ObjectiveNonalcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） is a metabolic stress liver injury. Ferroptosis is involved in the occurrence and development of NAFLD. Exploring the efficacy and mechanism of schisandrin B in treating NAFLD facilitates the development of strategies for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. MethodsThe molecular structure of schisandrin B was obtained by searching against PubChem， and the related targets were predicted by SwissTargetPrediction. The active ingredients and their targets were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP） and the high-throughput experiment- and reference-guide database of traditional Chinese medicine （HERB）. GeneCards and FerrDb were searched for the targets of NAFLD and ferroptosis. The common targets were taken as the core targets， and the protein-protein interaction network of the core targets was established. DAVID was used for gene ontology （GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） analyses. Finally， molecular docking was performed between schisandrin B and core targets， and the binding energy was calculated. C57BL/6 mice were fed with a methionine and choline-deficiency （MCD） diet for the modeling of NAFLD. Mice were randomized into normal， model， positive drug （essentiale）， and low- and high-dose schisandrin B groups. The body mass and liver index of mice were measured after drug administration. The levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） in the serum and those of total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， glutathione （GSH）， and Fe²⁺ in the liver homogenate were measured by biochemical assay kits. The pathological changes of the liver tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and red oil O staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to determine the levels of interleukin （IL）-6， IL-1β， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， and 4-hydroxynonenal （4-HNE） in the serum. Western blotting and real-time PCR were employed to determine the protein and mRNA levels， respectively， of solute carrier family 7 member 11 （SLC7A11）， solute carrier family 3 member 2 （SLC3A2）， glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4）， transferrin， and ferritin heavy chain （FTH） in the liver tissue. ResultsA total of 2 370， 2 547， and 1 451 targets of schisandrin B， NAFLD， and ferroptosis were obtained， in which 90 common targets were shared by the three. Enrichment analyses predicted 505 GO terms and 92 KEGG pathways. Molecular docking suggested that schizandrin B had strong binding affinity with the key targets of ferropstosis （SLC7A11 and SLC3A2）. Animal experiments showed that schizandrin B significantly decreased the liver index， lowered the levels of ALT， AST， TC， TG， IL-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α， alleviated hepatocyte ballooning and inflammatory cell infiltration， and reduced lipid accumulation in the liver of NAFLD mice. In addition， schisandrin B significantly lowered the levels of MDA， 4-HNE， and Fe²⁺， elevated the level of GSH， up-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of SLC7A11， SLC3A2， and GPX4， and down-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of transferrin in the liver tissue. ConclusionSchisandrin B can alleviate NAFLD by inhibiting ferroptosis in hepatocytes.

Liver being substantial Yin and functional Yang maintain normal function of Qi， blood and meridians. In clinical practice， it is often found that pan-vascular lesions with atherosclerosis as the predominant pathological change often co-occur with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease（MAFLD）. MAFLD leads to increased risk and worse prognosis for many pan-vascular diseases， including cardiovascular disease. Dysregulation of energy homeostasis disrupts the hepatic homeostasis of body use， and representative drugs to improve metabolism， such as metformin， sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors， and glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists， not only have a clear cardiovascular benefit， potential improvement of MAFLD has also been demonstrated. The liver stores blood and the heart pumps blood， and liver diseases affect the heart， that's why the unsmoothness of vessels appears. So the treatment should from the standpoint of liver， restoring liver function， soothing the liver and nourishing heart， activating blood and dredging meridian. It is of great significance to explore in depth the pathogenesis and treatment of pan-vascular lesions caused by MAFLD， and to restore the energy homeostasis by adjusting the balance of liver Yin and Yang.

Liver being substantial Yin and functional Yang maintain normal function of Qi， blood and meridians. In clinical practice， it is often found that pan-vascular lesions with atherosclerosis as the predominant pathological change often co-occur with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease（MAFLD）. MAFLD leads to increased risk and worse prognosis for many pan-vascular diseases， including cardiovascular disease. Dysregulation of energy homeostasis disrupts the hepatic homeostasis of body use， and representative drugs to improve metabolism， such as metformin， sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors， and glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists， not only have a clear cardiovascular benefit， potential improvement of MAFLD has also been demonstrated. The liver stores blood and the heart pumps blood， and liver diseases affect the heart， that's why the unsmoothness of vessels appears. So the treatment should from the standpoint of liver， restoring liver function， soothing the liver and nourishing heart， activating blood and dredging meridian. It is of great significance to explore in depth the pathogenesis and treatment of pan-vascular lesions caused by MAFLD， and to restore the energy homeostasis by adjusting the balance of liver Yin and Yang.

