Hygroscopicity research has long been a key focus and hot topic in Chinese materia medica（CMM）. Elucidating hygroscopic mechanisms plays a vital role in formulation design， process optimization， and storage condition selection. Hygroscopic models serve as essential tools for characterizing CMM hygroscopic mechanisms， with various types available. The double exponential model is a kinetic mathematical model constructed based on the law of conservation of energy and Fick's first law of diffusion， tailored to the physical properties of CMM extracts. In recent years， this model has been extensively applied to simulate the dynamic moisture absorption behavior of CMM extracts and solid dosage forms under varying humidity conditions. It has revealed the correlation between moisture absorption kinetic parameters and material properties， offering a new perspective for characterizing the moisture uptake behavior of CMM. This paper systematically reviews the application progress of this model in the field of CMM， analyzes its advantages， disadvantages， and challenges in this domain， and explores its potential application trends in other fields. It aims to provide references for elucidating the moisture absorption mechanisms of CMM and researching moisture-proofing technologies， while also offering insights for its broader application in food and polymer materials.

Objective To elucidate the changes in the gut microbiota and molecular mechanism of huaier in enhancing the efficacy of oxaliplatin (OXA) chemotherapy in gastric cancer (GC). Methods The effects of huaier on the gut microbiota structure and intestinal barrier function in MKN45-bearing mice were analyzed by using 16S rRNA sequencing, RT-qPCR, and IHC. UPLC-MS and network pharmacology, as well as in vivo experimental approaches, were employed to investigate the key bioactive constituents of huaier systematically and elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which huaier exerts therapeutic effects against GC. The expression of the PI3K/AKT/SREBP pathway was detected in cancer cells and tissues via Western blot analysis. The safety profile of huaier combined with OXA was verified through serum biochemistry and HE-stained tissue section analyses. Results Huaier inhibited the PI3K/AKT/SREBP pathway by increasing the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, reduced lipid droplet deposition, and ultimately enhanced the sensitivity to OXA in the treatment of GC. Conclusion This study demonstrates the value of huaier in gastric cancer treatment by enhancing chemosensitivity and provides novel insights into its systemic therapeutic effects through molecular mechanisms and gut microbiota modulation.

ObjectiveTo explore the regulatory effects and mechanisms of Astragali Radix polysaccharide （APS） on inhibitor of differentiation1 （ID1） and protein kinase B （Akt） in gastric cancer. MethodsImmunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of ID1 and Akt in 61 gastric cancer tissue samples and 20 adjacent normal gastric tissue samples. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the localization of ID1 and Akt. The effects of APS at the concentrations of 0.625， 1.25， 2.5， 5， 10， 20 mg·L^-1 on the proliferation of gastric cancer MGC-803 cells were examined by the cell counting kit-8（CCK-8） method and the colony formation assay. The target information of APS was retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology and Analysis Platform and Swiss Target Prediction. Keywords such as gastric cancer， gastric tumor， and stomach cancer were searched against GeneCards， UniProt， DisGeNET， and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man （OMIM） for the screening of gastric cancer-related targets. The online tool jvenn was used to create the Venn diagram to identify the common targets， and STRING and Cytoscape were used to construct the protein-protein interaction network. Gene Ontology （GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analyses were conducted via R 4.2.2 to predict the potential roles of APS in the development of gastric cancer. The cell scratch assay was employed to assess the effect of APS on the migration of MGC-803 cells. The protein and mRNA levels of ID1 and Akt in the cells treated with APS were determined by Western blot and Real-time PCR， respectively. ResultsCompared with the adjacent normal gastric tissue， the gastric adenocarcinoma tissue showed increased positive expression of ID1 （χ² =81.00， P<0.01）. Immunofluorescence detection showed that ID1 and Akt were mainly located in the cytoplasm of gastric adenocarcinoma cells. Bioinformatics analysis identified 14 common genes shared between APS and gastric cancer. The average degree of protein-protein interaction network nodes was 14.29. