Network pharmacology has gained widespread application in drug discovery, particularly in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research, which is characterized by its "multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway" nature. Through the integration of network biology, TCM network pharmacology enables systematic evaluation of therapeutic efficacy and detailed elucidation of action mechanisms, establishing a novel research paradigm for TCM modernization. The rapid advancement of machine learning, particularly revolutionary deep learning methods, has substantially enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology, offering significant potential to advance TCM network pharmacology research. This paper describes the methodology of TCM network pharmacology, encompassing ingredient identification, network construction, network analysis, and experimental validation. Furthermore, it summarizes key strategies for constructing various networks and analyzing constructed networks using AI methods. Finally, it addresses challenges and future directions regarding cell-cell communication (CCC)-based network construction, analysis, and validation, providing valuable insights for TCM network pharmacology.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Network Pharmacology/methods* ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Drug Discovery

Liver transplantation (LT) has become a standard treatment for end-stage liver diseases, and graft injury is intricately associated with poor prognosis. Granzyme B (GZMB) plays a vital role in natural killer (NK) cell biology, but whether NK-derived GZMB affects graft injury remains elusive. Through the analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing data obtained from human LT grafts and the isolation of lymphocytes from mouse livers following ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), we demonstrated that 2NK cells with high expression of GZMB are enriched in patients and mice. Both systemically and liver-targeted depletion of NK cells led to a notable reduction in GZMB⁺ cell infiltration, subsequently resulting in diminished graft injury. Notably, the reconstitution of Il2rg ^-/- Rag2 ^-/- mice with purified Gzmb-KO NK cells demonstrated superior outcomes compared to those with wild-type NK cells. Crucially, global knockout of GZMB and pharmacological inhibition exhibited remarkable improvements in liver function in both mouse IRI and rat LT models. Moreover, a phosphorylated derivative of FDA-approved vidarabine was identified as an effective inhibitor of mouse GZMB activity by molecular dynamics, which could provide a potential avenue for therapeutic intervention. Therefore, targeting NK cell-derived GZMB during the LT process suggests potential therapeutic strategies to improve post-transplant outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous colistin sulfate combined with nebulized inhalation versus intravenous monotherapy for pulmonary infections caused by carbapenem-resistant organism (CRO). METHODS: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted. Clinical data were collected from patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of 10 tertiary class-A hospitals in Henan Province between July 2021 and May 2023, who received colistin sulfate for CRO pulmonary infections. Data included baseline characteristics, inflammatory markers [white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEU), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP)], renal function indicators [serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN)], life support measures, anti-infection regimens, clinical efficacy, microbiological clearance rate, and prognostic outcomes. Patients were divided into two groups: intravenous group (colistin sulfate monotherapy via intravenous infusion) and combination group ((intravenous infusion combined with nebulized inhalation of colistin sulfate). Changes in parameters before and after treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 137 patients with CRO pulmonary infections were enrolled, including 89 in the intravenous group and 48 in the combination group. Baseline characteristics, life support measures, daily colistin dose, and combination regimens (most commonly colistin sulfate plus carbapenems in both groups) showed no significant differences between two groups. The combination group exhibited higher clinical efficacy [77.1% (37/48) vs. 59.6% (52/89)] and microbiological clearance rate [60.4% (29/48) vs. 39.3% (35/89)], both P < 0.05. Pre-treatment inflammatory and renal parameters showed no significant differences between two groups. Post-treatment, the combination group showed significantly lower WBC and CRP [WBC (×10⁹/L): 8.2±0.5 vs. 10.9±0.6, CRP (mg/L): 14.0 (5.7, 26.6) vs. 52.1 (24.4, 109.6), both P < 0.05], whereas NEU, PCT, SCr, and BUN levels showed no significant between two groups. ICU length of stay was shorter in the combination group [days: 16 (10, 25) vs. 21 (14, 29), P < 0.05], although mechanical ventilation duration and total hospitalization showed no significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSIONS Intravenous colistin sulfate combined with nebulized inhalation improved clinical efficacy and microbiological clearance in CRO pulmonary infections with an acceptable safety profile.
Humans ; Colistin/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Administration, Inhalation ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use* ; Carbapenems/pharmacology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects* ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Respiratory Tract Infections/drug therapy*

