoxia and cold conditions,and it is helpful in their adaptation to these hypoxia and cold environments.

BACKGROUND:Medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy is an effective procedure for preserving the knee joint in patients with medial compartmental osteoarthritis.Previous studies have demonstrated that the forgotten joint score provides a lower ceiling effect and consistency of medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy outcomes compared to traditional assessment tools. OBJECTIVE:To identify predictive factors associated with the occurrence of a forgotten joint after medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy. METHODS:117 patients with medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy who were treated at First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine were selected,including 35 males and 82 females,with an average age of 61 years.They were followed up for at least 2 years.Patients were divided into a forgotten joint group(n=28)and a non-forgotten joint group(n=89)by evaluating whether they achieved forgotten joint after surgery.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed with preoperative patient characteristics and surgery-related factors as potential predictors. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There were significant differences in the proximal medial tibial angle between the two groups before surgery(P<0.05).There were significant differences in the forgotten joint score,Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score,knee society knee score,function score,and patients joint perception between the two groups after surgery(P<0.05).There was a significant difference between the hip-knee-ankle angle and the medial proximal tibial angle after operation(P<0.05).(2)Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the medial proximal tibial angle had a significant influence on the forgotten joint before operation[OR=0.755,95%CI(0.635-0.897),P<0.001].There were significant effects on the forgotten joint of hip-knee-ankle angle and medial proximal tibial angle[OR=1.546,95%CI(1.242-1.924),P<0.001;OR=0.815,95%CI(0.713-0.931),P=0.003].(3)Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative K-L grade 1 was a favorable factor for obtaining forgotten joints.Preoperative medial proximal tibial angle and postoperative hip-knee-ankle angle were independent predictors of forgetting joints,and they had a curvilinear relationship with the probability of achieving forgetting joints.When preoperative medial proximal tibial angle increased by 1°,the probability of achieving a forgotten joint decreased by 27.7%[OR=0.723,95%CI(0.593-0.882),P<0.001].Conversely,when postoperative hip-knee-ankle angle increased by 1°,the probability of achieving a forgotten joint increased by 46.4%[OR=1.464,95%CI(1.153-1.860),P=0.002].(4)The results showed that patients with preoperative knee osteoarthritis K-L grade 1,small medial proximal tibial angle(<85.5°),and large postoperative hip-knee-ankle angle(>176.0°)were predictors of forgotten joint.

AIM:To study whether glycyrrhizic acid(GL)can resist the ototoxicity of cisplatin(CDDP)in mice and its molecular mechanism.METHODS:Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 5 groups:control group,DMSO(5%)group,CDDP(4 mg/kg)group,CDDP+low-dose(50 mg/kg)GL group,and CDDP+high-dose(100 mg/kg)GL group(n=14).Auditory brainstem response(ABR)was used to detect hearing changes of mice.HE staining was used to observe the morphological change of cochlear stria vascular in mice.Evans blue(EB)staining was used to observe the per-meability change of the blood-labyrinth barrier(BLB).Immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression and distribution of adhesion protein VE-cadherin and tight junction protein ZO-1 on the cochlear stria.ELISA assay and immunofluorescence technology were employed to detect the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleu-kin-1β(1L-1β).RESULTS:In CDDP group,ABR waveforms of all frequencies were disturbed,the hearing threshold was significantly increased,and I wave latency was prolonged(P＜0.05).In CDDP+GL group,ABR waveforms of various frequencies were well differentiated,the hearing threshold was significantly decreased,and the latency of I-wave was shortened(P＜0.01).The disordered morphology and more vacuoles in the stria vascularis were observed by HE staining in CDDP group.The GL alleviated CDDP-induced damage in the stria vascularis.In EB staining,CDDP caused an increase in per-meability of BLB(P＜0.01),which was improved by GL treatment(P＜0.01).Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of VE-cadherin and ZO-1 in CDDP group were decreased(P＜0.01),which was restored in CDDP+GL group(P＜0.01).The ELISA and immunofluorescence results showed that the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α was in-creased after CDDP treatment(P＜0.01),which was restored in CDDP+GL group(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:The GL alleviates CDDP-induced hearing loss in mice by inhibiting CDDP-induced inflammation and reducing the permeability of BLB.

Climate change has led to an increasing frequency and intensity of extreme climate events such as heat and drought extremes with considerable global public health burden. This systematic review collected 87 domestic and international studies from 2000 to 2023, considering the impacts of heat extremes, drought extremes, and compound hot-dry events on infectious diseases attributable to various transmission pathways such as waterborne, foodborne, insect-borne, airborne, and contact-transmitted diseases. Our results showed that high temperature was associated with increased transmission risks of waterborne and foodborne diseases including infectious diarrheal diseases (cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and paratyphoid) and infectious gastroenteritis; vector-borne diseases including dengue fever, Zika virus (ZIKV) disease, chikungunya fever, malaria, West Nile fever, and Rift Valley fever; airborne diseases including influenza-like diseases, influenza A, measles, and mumps; and contact-transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, schistosomiasis, and leptospirosis. Additionally, drought conditions also amplified the transmission risks of waterborne and foodborne diseases including cholera, Escherichia coli infection, rotavirus infection, and hepatitis E; vector-borne diseases such as scrub typhus, schistosomiasis, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, and West Nile fever; airborne diseases including meningococcal meningitis, pertussis, measles, and upper respiratory infections; and contact-transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Along with global warming, the frequency of compound high temperature and drought events shows a considerably increasing trend, causing more adverse health effects than heat or drought alone. However, there is limited research quantifying their effects on infectious diseases. These associations may be mediated through temperature and precipitation on infectious disease pathogens, transmission vectors, population susceptibility, public health services, and behaviors. In the context of climate change, the increasing occurrence of compound events of high temperatures and droughts raises health concerns, and further studies are needed to enhance our understanding of the impacts of climate change on infectious diseases and improve human adaption to climate change.