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment results showed that ID1 and Akt were significantly enriched in the Rap1 and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase （PI3K） /Akt signaling pathways. Cell experiments demonstrated that 5-fluorouracil （0.1 mg·L^-1） and APS （10， 20 mg·L^-1） groups showed decreased cell proliferation， migration， and colony formation. Compared with the control group， 10， 20 mg·L^-1 APS inhibited the proliferation of MGC-803 cells （P<0.01）， with 10 mg·L^-1 APS demonstrating stronger inhibitory effect. In addition， APS at 10， 20 mg·L^-1 inhibited the migration （P<0.01） and colony formation （P<0.05， P<0.01） of MGC-803 cells. Compared with the control group， APS at 10， 20 mg·L^-1 down-regulated the protein levels of ID1 （P<0.01） and Akt （P<0.05） and the mRNA levels of ID1 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and Akt （P<0.05， P<0.01） in MGC-803 cells. ConclusionID1 and Akt are highly expressed in the gastric adenocarcinoma tissue， which may be related to the development of gastric cancer. APS can down-regulate the protein and mRNA levels of ID1 and Akt to exert anti-tumor effects， which is expected to provide new therapeutic targets for gastric cancer treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the differences in perioperative clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with different pathological types of prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy, and to analyze the influencing factors that may affect the extraglandular invasion of ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate. METHODS: Retrospective collection was made of the radical prostatectomy patients who were admitted to Peking University Third Hospital from December 2011 to April 2021. The patients were screened based on inclusion criteria to obtain basic clinical features and postoperative pathological results. According to the pathological results, the patients were divided into ductal adenocarcinoma group (mixed with ductal adenocarcinoma) and acinar adenocarcinoma group, and a 1 ∶1 propensity score matching was performed to compare the differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the factors related to extraglandular invasion were performed in the matched ductal adenocarcinoma groups. RESULTS: A total of 764 patients with prostate cancer were enrolled in this study, of which 62 patients were confirmed to have ductal adenocarcinoma components by postoperative pathology. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of the patients with a history of diabetes in baseline characteristics between the two groups before propensity score matching (29.5% vs. 17.7%, P=0.027). A total of 61 patients with simple acinar adenocarcinoma were successfully matched with the patients with ductal adenocarcinoma, and there was no statistically significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups after matching (P>0.05). The comparison of perioperative clinical and pathological features showed that International Society of Urology Pathology (ISUP) grade (P=0.003), pT stage (P=0.004), extraglandular invasion rate (P=0.018) and vascular thrombus rate (P=0.019) in ductal adenocarcinoma group were significantly higher than those in simple acinous adenocarcinoma group. Univariate analysis of the influence factors of extraglandular invasion showed that prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, prostate volume, ISUP grade, seminal vesicle invasion and perineural invasion might be the influencing factors of extraglandular invasion (P < 0.10). Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that perineural invasion was an independent factor of extraglandular invasion (OR=11.78, 95%CI: 1.97-70.56, P=0.007). CONCLUSION Prostatic ductal adenocarcinoma has a worse prognosis than simple acinar adenocarcinoma. Perineural invasion is the influencing factor of extraglandular invasion of ductal adenocarcinoma.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Prostatectomy ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Ductal/surgery* ; Propensity Score ; Adenocarcinoma/surgery*

Objective To investigate the protective effect of mitochondrial fission inhibitor 1(Mdivi-1),on organ function in rats with explosive blast injury combined with hemorrhagic shock.Methods A total of 192 SD rats(half male and half female,12 weeks old,weighing about 220 g)were randomly divided into 6 groups:Sham group(only surgical incision along the midline of the abdomen),model group(ESH group,thermal radiation and shock wave injury followed by femoral artery hemorrhage),lactated Ringer's solution resuscitation group(ESH+LR group,LR solution infusion in the femoral vein for resuscitation),and low-,middle-and high-dose Mdivi-1 groups(0.1,0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg Mdivi-1 intervention after infusion of LR solution).Fluorescent protein tracing was used to determine the leakage amount of fluorescent protein in the lung and kidney tissues to evaluate the vascular permeability.Evans blue dye staining was employed to observe the intestinal permeability and pulmonary vascular permeability.Laser Doppler flowmetry was applied to monitor the tissue blood perfusion in the liver,kidneys,and intestine.Serum levels of cardiac injury marker troponin I(TNI),liver function