OBJECTIVE To optimize the forming process of Kaixin granules and establish its physical fingerprint.METHODS Using particle forming rate， hygroscopicity rate， dissolution rate， and angle of repose as indices， the key process parameters of the granule forming process were determined by Plackett-Burman design. The analytic hierarchy process （AHP） combined with the entropy weight method was used to comprehensively weight the indices， and the forming process of Kaixin granules was optimized and validated by Box-Behnken response surface methodology. A physical fingerprint of Kaixin granules was established based on the following physical indices： angle of repose， Hausner ratio， bulk density， tapped density， moisture content， hygroscopicity ratio， and relative uniformity index， with similarity evaluation was performed. Cluster analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis （PLS-DA） were performed using SPSS 20.0 and the SPSSPRO online analysis platform， respectively.RESULTS The key process parameters were ethanol volume fraction， ethanol amount， and the drug-excipient ratio. The optimal forming conditions were as follows： ethanol volume fraction of 87%， ethanol amount of 27%， and a drug-excipient ratio of 1∶1. Validation showed that the average comprehensive scores of three batches were 97.82， with an RSD of 0.19%. The similarity of the physical fingerprints of ten batches of Kaixin granules prepared under the optimal forming process were greater than 0.98. The results of cluster analysis showed that the ten batches were divided into two groups： S4， S5， S7， S8 and S10 in one cluster， and S1-S3， S6 and S9 in another. The variable importance in projection values of Hausner ratio， relative uniformity index， bulk density， and moisture content were greater than 1.CONCLUSIONS The optimized forming process is stable and feasible. The established physical fingerprint can effectively characterize the overall physical properties of Kaixin granules. Hausner ratio， relative uniformity index， bulk density， and moisture content are the key physical indices.

This study was aimed at exploring the mechanism underlying the effects of nitidine chloride against Talaromyces marnef-fei through network pharmacology analysis.We collected NC and TM action targets from various databases;constructed a protein-protein interaction(PPI)network by using common drug and disease targets;and performed KEGG pathway and GO enrichment analy-ses.In vitro cellular experiments were conducted to test the antibacterial ability of NC at various concentrations,qPCR was used to de-tect the mRNA expression of genes in the target pathway,and WB was used to examine the expression of proteins associated with tar-get signaling pathways in cells.We identified 153 target genes for NC and 2 095 target genes for TM,among which 23 targets over-lapped.By integrating the PPI network with KEGG enrichment analysis,we selected key target genes in the MAPK signaling pathway,such as FLT1,FLT3,CD38,and PRF1.The CFU results indicated that NC had favorable antibacterial capability.Moreover,qPCR demonstrated that NC downregulated the mRNA expression of FLT1,FLT3,and RPS6KA3,and upregulated the mRNA expression of MAP3K8.WB findings indicated that NC downregulated the expression of RSK2,VEGF,and FLT3 proteins,and upregulated the ex-pression of MAP3K8 protein.NC may exert its anti-TM effects by downregulating the expression of RSK2,VEGF,and FLT3 proteins,thereby inhibiting MAPK pathway activation.The potential targets and signaling pathways underlying NC's anti-TM action may pro-vide new insights to guide the clinical application of NC.

OBJECTIVE To optimize the water extraction technology for Kaixin granules. METHODS UPLC-MS/MS method was established for the simultaneous determination of ginsenoside Rg1， ginsenoside Re， ginsenoside Rb1， tenuifolin， polygalaxanthone Ⅲ and 3， 6′-disinapoyl-sucrose. An orthogonal test was designed with extraction times， extraction duration， and the volume of added water as factors. Using the contents of the aforementioned six indicator components and the extract yield as evaluation indexes， analytic hierarchy process-entropy weight method was employed to determine the combined weights of each indicator. Subsequently， process optimization and validation were conducted by integrating grey relational analysis （GRA） and back propagation （BP） neural network. RESULTS The water extraction technology optimized by the orthogonal test and GRA was 10- fold water for the first decoction and 8-fold water for the subsequent two， extracting 3 times，extracting for 1 h each time； the average comprehensive score of the validation experiment was 91.10 （RSD＝0.31%， n＝3）. The water extraction technology optimized by BP neural network was extracting 3 times with 10-fold water added each time， extracting for 1.5 h each time； the average comprehensive score of the validation experiment was 95.89 （RSD＝0.73%， n＝3）. Considering practical production requirements， the optimal water extraction technology was extraction performed three times， with 10-fold water for the first decoction and 8-fold water for the subsequent two extractions， with an extraction time of 1 h each. CONCLUSIONS The optimized water extraction technology for Kaixin granules is stable and feasible.