Objective This project aimed to study the Miao medicine helleborus thibetanus franchon,including investigating its anti-inflammatory activity in collagen-induced arthritis CIA rats and its mechanism of VEGF/VEGFR2/P38 MAPK pathway regulation.Methods Sixty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups:normal;model;positive drug;and low,medium,high dose groups,with 10 rats in each group.Bovine type Ⅱ collagen solution was injected into the tail of rats to construct the rheumatoid arthritis model,and the positive drug group was given MTX2.0 mg/(kg·d)by gavage once every other day.The three groups of helleborus thibetanus franchon low,medium,and high dose were gavaged with helleborus thibetanus franchon ethanol extract at 0.25,0.5 and 1 g/(kg·d)once a day.The normal and model groups were given an equivalent volume of NaCl solution,with continuous administration lasting for 28 days.During treatment,the general condition of the rats was observed,body weight changes recorded,and foot thickness measured.After treatment and euthanasia,the rats'hind limbs were removed for Micro-CT to detect bone destruction;hematoxylin and eosin staining for pathological investigattion of the synovial membrane;immunohistochemistry to observe neovascularization in the synovium;quantitative reverse-transcription PCR to detect mRNA levels of VEGF-A,VEGFR2,TNF-α in the synovial tissue;and Western Blot to detect the expression of VEGF,VEGFR2,p-P38,p-AKT.The analyses were used to explore the potential mechanisms of action of the Miao medicine helleborus thibetanus franchon in treating rheumatoid arthritis.Results Compared with the normal group,the model group showed significant weight loss(P＜0.01),increased foot swelling(P＜0.01),visible proliferative synovial tissue with inflammatory cell infiltration,erosive lesions on bone surfaces,increased neovascularization in the synovium,and significant bone destruction in Micro-CT,with reduced bone percentage,trabecular thickness,and bone density.The levels of VEGF-A,VEGFR2,TNF-α mRNA and VEGF-A,VEGFR2,p-P38,p-AKT proteins were significantly elevated(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the helleborus thibetanus franchon ethanol extract-treated groups showed improvements in these conditions in a dose-dependent manner,with the high-dose group receiving the best effect.There was a significant increase in the rats'body weight(P＜0.05);reduction in foot swelling(P＜0.05);amelioration of synovial and erosive bone lesions;reduction in neovascularization in the synovium;and significantly lower levels of VEGF-A,VEGFR2,and TNF-α mRNA,and VEGF-A,VEGFR2,p-P38,and p-AKT protein(P＜0.01).Conclusions The Miao medicine plant helleborus thibetanus franchon may alleviate joint inflammatory damage in CIA rats by modulating the VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathway,thereby exerting therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective　To investigate the current status and attrition among HIV-infected persons receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and to analyze factors affecting attrition in Hainan. Methods　In this study, HIV-infected patients who started ART treatment in Hainan Province from 2005 to 2022 were selected from the antiviral treatment submodule of China Disease Prevention and Control Information System.According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,a total of 4 286 HIV-infected persons were receiving . A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze factors affecting attrition. Results　Among the 4 286 study subjects, 3 718 were males (86.7%), with a sex ratio of 6.55∶1. Unmarried individuals accounted for 58.4%, and the average age was (39.68±13.17) years. Transmission through homosexual contact accounted for 49.8%, and 84.3% were in WHO clinical stage I. Treatment regimens containing Efavirenz (EFV) accounted for 71.7%. During a follow-up of 19 677.44 person-years, the overall attrition rate was 0.80 per 100 person-years, with the first-year post-ART initiation attrition rate being 21.10 per 100 person-years. The results of Cox regression analysis showed that the time of treatment initiation in 2016-2022 (AHR=2.40, 95%CI: 1.40-4.10), and the last HIV viral load (VL) 20-<1 000 copies/mL (AHR=3.69, 95%CI: 2.08-6.54), the last HIV-1 VL≥1 000 copies/mL (AHR=15.98, 95%CI: 9.46-27.01), and no last HIV-1 VL test (AHR=92.90, 95%CI: 57.68-149.62), the time interval from diagnosis to treatment for 1-12 months (AHR=1.62, 95%CI: 1.12-2.36), and an interval longer than 12 months (AHR=1.68, 95%CI: 1.07-2.62) were the main factors that increased the risk of attrition. Treatment regimens containing Lopinavir/ritonavir (Lpv/r) (AHR=0.34, 95%CI:0.18-0.66) and treatment regimens containing integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) (AHR=0.24, 95%CI: 0.09-0.58) were the factors that reduced the risk of attrition after antiretroviral therapy. Conclusions　The attrition of ART in HIV/AIDS patients in Hainan Province is related to a longer interval from diagnosis to treatment, treatment plan, and abnormal HIV viral load test results. Case-based measures should be taken to address factors influencing antiretroviral treatment attrition, while improving the timeliness of antiviral treatment and treatment management service quality to further improve the efficacy of antiviral treatment.

