This article systematically analyzed the historical evolution of the name， origin， harvesting and others of Longan Arillus by referring to the ancient and modern literature， in order to provide a foundation for developing famous classical formulas containing this herb. After textual research， it indicated that Longan Arillus was first recorded under the name of longan in Shennong Bencaojing of the Han dynasty. During the Ming and Qing dynasties， Longan Arillus gradually replaced longan as the standard name recorded in the materia medica， with additional aliases including Yizhi， Lizhinu and Yuanyan. The source of Longan Arillus used in the past dynasties was the arillus of the Sapindaceae plant Dimocarpus longan. The production regions recorded in the past dynasties were mainly Fujian， Guangdong， Guangxi， Hainan， Sichuan and others. Since the Qing dynasty， Longan Arillus produced in Fujian， Guangdong and Guangxi have been regarded as the finest and authentic varieties， with Fujian， Guangxi， and Guangdong remaining the primary authentic production areas today. In ancient times， the fruits were primarily harvested in August of the lunar calendar. However， modern longan cultivation typically involves harvesting ripe fruits during summer and autumn. Post-harvest processing involves removing moisture through sun-drying or baking before drying for medicinal use. Throughout history， processing methods have primarily focused on raw product， though techniques such as wine soaking and powdering have also been employed. Since modern times， it has been concluded that its quality is the best one with thick flesh， sweet taste， brownish-yellow color and tender texture. Longan Arillus possesses a sweet and warm nature， entering the heart and spleen meridians. Its primary functions are tonifying the heart and spleen， nourishing the blood and calming the spirit， which is consistent in ancient and modern times. Based on the textual research， it is suggested to use the arillus of D. longan when developing the famous classical formulas containing Longan Arillus. Processing methods should be selected according to the formula requirements， where no specific processing is indicated， the raw products is recommended for medicinal use.

Objectives: . The prognostic value of the pretreatment albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) in head and neck cancer (HNC) remains uncertain. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the predictive role of AAPR for survival outcomes in patients with HNC. Methods: . A comprehensive search of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published up to July 30, 2024. We included studies on AAPR and survival outcomes in HNC patients. Results: . Eight studies comprising 1,737 HNC patients were analyzed using random-effects models. Lower AAPR values were significantly correlated with worse overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 2.08), progression-free survival (HR, 2.00), and disease-free survival (HR, 2.18). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these results, with no significant publication bias detected. Conclusion . Our findings suggest that pretreatment AAPR could serve as a valuable and cost-effective prognostic indicator in HNC, potentially aiding clinicians in risk stratification and treatment decision-making. However, additional validation studies are warranted to confirm its clinical applicability.

This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name， origin， medicinal parts， harvesting and processing， and other aspects of Manjiao and Zanthoxyli Radix by referring to the herbal medicine， medical books， prescription books and other documents of the past dynasties， combined with the relevant modern research materials， in order to provide a basis for the development of famous classical formulas containing the two medicinal materials. According to the herbal textual research， Manjiao was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing of the Han dynasty with aliases such as Zhujiao， Goujiao and Zhijiao. Throughout history， Manjiao was sourced from the stems and roots of Zanthoxylum armatum in the Rutaceae family， and its leaves and fruits can also be used in medicine. The traditional recorded production area was mainly in Yunzhong（now Tuoketuo region in Inner Mongolia）， with mentions in Zhejiang， Hunan， Fujian， Guangdong， Guangxi， Yunnan， Taiwan， and other provinces. Presently， this species is distributed from the south of Shandong， to Hainan， Taiwan， Tibet and other regions. The roots can be harvested year-round， while the fruits are harvested in autumn after maturity. In ancient times， the roots and stems were mostly used for brewing or soaking in wine， whereas nowadays， the roots are often sliced and then used as a raw material in traditional Chinese medicine， and the fruits should be stir-fried before use. Manjiao has a bitter taste and warm property， and was historically used to treat wind-cold dampness， joint pain， limb numbness， and knee pain. Modern researches have summarized its effects as dispelling wind， dispersing cold， promoting circulation， and relieving pain， and it is used for treating rheumatoid arthritis， toothache， bruises， as well as an anthelmintic. Zanthoxyli Radix initially known as Rudi Jinniugen， recorded in Bencao Qiuyuan of the Qing dynasty， with the alternate name of Liangbianzhen. In recent times， it is more commonly referred to as Liangmianzhen， sourced from the dried roots of Z. nitidum of the Rutaceae family， mainly produced in Guangxi and Guangdong. It can be harvested throughout the year， cleaned， sliced， and dried after harvesting. Zanthoxyli Radix is pungent， bitter， warm and slightly toxic， with the functions of promoting blood circulation， removing stasis， relieving pain， dispelling wind， and resolving swelling. Based on the results of herbal textual research， it is clarified that the ancient Manjiao and the modern Zanthoxyli Radix are not the same species. This article corrects the mistaken belief of by previous scholars that Zanthoxyli Radix is the same as ancient Manjiao， and suggests that formulas described as Manjiao should use Z. armatum as the medicinal herb， while those described as Liangmianzhen or Rudi Jinniu should use Z. nitidum. The processing was performed according to the processing requirements prescribed in the formulas， otherwise， the raw products are recommended for use.