Coptis chinensis Franch. and Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. are traditional herbal medicines with millennia of documented use and broad therapeutic applications, including anti-diabetic properties. However, the synergistic effect of total alkaloids from Coptis chinensis and total ginsenosides from Panax ginseng on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its underlying mechanism remain unclear. The research demonstrated that the optimal ratio of total alkaloids from Coptis chinensis and total ginsenosides from Panax ginseng was 4∶1, exhibiting maximal efficacy in improving insulin resistance and gluconeogenesis in primary mouse hepatocytes. This combination demonstrated significant synergistic effects in improving glucose tolerance, reducing fasting blood glucose (FBG), the weight ratio of epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT), and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) mice. Subsequently, a T2DM liver-specific network was constructed based on RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) experiments and public databases by integrating transcriptional properties of disease-associated proteins and protein-protein interactions (PPIs). The network recovery index (NRI) score of the combined treatment group with a 4∶1 ratio exceeded that of groups treated with individual components. The research identified that activated adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) signaling in the liver played a crucial role in the synergistic treatment of T2DM, as verified by western blot experiment in db/db mice. These findings demonstrate that the 4∶1 combination of total alkaloids from Coptis chinensis and total ginsenosides from Panax ginseng significantly improves insulin resistance and glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in db/db mice, surpassing the efficacy of individual treatments. The synergistic mechanism correlates with enhanced AMPK/ACC signaling pathway activity.
Animals ; Panax/chemistry* ; Ginsenosides/administration & dosage* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism* ; Mice ; Male ; Alkaloids/pharmacology* ; Coptis/chemistry* ; Drug Synergism ; Insulin Resistance ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Transcriptome/drug effects* ; Blood Glucose/metabolism* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Hepatocytes/metabolism*

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of morning and evening fasting on postprandial lipid responses, a post hoc analysis based on a crossover randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the effects of different fasting strategies on postprandial lipid metabolism in community residents in Shanghai. MethodsA total of 23 participants took part in a randomized crossover trial involving two intervention days: morning fasting and evening fasting, with a washout period of 6 days between intervention days. Two-way analysis of variance was used to test the differences in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and the relative expression of circadian clock genes before and after the next meal under fasting. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to analyze the different metabolites between the two groups. Principal component analysis and Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis were conducted to evaluate the ability of metabolites to differentiate between morning fasting and evening fasting and identify the important differential metabolites. After adjusting for age, sex, and BMI, a partial correlation analysis was performed to identify metabolites associated with plasma lipids. In addition, important metabolites associated with plasma lipids were computed by pathway enrichment analysis. ResultsAfter evening fasting intervention, fasting TG level [(0.37±0.29) vs (0.27±0.18)] mmol·L^-1, fasting and postprandial change values in TC [(2.74±0.47) vs (2.51±0.27)] mmol·L^-1 and LDL-C [(1.32±0.38) vs (0.99±0.27)] mmol·L^-1 were significantly lower than those after morning fasting (P<0.05). While, change values of fasting LDL-C [(0.89±0.37) vs (1.14±0.37)] mmol·L^-1 and TG [(1.14±0.19) vs (1.28±0.17)] mmol·L^-1 were significantly higher than those after morning fasting intervention (P<0.05). After fasting intervention, the relative expression of AMPK, CRY1, CLOCK, MTNR1B, AANAT, and ASMT was correlated with the amount of plasma lipid changes (P<0.05). Specifically, CLOCK and AANAT were upregulated following evening fasting and downregulated after morning fasting. Among the 217 important differential metabolites, 111 were correlated with plasma lipids, and which were primarily enriched in the cysteine and methionine metabolism pathways (P<0.05). ConclusionCompared to morning fasting, evening fasting was more effective in improving postprandial lipid responses, indicating that an evening fasting window during intermittent fasting could be conducive to cardiovascular disease prevention in adults. Meanwhile, it is suggested that morning and evening fasting may affect lipid responses through circadian rhythm oscillations and the cysteine and methionine metabolism pathways.

Spine fracture and dislocation are common traumatic spinal conditions that often require surgical intervention due to compromised spinal stability. Surgical approaches include anterior, posterior, and combined anterior-posterior spinal procedures. According to the specific surgical requirements, patients may be placed in the prone position or repositioned between prone and supine positions during surgery. Intraoperative repositioning has become an essential step in patient positioning. However, during repositioning, patients with spinal fracture and dislocation are at increased risk for complications such as hemodynamic instability, nerve injury, and pressure injuries to the skin and soft tissue. Notably, due to the instability of the spinal cord, even minor manipulations can further exacerbate the damage, potentially leading to severe outcomes like paraplegia. Although the current clinical guidelines provide instructive recommendations for standard position, there remains no specific protocols for intraoperative repositioning in patients with spine fracture and dislocation. With a concern for the lack of clinical studies on positioning techniques, risk prevention, and operational norms for special patients, no applicable guidelines or standards are available. A consensus was required to provide clinical reference, meet the requirements of surgical treatment, and minimize the safety risks of patients caused by improper placement of positions. Professional Committee of Operating Room Nursing of Shaanxi Nursing Association organized experts in nursing management and operating room nursing from major hospitals across China to formulate Expert consensus on intraoperative repositioning for patients with spinal fracture and dislocation ( version 2025). The consensus provides 11 recommendations covering pre-repositioning preparation, intraoperative maneuvers, and post-repositioning observation, aiming to provide references for clinical standardization of the intraoperative repositioning process and protection of patients′ safety.