Objective:To construct an prediction model based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine learning algorithm and radiomics and investigate its application value in predicting lymphovascular invasion (LVI) status of rectal cancer without lymph node metastasis.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 204 rectal cancer patients without lymph node metastasis who were admitted to Gansu Provincial Hospital from February 2016 to January 2024 were collected. There were 123 males and 81 females, aged (61±7)years. All 204 patients were randomly divided into the training dataset of 163 cases and the testing dataset of 41 cases by a ratio of 8∶2 using the electronic computer randomization method. The training dataset was used to construct the prediction model, and the testing dataset was used to validate the prediction model. The clinical prediction model, radiomics model and joint prediction model were constructed based on the selected clinical and/or imaging features. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability were used for comparison between the groups. Comparison of ordinal data was conducted using the nonparameter rank sum test. The inter-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate the consistency of the radiomics features of the two doctors, and ICC >0.80 was good consistency. Univariate analysis was conducted by corres-ponding statistic methods. Multivariate analysis was conducted by Logistic stepwise regression model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn, and the area under the curve (AUC), Delong test, decision curve and clinical impact curve were used to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency and clinical utility of the model. Result:(1) Analysis of factors affecting LVI status of patients. Of the 204 rectal cancer patients without lymph node metastasis, there were 71 cases with positive of LVI and 133 cases with negative of LVI. Results of multivariate analysis showed that gender, platelet (PLT) count and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were independent factors affecting LVI status of rectal cancer without lymph node metastasis in training dataset [ odds ratio=2.405, 25.062, 2.528, 95% confidence interval ( CI) as 1.093-5.291, 2.748-228.604, 1.181-5.410, P<0.05]. (2) Construction of clinical prediction model. The clinical prediction model was conducted based on the results of multivariate analysis including gender, PLT count and CEA. Results of ROC curve showed that the AUC, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of clinical prediction model were 0.721 (95% CI as 0.637-0.805), 0.675, 0.632 and 0.698 for the training dataset, and 0.795 (95% CI as 0.644-0.946), 0.805, 1.000 and 0.429 for the testing dataset. Results of Delong test showed that there was no significant difference in the AUC of clinical prediction model between the training dataset and the testing dataset ( Z=-0.836, P>0.05). (3) Construction of radiomics model. A total of 851 radiomics features were extracted from 204 patients, and seven machine learning algorithms, including logistic regression, support vector machine, Gaussian process, logistic regression-lasso algorithm, linear discriminant analysis, naive Bayes and automatic encoder, were used to construct the prediction model. Eight radiomics features were finally selected from the optimal Gaussian process learning algorithm to construct a radiomics prediction model. Results of ROC curve showed that the AUC, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of radiomics prediction model were 0.857 (95% CI as 0.800-0.914), 0.748, 0.947 and 0.642 for the training dataset, and 0.725 (95% CI as 0.571-0.878), 0.634, 1.000 and 0.444 for the testing dataset. Results of Delong test showed that there was no significant difference in the AUC of radiomics prediction model between the training dataset and the testing dataset ( Z=1.578, P>0.05). (4) Construction of joint prediction model. The joint prediction model was constructed based on the results of multivariate analysis and the radiomics features. Results of ROC curve showed that the AUC, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of radiomics prediction model were 0.885 (95% CI as 0.832-0.938), 0.791, 0.912 and 0.726 for the training dataset, and 0.857 (95% CI as 0.731-0.984), 0.854, 0.714 and 0.926 for the testing dataset. Results of Delong test showed that there was no significant difference in the AUC of joint prediction model between the training dataset and the testing dataset ( Z=0.395, P>0.05). (5) Performance comparison of three prediction models. Results of the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed that all of the clinical prediction model, radiomics prodiction model and joint prediction model having good fitting degree ( χ2=1.464, 12.763, 10.828, P>0.05). Results of Delong test showed that there was no signifi-cant difference in the AUC between the clinical prediction model and the joint prediction model or the radiomics model ( Z=1.146, 0.658, P>0.05), and there was a significant difference in the AUC between the joint prediction model and the radiomics model ( Z=2.001, P<0.05). Results of calibra-tion curve showed a good performance in the joint prediction model. Results of decision curve and clinical impact curve showed that the performance of joint prediction model in predicting LVI status of rectal cancer without lymph node metastasis was superior to the clinical prediction model and the radiomics model. Conclusions:The clinical prediction model is constructed based on gender, PLT count and CEA. The radiomics predictive model is constructed based on 8 selected radiomics features. The joint prediction model is constructed based on the clinical prediction model and the radiomics predictive model. All of the three models can predict the LVI status of rectal cancer with-out lymph node metastasis, and the joint prediction model has a superior predictive performance.

Objective Using the methods of heart rate variability(HRV)and deceleration capacity of heart rate(DC),which mo-nitor cardiac autonomic nervous function,to study the correlation between the nocturnal blood pressure dropping rate and cardiac autonom-ic nervous function in female patients with essential hypertension,and to explore the related factors affecting the nocturnal blood pressure dropping rate in female patients with essential hypertension.Methods A total of 187 female patients with essential hypertension admitted to the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University from January 2019 to August 2023 were selected.General data,nocturnal blood pressure dropping rate,HRV time domain parameters(SDNN,SDANN,SDNNI,PNN50)and DC were collected.According to the nocturnal sys-tolic blood pressure dropping rate,they were divided into three groups:dipper group,non-dipper group,and reverse dipper group.The differences of general data and 24-hour,daytime and nighttime mean blood pressure and heart rate,HRV time domain parameters and DC values among three groups were compared,and the correlation between the nocturnal blood pressure dropping rate and HRV time do-main parameters,DC values and other general data was analyzed,and the factors affecting the nocturnal blood pressure dropping rate of fe-male patients with essential hypertension were analyzed by simple and multiple linear regression.Results The nocturnal blood pressure dropping rate in female patients with essential hypertension was linearly positive correlated with SDNN,SDANN,SDNNI and DC values(β were 0.235,0.016,0.102,0.493,P＜0.05),and linearly negative correlated with menopause(β=-3.798,P＜0.05).The re-sults of multiple linear regression analysis showed that SDNN,menopause,age,diabetes were the factors affecting the nocturnal blood pressure dropping rate.Conclusion In female patients with essential hypertension,the imbalance of cardiac autonomic nerve regulation,menopause,age and diabetes are the main risk factors affecting the nocturnal blood pressure dropping rate.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of GSTP1， XRCC1， ABCB1， MTHFR gene polymorphisms on efficacy and toxic effect of chemotherapy regimen containing oxaliplatin in patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ colorectal cancer patients. METHODS Clinical data of 76 patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ colorectal cancer who received chemotherapy regimen containing oxaliplatin （XELOX，FOLFOX） were collected from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from September 2018 to March 2020. The correlation of genotypes with progression-free survival （PFS） and toxic effect was analyzed by using univariate and multivariate COX regression model. RESULTS Carriers of the ABCB1 3435T＞C locus C allele （TC/CC） had a significantly higher risk of progression compared to TT genotype patients [HR＝2.39， 95%CI （1.05，5.50）， P＝0.038]. The risk of progression in patients at stage Ⅳ was significantly higher than those at stage Ⅲ [HR＝8.11， 95%CI（3.39，19.40）， P＜0.001]. Chemotherapy regimen， Karnofsky performance status score and tumor site had no significant effect on disease progression （P＞0.05）. Mutations in gene loci were not correlated with adverse reactions （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Patients carrying ABCB1 TC/CC and receiving chemotherapy regimen containing oxaliplatin have a higher risk of disease progression， which may be associated with longer PFS in patients （TT genotype） with stage Ⅳ colorectal cancer receiving the chemotherapy， while GSTP1， XRCC1， and MTHFR gene polymorphisms have no significant impact.