This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name， origin， medicinal parts， harvesting and processing， and other aspects of Manjiao and Zanthoxyli Radix by referring to the herbal medicine， medical books， prescription books and other documents of the past dynasties， combined with the relevant modern research materials， in order to provide a basis for the development of famous classical formulas containing the two medicinal materials. According to the herbal textual research， Manjiao was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing of the Han dynasty with aliases such as Zhujiao， Goujiao and Zhijiao. Throughout history， Manjiao was sourced from the stems and roots of Zanthoxylum armatum in the Rutaceae family， and its leaves and fruits can also be used in medicine. The traditional recorded production area was mainly in Yunzhong（now Tuoketuo region in Inner Mongolia）， with mentions in Zhejiang， Hunan， Fujian， Guangdong， Guangxi， Yunnan， Taiwan， and other provinces. Presently， this species is distributed from the south of Shandong， to Hainan， Taiwan， Tibet and other regions. The roots can be harvested year-round， while the fruits are harvested in autumn after maturity. In ancient times， the roots and stems were mostly used for brewing or soaking in wine， whereas nowadays， the roots are often sliced and then used as a raw material in traditional Chinese medicine， and the fruits should be stir-fried before use. Manjiao has a bitter taste and warm property， and was historically used to treat wind-cold dampness， joint pain， limb numbness， and knee pain. Modern researches have summarized its effects as dispelling wind， dispersing cold， promoting circulation， and relieving pain， and it is used for treating rheumatoid arthritis， toothache， bruises， as well as an anthelmintic. Zanthoxyli Radix initially known as Rudi Jinniugen， recorded in Bencao Qiuyuan of the Qing dynasty， with the alternate name of Liangbianzhen. In recent times， it is more commonly referred to as Liangmianzhen， sourced from the dried roots of Z. nitidum of the Rutaceae family， mainly produced in Guangxi and Guangdong. It can be harvested throughout the year， cleaned， sliced， and dried after harvesting. Zanthoxyli Radix is pungent， bitter， warm and slightly toxic， with the functions of promoting blood circulation， removing stasis， relieving pain， dispelling wind， and resolving swelling. Based on the results of herbal textual research， it is clarified that the ancient Manjiao and the modern Zanthoxyli Radix are not the same species. This article corrects the mistaken belief of by previous scholars that Zanthoxyli Radix is the same as ancient Manjiao， and suggests that formulas described as Manjiao should use Z. armatum as the medicinal herb， while those described as Liangmianzhen or Rudi Jinniu should use Z. nitidum. The processing was performed according to the processing requirements prescribed in the formulas， otherwise， the raw products are recommended for use.

Hepatic encephalopathy （HE） is a common complication of severe liver disease in the end stage， and it is urgently needed to improve the rate of effective treatment and clarify the pathogenesis of HE. The liver is a crucial hub for immune regulation， and disruption of immune homeostasis is a key factor in the pathological mechanisms of HE. As the main metabolites of intestinal flora， short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs） play a vital role in the biological processes of both innate and adaptive immunity and can regulate the proliferation and differentiation of immune cells maintain the homeostasis of intestinal microenvironment and the integrity of barrier function. Studies have shown that SCFAs participate in bidirectional and dynamic interactions with the liver-gut-brain axis through immunomodulatory pathways， thereby playing an important role in the diagnosis， treatment， and prognostic evaluation of HE. Starting from the immunoregulatory effect of SCFAs， this article summarizes and analyzes the crosstalk relationship between SCFAs and the liver-gut-brain axis and the significance of SCFAs in the diagnosis and treatment of HE， in order to provide new ideas for optimizing clinical prevention and treatment strategies.

