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 preliminarily investigate the antiasthmatic effect and mechanism of Ephedrae Herba-Armeniacae Semen Amarum herb pair on the respiratory center. METHODS Male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， dexamethasone group （positive control）， and Ephedrae Herba-Armeniacae Semen Amarum 2∶1， 1∶1 and 1∶2 groups. Rats in each group were administered different ratios of the herb pair decoction [all at 18 g （crude drug）/kg]， dexamethasone suspension （0.5 mg/kg）， or normal saline intragastrically twice daily for seven consecutive days. Forty minutes after the last administration， medicated cerebrospinal fluid was collected to determine the content of effective components entering the brain. One and a half hours after the last administration， the nucleus tractus solitarius （NTS） was located using a stereotaxic apparatus. Histamine phosphate （1 μL） was injected into the NTS region at a constant rate of 1 μL/min using a 10 μL microsyringe to induce excitation of the respiratory center in rats； the blank group was injected with normal saline. The contents of neurotransmitters [nerve growth factor （NGF）， substance P （SP）， norepinephrine （NA）， 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） and acetylcholine （Ach）] in the medulla oblongata brain tissue were detected. The mRNA expressions of neurokinin-1 receptor （NK-1R）， p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， and c-fos in the medulla oblongata， as well as the protein expressions of NK-1R， p38 MAPK， and c-fos in the NTS region， were determined. RESULTS The main active components of Ephedrae Herba-Armeniacae Semen Amarum herb pair entering the brain were ephedrine， pseudoephedrine， and methylephedrine. Compared with blank group， the contents of NGF， SP， NA， 5-HT and Ach， and the relative expression levels of NK-1R， p38 MAPK， and c-fos mRNA and protein were significantly increased in the model group （ P ＜0.01）. Compared with model group， Ephedrae Herba-Armeniacae Semen Amarum herb pair groups with different ratios significantly reduced the neurotransmitter contents and the relative expression levels of NK-1R， p38 MAPK， and c-fos mRNA and protein （ P ＜0.01）， with the 2∶1 Ephedrae Herba-Armeniacae Semen Amarum herb pair and 1∶1 mass ratios showing relatively better effects. CONCLUSIONS Ephedrae Herba alkaloids are the main active components in affecting the function of the respiratory center. The herb pair groups with a larger proportion of Ephedrae Herba exhibit stronger effects. Ephedrae Herba-Armeniacae Semen Amarum herb pair can reduce the excitability of the respiratory center by down-regulating the expression of the NK-1R/MAPK/c-fos pathway in the NTS and decreasing the abnormal release of neurotransmitters such as NGF and SP.

Based on the "regulating the pivot and unblocking the stomach" theory， this article proposes that the core pathogenesis of bile reflux gastritis （BRG） is disharmony of the three pivots and imbalance between the gallbladder and the stomach. Specifically， the pivot of zang-fu （脏腑） organs （spleen and stomach） exhibits abnormal ascending and descending functions， while the pivot of opening and closing （shaoyang） shows impaired flow， and the pivot of mind （heart and brain） has disordered regulation. These three pivots interact， ultimately leading to bile reflux attacking the stomach， injuring the gastric mucosa， and causing symptoms such as epigastric distension， pain， acid regurgitation， and heartburn. Clinically， the treatment principle is unblocking and regulating the three pivots， harmonizing the gallbladder and descending stomach qi， which closely follows the different pathomechanisms of three-pivot dysregulation， applying treatment according to syndrome differentiation. The regulation of the pivot of zang-fu organs focuses on fortifying the spleen and harmonzing stomach， raising the clear and directing the turbid downward. The regulation of the opening-and-closing pivot emphasizes harmonizing shaoyang， promoting gallbladder function and bowel movement. The regulation of the mind pivot centers on calming the heart and the mind， and harmonizing the stomach to ensure smooth qi flow. "Unblocking and regulating three pivots" method aims to restore the physiological functions of the gallbladder and stomach， providing a conceptual framework for the clinical management of BRG.

Objective To analyze the pollution characteristics of PM_2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during the non-heating period, heating period, and haze period in Harbin, and infer their possible sources, and to evaluate their impact on population carcinogenesis. Methods From 2020 to 2022, sampling points were set up in different districts of Harbin. PM_2.5 samples were regularly collected every month to analyze the contents of 10 types of PM_2.5-bound 4-6 rings PAHs. The pollution characteristics of PAHs were analyzed during different monitoring periods (non-heating period, heating period, and haze period). The excess carcinogenesis risks of PM_2.5-bound PAHs were assessed according to the Technical Specifications for Health Risk Assessment of Ambient Air Pollution and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) risk assessment method. The characteristic ratio method and the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model were used to infer the sources of PAHs. Results The median mass concentrations of ambient PM_2.5-bound 4-6 rings PAHs (ΣPAHs) during the non-heating period, heating period, and haze period were 6.44 ng/m³, 37.85 ng/m³, and 106.79 ng/m³, respectively. During the heating season and haze period, the concentrations of benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, pyrene and fluoranthene were relatively high. The excess carcinogenic risks for ASF_>16, ASF_2-16 and ASF_<2 caused by exposure to PM_2.5-bound 4-6rings PAHs during the heating season were 2.34×10^-6, 1.82×10^-6, and 0.88×10^-6, respectively, while the excess carcinogenic risks for the whole population during the heating season and haze period were 5.05×10^-6 and 1.75×10^-6, respectively. The results of the two source methods showed that the main characteristic elements during the heating season were fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene. According to the emission source standards, it was determined that the sources were mainly coal and biomass combustion, accompanied by traffic source emissions. Conclusion In Harbin, the PM_2.5-bound 4-6 rings PAHs during the haze period is significantly higher than that during the heating period. The pollution is mainly from coal combustion emissions, accompanied by continuous traffic source pollution. The exposure to PAHs during the heating period poses a potential carcinogenic risk to the population.