Objective:To explore the correlations of brain network functional connectivity (FC) alterations with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathological biomarkers in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods:A total of 39 patients with cognitive impairment, admitted to Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from January 2020 to December 2022 were recruited; 23 patients were with AD and 16 with non-AD. Clinical data were compared between the 2 groups. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data were collected, and FC differences between brain networks and FC differences within brain networks were compared by independent component analysis. Correlations of FC differences between brain networks and FC differences within brain networks with concentrations of β-amyloid protein 1-42 (Aβ 1-42) and Tau protein in CSF were analyzed. Results:Compared with the non-AD group, AD group had significantly lower Aβ 1-42 in CSF ( P<0.05). Compared with those in the non-AD group, FC alterations between the left frontoparietal network (lFPN) and anterior default mode network (aDMN) and between the visual network (VN) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), as well as FC alterations in lFPN, were significantly increased in AD group ( P<0.05). Compared with those in the non-AD group, FC alterations between lFPN and cerebellar network (CEN), and FC alterations in aDMN, sensorimotor network (SMN) and VN were significantly decreased in AD group ( P<0.05). In AD group, FC in SMN was positively correlated with total Tau and phosphorylated-Tau181 in CSF ( P<0.05); FC between VN and PCC was positively correlated with total Tau in CSF ( P<0.05). CSF Aβ 1-42 was positively correlated with FC alterations in aDMN and VN, but negatively correlated with FC in FPN ( P<0.05). Conclusion:In AD patients, characteristic changes in FC within and between multiple brain networks are noted, which are related to changes of Tau protein and Aβ 1-42 in CSF.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of volatile oil of Ligusticum chuanxiong on the transdermal properties and cytotoxicity of triptolide in vitro. METHODS The chemical constituents of the volatile oil of L. chuanxiong were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The lower abdominal skin of KM mice was separated and divided into triptolide group， triptolide in compatibility with volatile oil of L. chuanxiong groups at 1∶10， 1∶50， 1∶100 （hereinafter referred to as “compatibility 1∶10”“compatibility 1∶50”“compatibility 1∶100” groups）. After the skin of mice in each group was fully exposed to 0.2 g of the corresponding cream for 24 h， the cumulative transdermal dose （Qn） of triptolide in the receiving solution of each group was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography， and the transdermal absorption rate （Jss） was calculated. Human immortalized keratinocytes （HaCat） were used as a model， the CCK-8 method was used to detect the cell survival rate of different concentrations of the volatile oil of L. chuanxiong and triptolide before and after compatibility. RESULTS A total of 62 chemical constituents of the volatile oil of L. chuanxiong were identified， including Z-ligustilide， senkyunolide， and β-selinene. The Qn （P＜ 0.01） and Jss of triptolide increased within 24 h in the compatibility 1∶10 and 1∶50 groups， while the Qn （P＜0.05） and Jss decreased in the compatibility 1∶100 group as compared with the triptolide group. Compared with the triptolide group， the cell survival rate of HaCat was significantly increased in the compatibility 1∶10 and 1∶50 groups when the triptolide concentrations were 36， 72 and 144 ng/mL （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； while the cell survival rate of HaCat was decreased in the compatibility 1∶100 group， but the difference was not statistically significant （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS When the compatibility ratio of triptolide and volatile oil of L. chuanxiong was 1∶10 or 1∶50， it can promote the transdermal absorption of triptolide and reduce the cytotoxicity of triptolide to HaCat.