This study was aimed at exploring the mechanism underlying the effects of nitidine chloride against Talaromyces marnef-fei through network pharmacology analysis.We collected NC and TM action targets from various databases;constructed a protein-protein interaction(PPI)network by using common drug and disease targets;and performed KEGG pathway and GO enrichment analy-ses.In vitro cellular experiments were conducted to test the antibacterial ability of NC at various concentrations,qPCR was used to de-tect the mRNA expression of genes in the target pathway,and WB was used to examine the expression of proteins associated with tar-get signaling pathways in cells.We identified 153 target genes for NC and 2 095 target genes for TM,among which 23 targets over-lapped.By integrating the PPI network with KEGG enrichment analysis,we selected key target genes in the MAPK signaling pathway,such as FLT1,FLT3,CD38,and PRF1.The CFU results indicated that NC had favorable antibacterial capability.Moreover,qPCR demonstrated that NC downregulated the mRNA expression of FLT1,FLT3,and RPS6KA3,and upregulated the mRNA expression of MAP3K8.WB findings indicated that NC downregulated the expression of RSK2,VEGF,and FLT3 proteins,and upregulated the ex-pression of MAP3K8 protein.NC may exert its anti-TM effects by downregulating the expression of RSK2,VEGF,and FLT3 proteins,thereby inhibiting MAPK pathway activation.The potential targets and signaling pathways underlying NC's anti-TM action may pro-vide new insights to guide the clinical application of NC.

OBJECTIVE To optimize the steaming and processing technology of wine-steamed Taxillus chinensis， and to characterize its quality. METHODS Using the content of avicularin， quercitrin， quercetin and appearance traits as evaluation indicators， the analytic hierarchy process （AHP）-entropy weight method was used to determine the weights of each indicator， and the comprehensive scores of those indicators were used as response values. Box-Behnken response surface method was used to investigate the effects of solid-liquid ratio （g/mL）， soaking time， and steaming time on the processing technology of wine-steamed T. chinensis， optimize the best processing technology， and verify it. Fifteen batches of T. chinensis decoction pieces from different origins were used to prepare wine-steamed T. chinensis using the best processing technology， and their qualities were characterized. RESULTS The optimal processing technology for wine-steamed T. chinensis was to take 100 g of T. chinensis decoction pieces， add 20 mL of yellow wine， seal and moisten for 2 h， steam at normal pressure for 1 h， take out and dry at 50 ℃. The surface of wine-steamed T. chinensis prepared by the optimal processing technology was reddish brown or brownish， and its powder was dark brown， with a hard or brittle texture that was easy to break， and had a slight aroma of alcohol， and an astringent taste. Results of microscopic and thin-layer identification for the stem cross-section of wine-steamed T. chinensis were the same as those of raw T. chinensis. The contents of moisture， total ash and acid-insoluble ash were 3.92%-8.75%， 2.27%-5.08%， and 0.19%-0.82%， respectively； the contents of water-soluble extract were 11.28%-18.56%， and the contents of alcohol-soluble extract were 3.36%-8.58%； the contents of avicularin， quercitrin， and quercetin were 0.22-1.64， 0.26-2.45， and 0.01-0.38 mg/g， respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study successfully optimized the processing technology of wine-steamed T. chinensis and preliminarily characterized its quality， which can provide reference for the standardized processing and establishment of quality standards for wine-steamed T. chinensis decoction mail：wyl@sxtcm.edu.cn pieces.

OBJECTIVE To optimize the steaming and processing technology of wine-steamed Taxillus chinensis， and to characterize its quality. METHODS Using the content of avicularin， quercitrin， quercetin and appearance traits as evaluation indicators， the analytic hierarchy process （AHP）-entropy weight method was used to determine the weights of each indicator， and the comprehensive scores of those indicators were used as response values. Box-Behnken response surface method was used to investigate the effects of solid-liquid ratio （g/mL）， soaking time， and steaming time on the processing technology of wine-steamed T. chinensis， optimize the best processing technology， and verify it. Fifteen batches of T. chinensis decoction pieces from different origins were used to prepare wine-steamed T. chinensis using the best processing technology， and their qualities were characterized. RESULTS The optimal processing technology for wine-steamed T. chinensis was to take 100 g of T. chinensis decoction pieces， add 20 mL of yellow wine， seal and moisten for 2 h， steam at normal pressure for 1 h， take out and dry at 50 ℃. The surface of wine-steamed T. chinensis prepared by the optimal processing technology was reddish brown or brownish， and its powder was dark brown， with a hard or brittle texture that was easy to break， and had a slight aroma of alcohol， and an astringent taste. Results of microscopic and thin-layer identification for the stem cross-section of wine-steamed T. chinensis were the same as those of raw T. chinensis. The contents of moisture， total ash and acid-insoluble ash were 3.92%-8.75%， 2.27%-5.08%， and 0.19%-0.82%， respectively； the contents of water-soluble extract were 11.28%-18.56%， and the contents of alcohol-soluble extract were 3.36%-8.58%； the contents of avicularin， quercitrin， and quercetin were 0.22-1.64， 0.26-2.45， and 0.01-0.38 mg/g， respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study successfully optimized the processing technology of wine-steamed T. chinensis and preliminarily characterized its quality， which can provide reference for the standardized processing and establishment of quality standards for wine-steamed T. chinensis decoction mail：wyl@sxtcm.edu.cn pieces.