Curcumae Rhizoma, derived from the rhizome of Curcuma phaeocaulis, Curcuma kwangsiensis and Curcuma wenyujin, was called Ezhu in China. In the past, Curcumae Rhizoma extracts were obtained through water decoction or alternative methods, which showed significant anti-cancer effects. However, the mixed extracts contain various compound components of Curcumae Rhizoma, leading to an ambiguous mechanism of action for Curcumae Rhizoma extracts anti-cancer. Contemporary researchers have extracted the chemical components of Curcumae Rhizoma separately for experimental verification of its active ingredients in the anti-cancer field. Numerous studies demonstrated that curcumol, germacrone, β-elemene, and curcumin in Curcumae Rhizoma extracts have significant governing effects in anti-cancer activities. Pharmacological studies have shown that Curcumae Rhizoma suppresses cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, triggering apoptosis and regulating cellular autophagy to achieve anticancer effects. Here, we summarized the research progress of Curcumae Rhizoma on anti-cancer effects from 2013 to 2022, aiming to explore the deeper molecular mechanisms of Curcumae Rhizoma's active components in cancer treatment.

Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） is a malignant tumor with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide. Recent studies have shown that neutrophil extracellular traps （NETs） play an important role in the development， progression， and immune escape of HCC. NETs are released by neutrophils and mainly consist of DNA， histones， and antimicrobial molecules， and in addition to immune defense， they are also involved in the initiation， metastasis， and thrombosis of HCC. This article elaborates on the formation and regulatory mechanisms of NETs， explores their potential mechanisms in the initiation， metastasis， immune escape， and thrombosis of HCC， and discusses the prospect of NETs as a target for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC， in order to provide new ideas for the precise treatment of HCC in the future and promote the early diagnosis and effective treatment of HCC.

ObjectiveTo study the mechanism by which Shexiang Tongxin dropping pills （STDP） ameliorate the dysfunction of coronary microvascular endothelial cells in the rat model of heart failure. MethodsThe heart failure model was established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in rats， which were then allocated into sham， model， STDP， and telmisartan （TLM） groups and treated for 21 days. The heart function was detected by echocardiography， and the levels of myocardial injury markers， nitric oxide （NO）， endothelin-1 （ET1）， and angiotensinⅡ （AngⅡ） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase （eNOS） and inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） were determined by Western blot. The model of cardiac microvascular endothelial cell injury was established by AngⅡ induction and then treated with the STDP-containing serum （5%， 10%， and 20%） for 24 h. The levels of NO and ET1 were measured by ELISA. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of eNOS， iNOS， angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 （ACE2）， and angiotensinⅡ receptor 2 （AT2）. MLN-4760， an ACE2 inhibitor， was used to explore the mechanism underpinning the regulatory effect of STDP on the ACE2-AT2/MAS pathway. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the model group showed decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） and left ventricular fractional shortening （LVFS） （P<0.05）， a decline in serum NO level， elevations in serum AngⅡ and ET1 levels， a reduction in p-eNOS/eNOS ratio， and up-regulation in iNOS expression （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， STDP increased LVEF， LVFS， and cardiac output （P<0.05）， raised the level of NO and lowered the levels of AngⅡ and ET1 in the serum （P<0.05）， increased the p-eNOS/eNOS value， and inhibited iNOS expression （P<0.05）. Compared with the AngⅡ group， STDP increased the NO content and decreased the ET1 content in endothelial cells （P<0.05）， increased the p-eNOS/eNOS ratio， and inhibited the iNOS expression （P<0.05）. The ACE2 inhibitor MLN-4760 reversed the regulatory effects of STDP on p-eNOS， eNOS， and iNOS. ConclusionSTDP improves the cardiac function in the rat model of heart failure， enhances the synthesis and release of NO in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells， reduces AngⅡ and ET1 levels， and regulates the expression of p-eNOS and eNOS， thereby ameliorating the dysfunction of microvascular endothelial cells in heart failure. This mechanism is related to the upregulation of the expression of proteins in the ACE2-AT2/MAS pathway.