markers aspartate aminotransferase(AST)and alanine aminotransferase(ALT),and renal function markers serum creatinine(Scr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)were detected to evaluate the functions of corresponding organs.The water contents of the lungs and brain were calculated by measuring wet weight and dry weight of the lung and brain tissues.Blood pressure,heart rate,and respiratory rate were monitored.The survival time and 72-hour survival rate were recorded and calculated.Results Compared with the Sham group,the ESH group exhibited significantly increased vascular permeability in the lungs and kidneys as well as intestinal tissue(P<0.05),along with obviously elevated water contents in the lungs and brain(P<0.05),and decreased blood perfusion in the liver,kidneys,and intestine by 57.1%,39.2%,and 43.2%of the Sham group,respectively(P<0.05),elevated levels of TNI,AST,ALT,Scr and BUN(P<0.05),mean survival time of 3.8±1.1 h,and a 72-hour survival rate of 0(P<0.05).Although LR solution resuscitation reduced vascular permeability and alleviated organ injury in rats with explosive injury combined with hemorrhagic shock,there were no significant differences compared to the ESH group(P>0.05).Mdivi-1 treatment notably decreased vascular permeability in the lungs and kidneys and intestine,and water contents in the lungs and brain when compared with the LR group(P<0.05),with the dose of 0.5 mg/kg demonstrating the most significant effect.Additionally,Mdivi-1 treatment also significantly enhanced organ perfusion,improved organ functions,prolonged survival time,and increased survival rate.The 0.5 mg/kg treatment resulted in a 72-hour average survival time 55.64 h and a survival rate of 62.5%.Conclusion Mitochondrial fission inhibitor Mdivi-1 can reduce the permeabilities in the lungs,kidneys and intestine,improve tissue blood perfusion,protect the organ functions of the heart,liver and kidneys,and finally prolong survival time and increase survival rate in rats with concomitant explosive blast injury and hemorrhagic shock.

Objective To observe the improved effect of propofol on vascular hyporeactivity in septic rats and its underlying mechanism.Methods A total of 96 SD rats(12 weeks old,both genders,weighing 200～220 g)were randomly divided into sham group(n=16),sepsis group(n=16,cecal ligation and puncture),propofol group(n=16),propofol+ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 group(n=16),propofol+PKCαinhibitor GO6976 group(n=16),propofol+IP3 inhibitor 2-APB group(n=8)and propofol+gap junction inhibitor metoclopramide sodium(Movens)group(n=8).In vitro vascular ring reactivity and vascular calcium sensitivity were measured to observe the improved effects of propofol on vascular hyporeactivity in septic rats and its relationships with RhoA/ROCK,PKCα,IP3 and cell gap junction.Results Determination of in vitro vascular ring and calcium sensitivity showed that the contractile reactivity to norepinephrine(NE)and to calcium sensitivity were significantly decreased in the arterial rings isolated from the septic rats compared with those from the sham group,with the dose-response curve shifting to the right,and most significant decrease by 51.42％in the superior mesenteric artery(SMA,P＜0.05).Propofol treatment significantly improved the hyporeactivity and calcium sensitivity of the vessels isolated from the septic rats,especially those of the femoral artery with a recovery rate of 89.57％(P＜0.05).In comparison with the propofol group,the dose-response curves of the propofol+Y-27632 group and the propofol+GO6976 group were shifting to right,indicating that Y-27632 and GO6976 could significantly inhibit the amelioration of propofol on calcium sensitivity of SMA in severely septic rats with an inhibitory rate of 146.95％and 88.63％(P＜0.05),respectively.Isolated vascular reactivity measurement demonstrated that Y-27632 and Movens treatment significantly antagonized the ameliorated role of propofol on hyporeactivity of blood vessels from the septic rats with an inhibitory rate of 40.79％and 169.90％(P＜0.05),separately,while no such effect was observed in the propofol+GO6976 and propofol+2-APB groups.Conclusion Propofol treatment can significantly improve vascular hyporeactivity of septic rats,which may attribute to the increase of vascular calcium sensitivity through RhoA/ROCK pathway.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of non-invasive bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) ventilator combined with oxygen atomization in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complicated with type Ⅱ respiratory failure.Methods:A total of 80 patients with COPD complicated with type Ⅱ respiratory failure admitted to Haiyan County People′s Hospital from June 2019 to July 2021 were selected, and they were divided into the observation group and the control group by the random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. Patients in both groups received conventional treatment, while patients in the control group were connected with BiPAP non-invasive ventilator and received non-invasive mechanical ventilation in S/T mode; the observation group was given aerosol inhalation drugs during ventilation, and both groups were treated for 7 d. Blood gas indicators and vital signs were collected before treatment and 7 d after treatment. Clinical symptoms were investigated by COPD patient Caring Assessment Tool (CAT) and Dyspnea Scale (DECAF). Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and CD 4+/CD 8+ were determined, and treatment outcomes and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results:After treatment, the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2) and the oxygen saturation (SaO 2) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group: (73.41 ± 5.26) mmHg(1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) vs. (65.11 ± 4.33) mmHg, 0.921 ± 0.052 vs. 0.884 ± 0.039; the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) were lower than those in the control group: (45.20 ± 5.33) mmHg vs. (50.52 ± 5.96) mmHg, (90.12 ± 8.56) times/min vs. (98.52 ± 9.63) times/min, (17.41 ± 2.26) times/min vs. (22.10 ± 3.05) times/min, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). After treatment, CAT scores and DECAF scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group: (8.45 ± 1.63) scores vs. (12.77 ± 2.36) scores, (0.89 ± 0.15) scores vs. (1.15 ± 0.19) scores, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of IL-10 and CD 4+/CD 8+ in the observation group were higher than those in the control group: (15.28 ± 3.12) ng/L vs. (13.41 ± 2.96) ng/L, 1.71 ± 0.38 vs. 1.54 ± 0.30; while the level of TNF-α was lower than that in the control group: (215.27 ± 33.96) ng/L vs. (251.11 ± 50.95) ng/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The hospitalization time in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group: (13.52 ± 3.96) d vs. (15.22 ± 2.74) d, there was statistical difference ( P<0.05). The rates of tracheal intubation and the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups had no significant differences ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Non-invasive BiPAP ventilator combined with oxygen atomization can improve blood gas index, vital signs and clinical symptoms of COPD patients complicated with type Ⅱ respiratory failure and reduce inflammatory response.

AIM:To investigate the effects of adipose-derived stem cells(ADSCs)with overexpression or si-lencing of long noncoding RNA(lncRNA)SNHG8 on the viability,migration,angiogenesis,and the expression of vasoac-tive factors in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).METHODS:Identification of ADSCs derived from morbidly obese patients(O-ADSCs)was conducted using flow cytometry and induction of lipogenesis and osteogenesis.The expression of lncRNA SNHG8 in healthy human ADSCs(H-ADSCs)and O-ADSCs was detected by RT-qPCR.Tran-swell method was used to establish the indirect co-culture system of ADSCs and HUVECs for 48 h,and the cells were di-vided into O-ADSCs+HUVECs group,H-ADSCs+HUVECs group,and HUVECs alone group.The mRNA and protein ex-pression levels of angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ),endothelin-1(ET-1)and endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)in HUVECs were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot.The lncRNA SNHG8 overexpression and silencing lentiviruses were con-structed and used to infect O-ADSCs.The indirect co-cultured ADSCs and HUVECs were divided into O-ADSCs-OE-SNHG8+ HUVECs group,O-ADSCs-OE-NC+HUVECs group,O-ADSCs-sh-SNHG8+HUVECs group,and O-ADSCs-sh-NC+HUVECs group.After co-culture for 48 h,the viability,migration and tubule formation of HUVECs were detected by CCK-8,scratch and angiogenesis assays,respectively.The mRNA and protein expression levels of Ang Ⅱ,ET-1 and eNOS in HU-VECs were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot,respectively.The nitrate reductase method was used to detect the con-tent of NO in HUVECs.RESULTS:(1)The cultured cells were identified as ADSCs.(2)Compared with H-ADSCs,ln-cRNA SNHG8 expression was significantly up-regulated in O-ADSCs(P<0.01).(3)Compared with H-ADSCs+HUVECs group and HUVECs group,the mRNA and protein expression levels of Ang Ⅱ and ET-1 in HUVECs in O-ADSCs+HU-VECs group were up-regulated(P<0.01).(4)Overexpression of lncRNA SNHG8 in O-ADSCs enhanced the viability,mi-gration and tube formation ability of HUVECs,up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of Ang Ⅱ and ET-1,down-regulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of eNOS,and decreased the content of NO in HUVECs(P<0.05).However,silencing of lncRNA SNHG8 in O-ADSCs exerted opposite results(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:(1)The O-ADSCs can promote endothelial cell viability,migration and tubule formation through paracrine effects.(2)The O-ADSCs with overexpression of lncRNA SNHG8 promote the imbalance of diastolic and contractile factors secreted by endo-thelial cells,and induce the dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells.