Objective To observe the alterations in functional complexity of brain regions in autism spectrum disorder(ASD)patients and correlations with the predicted brain age.Methods Open brain resting-state functional MRI(rs-MRI)data of 93 ASD patients and 96 typically developing adolescents(healthy subjects)were downloaded.The functional complexity in brain regions were extracted with self-developed virtual digital brain software,and the alterations in functional complexity of brain regions in ASD patients and correlations with their ages were analyzed.Two networks were prospectively trained with data of 65 ASD patients and 67 healthy subjects as the training set to predict brain age,and the results were evaluated,and the predicting errors were compared using test set,i.e.the other 28 ASD patients and 29 healthy subjects.Results Compared to healthy subjects,on the basis of anatomical automatic labeling(AAL)atlas,ASD patients exhibited significantly reduced functional complexity based on Shannon entropy in the left precuneus,left cuneus and right parahippocampal gyrus.Conversely,functional complexity of ASD patients based on permutation entropy significantly increased in the left cuneus and right cerebellar Crus Ⅱ region.The left hippocampus showed reduced functional complexity based on Pearson correlation coefficient,while the left middle temporal gyrus showed increased functional complexity based on Pearson correlation coefficient.The functional complexity in brain regions of ASD patients were not closely correlated with ages(all|r|＜0.4).According to the trained fully connected network,the predicted brain ages of ASD patients and healthy subjects in test set were all lower than their physiological ages,but no significant difference was found between the prediction errors of ASD patients and healthy subjects(P=0.283).Conclusion Functional complexity changed in some brain region functions in ASD patients.The predicted brain ages of ASD patients based on the obtained fully connected network were on the low side,but not obviously affected by the alterations of functional complexity in brain regions.

This study was designed to explore the effect of DNA methyltransferase 1(DNMT1)on podocyte apoptosis and inflammatory cytokine release induced by high glucose(HG),and analyze the related molecular mechanisms.Podocyte MPC-5 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into control and HG groups.DNMT1 and SOCS1 were either silenced or overexpressed using small RNA interference technology and liposome transfection technology.The expression levels of DNMT1 and SOCS1 genes were measured using qRT-PCR.Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry,while ELISA was employed to determine the levels of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1).Western blot was used to detect the expression of DNMT1,SOCS1 proteins,and the proteins involved in the Janus kinase 2(JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)signaling pathway.Data showed that HG elevated MPC-5 cell apoptosis rate,the level of inflammatory factors and DNMT1 mRNA expression,and the expression of DNMT1,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 proteins,while reduced SOCS1 mRNA and protein expression(P＜0.05).Both silencing DNMT1 and overexpressing SOCS1 resulted in reduce of MPC-5 cell apoptosis rate,inflammatory factors level,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 proteins expression(P＜0.05).Additionally,silencing DNMT1 increased SOCS1 mRNA and protein expressions(P＜0.05).Conversely,silencing SOCS1 counteracted the effects of DNMT1 silencing on MPC-5 cell apoptosis,inflammation,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 proteins expression.Therefore,silencing DNMT1 expression can reduce the apoptosis and inflammation of podocytes induced by HG,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway activation by upregulating SOCS1 expression.

Objective:To compare and explore the diagnostic performance of adding value of transabdominal and transvaginal contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System (O-RADS US) risk stratification and management system in differential diagnosis of adnexal masses.Methods:A total of 180 adnexal masses with solid components in 175 women were enrolled retrospectively between September 2021 and November 2022. All patients underwent routine Doppler ultrasound examinations and CEUS examinations. Among these masses, 107 masses underwent with transabdominal CEUS, 58 masses underwent with transvaginal CEUS, and 15 masses underwent both transvaginal and transabdominal CEUS. All patients were scheduled for surgery and pathological results served as the reference standard. Routine Doppler ultrasound and CEUS images and video were reviewed by a subspecialty radiologist using Vuebox software. The O-RADS US was downgraded or upgraded according to the CEUS characteristics of the masses. The diagnostic accuracy was assessed using ROC curve analysis. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated to compare the diagnostic performance of adding value of transabdominal and transvaginal CEUS to O-RADS US.Results:The diagnostic performance of adding transabdominal and transvaginal CEUS to O-RADS US were both significantly higher than of O-RADS US alone (transabdominal CEUS: AUC 0.83 vs 0.76, P=0.018; transvaginal CEUS: AUC 0.92 vs 0.81, P=0.013). Combination of transvaginal CEUS and O-RADS US was superior to that of combination of transabdominal and O-RADS US in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses ( P=0.047). When the maximal diameter of adnexal masses ≤40 mm, transabdominal combined with O-RADS US presented the lowest diagnostic performance, with an AUC of 0.73. Conclusions:Combination of transvaginal CEUS and O-RADS US was superior to that of combination of transabdominal and O-RADS US in assessing adnexal masses with solid components. When the maximal diameter of adnexal masses ≤40 mm, transvaginal CEUS examination was recommended.