ObjectiveTo optimize the flow cytometric sorting workflow for myeloid-derived suppressor cells （MDSCs） from murine Lewis lung carcinoma （LLC） subcutaneous tumor tissues， improving single-cell suspension preparation efficiency and sorting purity， thereby providing high-quality cells for subsequent functional studies. MethodsSubcutaneous LLC tumor tissues were harvested from C57BL/6 mice， and two enzymatic digestion protocols were first compared to evaluate their effects on single-cell suspension preparation. After staining with a viability dye （Live/Dead） and fluorochrome-conjugated anti-mouse antibodies against CD45， CD11b， and Gr-1， cells were loaded onto a Beckman CytoFLEX cell sorter. Next， conventional and optimized gating strategies were applied. In the optimized strategy， the CD45⁺ population was used as the initial gate to directly define an MDSC-enriched region， followed by selection of CD11b⁺Gr-1⁺ cells. Finally， purity was assessed by flow cytometry， viability was determined by trypan blue staining， and RT-qPCR was performed to measure the expression of MDSC signature genes， including Arg1， Nos2， IL-10， and S100A8/A9. ResultsThe optimized enzymatic digestion protocol significantly increased the yield and viability of single cells. After optimization of the gating strategy， the post-sort positivity rate （purity） was markedly improved. Arg1， Nos2， IL-10 and S100A8/A9 were highly expressed in the sorted cells， indicating that the isolated cells retained characteristic MDSC features and functional signatures. ConclusionBy optimizing both the tissue digestion protocol and the flow cytometric gating strategy， we establish an efficient workflow for isolating MDSCs from tumor tissues. This method improves the yield and purity of single-cell preparations while preserving antigen integrity， providing a reliable methodological foundation for subsequent studies on MDSC function and metabolism.

Introduction: Cafeteria environments within universities have a significant influence over sustainable and healthy dietary behaviours. Hence, this study aimed to understand the nutritional landscape of food options in university cafeterias and to identify the factors contributing to unhealthy food options from the perspective of food service vendors. Methods: Using a mixed-methods approach, 122 food options from all 12 residential campus cafeterias in Universiti Malaya (UM) were collected between October and December 2024. All food options were grouped into (i) bread, (ii) meat dishes, (iii) drinks, (iv) Western dishes, and (v) rice- or noodle-based fried food group; they were further analysed for calories, fat, saturated fat, dietary fibre, and salt using the Malaysian Food Composition Database (MyFCD) and the Singapore Food Composition Database (SFCD). Nutrient classification (high vs. low) was based on the criteria outlined in the Labelling Guidelines 2023. Additionally, food service vendors were interviewed to explore operational challenges, with data collection ceasing upon reaching thematic saturation. The interviews were then transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Quantitative findings showed that there were 36 bread-based meals, 16 meat-based dishes, 18 beverages, 30 Westernstyle meals, and 22 rice- or noodle-based fried foods. The study also revealed an over-reliance on high-calorie, high-fat, and low-fibre foods, with limited availability of sustainable and nutritious options. Qualitative findings highlighted the influence of affordability, vendor practices, and student preferences on campus food choices. Conclusion: The study underscored the need for internal policy intervention, improved vendor education and sustainability practices, and increased accessibility to healthier meals on campus.

By analyzing the current application of multi-modal data in the diagnosis of gastric "inflammation-cancer" transformation， this study explored the feasibility and strategies for constructing a disease-syndrome integrated diagnosis and treatment system. Based on traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） phenomics， we proposed utilizing multi-modal data from literature research， cross-sectional studies， and cohort follow-ups， combined with artificial intelligence technology， to establish a multi-dimensional diagnostic and treatment index system. This approach aims to uncover the complex pathogenesis and transformation patterns of gastric "inflammation-cancer" progression. Additionally， by dynamically collecting TCM four-diagnostic information and modern medical diagnostic information through a long-term follow-up system， we developed three major modules including information extraction， multi-modal phenotypic modeling， and information output， to make it enable real-world clinical data-driven long-term follow-up and treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis. This system can provide technical support for clinical diagnosis， treatment evaluation， and research， while also offering insights and methods for intelligent TCM diagnosis.

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) capable of clearing heat and removing toxin is most commonly used in clinical practice and has the effect of removing fire-heat and toxin. Studies have shown that most of the Ilex plants have the effect of clearing heat and removing toxin, among which the varieties of I. cornuta, I. pubescens, I. rotunda, I. latifolia, and I. chinensis are most widely used. These plants generally contain triterpenoids and their glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and other chemical components, especially pentacyclic triterpenoids. According to their skeletons, pentacyclic triterpenoids can be divided into the oleanane type, the ursane type, the lupinane type, etc. Among them, ursane-type components are the most abundant, and 136 species have been found so far. These components have been proved to have pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, hypolipidemic, anti-thrombosis, cardiomyocyte-protective, antibacterial, and hepatoprotective effects. Therefore, this paper systematically reviews the domestic and foreign literature on Ilex plants with a focus on the research progress on pentacyclic triterpenoids and their pharmacological activities, aiming to provide reference for the development of TCM resources with the effect of clearing heat and removing toxin.
Ilex/chemistry* ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry* ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Animals