Objectives To identify key clinical factors influencing recurrence in osteosarcoma patients,to construct and validate a Nomogram-based recurrence risk prediction model,thereby providing a quantitative tool for clinical decision-making and recurrence prevention/control.Methods Clinical data of 469 osteosarcoma patients admitted to Yunnan Cancer Hospital between 2013～2022 were retrospectively collected.Statistical analysis was performed using R software(version 4.3.2).Potential influencing factors were initially screened via univariate analysis and LASSO regression analysis.Independent predictors of osteosarcoma recurrence were then identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis.Based on the identified independent factors,a Nomogram prediction model for recurrence risk was constructed.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)was used to evaluate the model's discriminative ability.Results Among the entire cohort,68 patients experienced recurrence,yielding a recurrence rate of 14.50%.Multivariate analysis identified the following as independent predictors of recurrence:Primary Tumor Location:Tibial lesions(P=0.009)were associated with a significantly lower recurrence risk compared to femoral lesions(OR=0.297),while lesions in"Other Bones"(P=0.008)carried a significantly higher risk(OR=3.294).Biopsy Method:Needle biopsy(P=0.033)was associated with a significantly lower recurrence risk compared to open biopsy(OR=0.461).Lung Metastasis Status:Patients with lung metastasis(P<0.001)had a significantly higher recurrence risk than those without(OR=11.873).Lymphocyte Count:A higher lymphocyte count(P=0.001)was a protective factor,associated with a lower recurrence risk(OR=0.450).The constructed Nomogram prediction model demonstrated excellent performance:Validation results showed an AUC=0.842(95%CI:0.806～0.875),indicating outstanding discriminative ability.Conclusions This study successfully constructed and validated a Nomogram prediction model for osteosarcoma recurrence risk integrating key clinical factors.The model demonstrates superior discriminative ability and can accurately and quantitatively assess the recurrence risk for individual patients.This tool thus provides critical reference for guiding clinical treatment decisions.

Spine fracture and dislocation are common traumatic spinal conditions that often require surgical intervention due to compromised spinal stability. Surgical approaches include anterior, posterior, and combined anterior-posterior spinal procedures. According to the specific surgical requirements, patients may be placed in the prone position or repositioned between prone and supine positions during surgery. Intraoperative repositioning has become an essential step in patient positioning. However, during repositioning, patients with spinal fracture and dislocation are at increased risk for complications such as hemodynamic instability, nerve injury, and pressure injuries to the skin and soft tissue. Notably, due to the instability of the spinal cord, even minor manipulations can further exacerbate the damage, potentially leading to severe outcomes like paraplegia. Although the current clinical guidelines provide instructive recommendations for standard position, there remains no specific protocols for intraoperative repositioning in patients with spine fracture and dislocation. With a concern for the lack of clinical studies on positioning techniques, risk prevention, and operational norms for special patients, no applicable guidelines or standards are available. A consensus was required to provide clinical reference, meet the requirements of surgical treatment, and minimize the safety risks of patients caused by improper placement of positions. Professional Committee of Operating Room Nursing of Shaanxi Nursing Association organized experts in nursing management and operating room nursing from major hospitals across China to formulate Expert consensus on intraoperative repositioning for patients with spinal fracture and dislocation ( version 2025). The consensus provides 11 recommendations covering pre-repositioning preparation, intraoperative maneuvers, and post-repositioning observation, aiming to provide references for clinical standardization of the intraoperative repositioning process and protection of patients′ safety.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) neutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP) is one of the newly discovered main virulence factors of H. pylori, and is expressed in almost all strains of H. pylori. After being activated, HP-NAP can participate in the development of inflammation and tissue damage by stimulating neutrophils, monocytes, dendritic cells, mast cells and lymphocytes. This paper reviewed the latest research progress of HP-NAP in the prevention and treatment of related diseases.

Objective:To determine the karyotype of a patient with mosaicism complex structural aberration of chromosome 18.Methods:A male patient with a 2-year history of infertility presented at the Center of Reproductive Medicine of the Third Hospital of Peking University in October 2019 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the patient was collected. Peripheral blood sample was taken for chromosomal karyotyping, copy number variation (CNV) analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay. Semen sample was taken for single sperm CNV analysis. Results:The patient was found to have a karyotype of mos 47, XY, del(18)(q21q23), + r(18)(q21q23)[84]/46, XY, del(18)(q21q23)[9]/48, XY, del(18)(q21q23), + r(18)(q21q23)×2[6]/47, XY, del(18)(q21q23), + r(18)(q21q23×2)[1]. ish 47, XY, del(18)(q21q23), + r(18)(q21q23)[84]/46, XY, del(18)(q21q23)[9]/48, XY, del(18)(q21q23), + r(18)(q21q23)×2[6]/47, XY, del(18)(q21q23), + r(18)(q21q23×2)[1]del(18)(q21q23)( D18Z1+, 18p+, 18q+, WCP18+ ), r(18)(q21q23)(WCP18+ ), r(18)(q21q23×2)(WCP18+ ). No pathogenic CNV was identified. Sequencing of 20 single sperms showed that 1 sperm was normal, 1 had yielded no result, 9 had harbored del(18q), 7 had harbored dup(18q)×2, and 2 had harbored dup(18q)×3. The dup/del fragments had both spanned approximately 33 Mb. Conclusion:It is rare for carriers of complex structural and numerical abnormalities of chromosome 18 to have a normal phenotype. Based on the accurate cytogenetic and molecular analyses and the single sperm CNV analysis, the influence of the aberrant karyotype on the gametogenesis may be evaluated.