This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name， origin， academic name， medicinal parts， origin， harvesting， processing and other aspects of Abri Herba and Abri Mollis Herba by referring to the herbal medicine， medical books， prescription books and other documents of the past dynasties， combined with the modern literature， so as to provide a basis for the development of famous classical formulas containing this type of medicinal materials. According to the herbal textual research， Abri Herba was first recorded in Lingnan Caiyaolu， with other aliases such as Huangtoucao and Xiye Longlincao. It originates from the dried whole plant of Abrus cantoniensis， a Fabaceae plant， which can be used medicinally except for its fruits. Currently， this species is mainly distributed in Guangdong and Guangxi， and also found in Hunan and Thailand， it can be harvested throughout the year， mainly in spring and autumn. The roots， stems， and leaves can be used for medicinal purposes， but the pods are toxic and need to be removed. After harvesting， impurities and pods are removed， and it is dried and processed for medicinal use. Abri Herba has a sweet and slightly bitter taste， is cool in nature， and is associated with the liver and stomach meridians， it is used for clearing heat and relieving dampness， dispersing blood stasis and relieving pain， and is mainly used to treat jaundice-type hepatitis， stomach pain， rheumatic bone pain， contusion and ecchymosis pain， and mastitis. Abri Mollis Herba was first recorded in the 1982 edition of Zhongyaozhi as another origin for Abri Herba， and was singled out in some monographs such as Xinhua Bencao Gangyao in 1988 for use， while some other monographs use it as a local habitual products or confused products of Abri Herba with aliases such as Daye Jigucao， Qingtingteng， and Maoxiangsi. It comes from the dried whole herb of A. mollis without pods， and is mainly produced in Guangxi and Guangdong， and occasionally found in Hong Kong， Hainan and Fujian. The collection and processing are similar to Abri Herba， after harvesting， impurities and pods are removed， and it is dried and cut for medicinal use. Abri Mollis Herba has a sweet and light taste， is cool in nature， and is associated with the liver and stomach meridians， with the efficacy of clearing heat and detoxifying， and promoting dampness， it is mainly used to treat infectious hepatitis， mastitis， furuncles， burns and scalds， and pediatric malnutrition. Based on the research， A. mollis was first recorded to be used as a medicine in the same origin as A. cantoniensis， and as plants of the same genus， have similar morphological characteristics， and their medicinal parts， collection and processing， properties and flavors， and meridian affiliations are consistent. And in the folk， Abri Mollis Herba is often used as Abri Herba， which has been used for a long time and is now dominated by the cultivation of A. mollis. So it is recommended that the subsequent version of Chinese Pharmacopoeia should include A. mollis in the origin of Abri Herba， and it is also recommended that in famous classical formulas refered to Jiguccao can use A. cantoniensis and A. mollis as the sources of the herb， refered to Mao Jiguccao can use A. mollis as the sources of the herb. Processing is carried out according to the requirements specified in the original formulas， and raw products are recommended to be included in the medicine if there are no requirements.

This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name， origin， academic name， medicinal parts， origin， harvesting， processing and other aspects of Abri Herba and Abri Mollis Herba by referring to the herbal medicine， medical books， prescription books and other documents of the past dynasties， combined with the modern literature， so as to provide a basis for the development of famous classical formulas containing this type of medicinal materials. According to the herbal textual research， Abri Herba was first recorded in Lingnan Caiyaolu， with other aliases such as Huangtoucao and Xiye Longlincao. It originates from the dried whole plant of Abrus cantoniensis， a Fabaceae plant， which can be used medicinally except for its fruits. Currently， this species is mainly distributed in Guangdong and Guangxi， and also found in Hunan and Thailand， it can be harvested throughout the year， mainly in spring and autumn. The roots， stems， and leaves can be used for medicinal purposes， but the pods are toxic and need to be removed. After harvesting， impurities and pods are removed， and it is dried and processed for medicinal use. Abri Herba has a sweet and slightly bitter taste， is cool in nature， and is associated with the liver and stomach meridians， it is used for clearing heat and relieving dampness， dispersing blood stasis and relieving pain， and is mainly used to treat jaundice-type hepatitis， stomach pain， rheumatic bone pain， contusion and ecchymosis pain， and mastitis. Abri Mollis Herba was first recorded in the 1982 edition of Zhongyaozhi as another origin for Abri Herba， and was singled out in some monographs such as Xinhua Bencao Gangyao in 1988 for use， while some other monographs use it as a local habitual products or confused products of Abri Herba with aliases such as Daye Jigucao， Qingtingteng， and Maoxiangsi. It comes from the dried whole herb of A. mollis without pods， and is mainly produced in Guangxi and Guangdong， and occasionally found in Hong Kong， Hainan and Fujian. The collection and processing are similar to Abri Herba， after harvesting， impurities and pods are removed， and it is dried and cut for medicinal use. Abri Mollis Herba has a sweet and light taste， is cool in nature， and is associated with the liver and stomach meridians， with the efficacy of clearing heat and detoxifying， and promoting dampness， it is mainly used to treat infectious hepatitis， mastitis， furuncles， burns and scalds， and pediatric malnutrition. Based on the research， A. mollis was first recorded to be used as a medicine in the same origin as A. cantoniensis， and as plants of the same genus， have similar morphological characteristics， and their medicinal parts， collection and processing， properties and flavors， and meridian affiliations are consistent. And in the folk， Abri Mollis Herba is often used as Abri Herba， which has been used for a long time and is now dominated by the cultivation of A. mollis. So it is recommended that the subsequent version of Chinese Pharmacopoeia should include A. mollis in the origin of Abri Herba， and it is also recommended that in famous classical formulas refered to Jiguccao can use A. cantoniensis and A. mollis as the sources of the herb， refered to Mao Jiguccao can use A. mollis as the sources of the herb. Processing is carried out according to the requirements specified in the original formulas， and raw products are recommended to be included in the medicine if there are no requirements.