Liver fibrosis is a dynamic wound-healing response characterized by the agglutination of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Si-Wu-Tang (SWT), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is known for treating gynecological diseases and liver fibrosis. Our previous studies demonstrated that long non-coding RNA H19 (H19) was markedly upregulated in fibrotic livers while its deficiency markedly reversed fibrogenesis. However, the mechanisms by which SWT influences H19 remain unclear. Thus, we established a bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced liver fibrosis model to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of SWT on various cells in the liver. Our results showed that SWT markedly improved ECM deposition and bile duct reactions in the liver. Notably, SWT relieved liver fibrosis by regulating the transcription of genes involved in the cytoskeleton remodeling, primarily in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and influencing cytoskeleton-related angiogenesis and hepatocellular injury. This modulation collectively led to reduced ECM deposition. Through extensive bioinformatics analyses, we determined that H19 acted as a miRNA sponge and mainly inhibited miR-200, miR-211, and let7b, thereby regulating the above cellular regulatory pathways. Meanwhile, SWT reversed H19-related miRNAs and signaling pathways, diminishing ECM deposition and liver fibrosis. However, these protective effects of SWT were diminished with the overexpression of H19 in vivo. In conclusion, our study elucidates the underlying mechanisms of SWT from the perspective of H19-related signal networks and proposes a potential SWT-based therapeutic strategy for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Liver Cirrhosis/genetics* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Hepatic Stellate Cells/pathology* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

Objective To establish the methods of galvanic vestibular stimulation-vestibular evoked myogenic potentials(GVS-VEMPs)in healthy children and to obtain the normal value of GVS-cVEMP and GVS-oVEMP in these children in China.Methods Twenty(3～14 years)healthy children and 24 healthy adults(18～30 years)were enrolled for conventional examinations of GVS-cVEMP and GVS-oVEMP.Using the galvanic stimulation in-tensity under 3 mA/1 ms for children and 5 mA/1 ms for adults.The characteristics of elicitation and parameter re-sults of GVS-cVEMP and GVS-oVEMP in children and adults,as well as the pain scores and the elicitation of differ-ent stimulus intensities in the two age groups were recorded.Results The elicitation of GVS-cVEMP and GVS-oVEMP were both 100.0％in children and adult groups.The p1 latency,n1 latency and p1-n1 interval latency of GVS-cVEMP were 10.46±1.84 ms,16.98±2.12 ms and 6.52±1.42 ms respectively in children group,the n1 la-tency and p1-n1 interval latency were significantly shorter than the adult group(P＜0.05).The n1 latency,p1 la-tency and p1-n1 interval latency of GVS-oVEMP were 8.87±1.40 ms,12.25±1.80 ms and 3.39±1.07 ms re-spectively in children group with no significant difference between the two groups.The thresholds of GVS-cVEMP and GVS-oVEMP in children group were significantly lower than adult group(P＜0.01),but no differences were found in adult group regarding on the amplitude and interaural amplitude asymmetry ratio.In addition,with the in-crease of the intensity of galvanic stimulation,the correlation between pain scores and the elicitation rates of GVS-cVEMP and GVS-oVEMP also increased.Conclusion Using appropriate stimulus intensity and recording methods,GVS-cVEMP and GVS-oVEMP could be successfully assessed and detected in healthy children over 3 years old and adolescents.The latency of GVS-cVEMP in children is slightly shorter than that in adults,therefore we recommend selecting the matched age group for assessment in the children group.