ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of action of the combination of Sanguisorbae Radix-Sophorae Flos （DH） in the treatment of ulcerative colitis （UC） using network pharmacology methods and molecular docking technology. MethodsNetwork pharmacology analysis was utilized to predict the potential targets of DH for the treatment of UC. The therapeutic effects were experimentally validated by inducing a UC model in mice with 3% dextran sulfate sodium （DSS）. The experimental groups were the normal group， the model group， the salazosulfapyridine group （100 mg·kg^-1）， and the low， medium， and high dose groups of DH （1.2， 2.4， and 4.8 g·kg^-1）. The efficacy of the treatment was assessed through the general condition of the mice， histopathological examination， and the expression levels of inflammatory markers in the colon. The effect of DH on angiogenesis was explored by messenger RNA （mRNA） detection of colonic angiogenesis-related mediators， vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） immunohistochemistry， microvessel density （MVD） detection， and transmission electron microscopy. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase （PI3K）-protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway proteins were quantitatively analyzed through Western blot to assess whether the suppression of pathological angiogenesis by DH is associated with this pathway. ResultsNetwork pharmacological analysis yielded 112 potential core therapeutic targets for the treatment of UC with DH， of which the core targets were tumor protein 53 （TP53）， JUN， interleukin （IL）-6， Akt1， and tumor necrosis factor （TNF）. Compared with the normal group， mice in the model group showed significant weight loss， colon shortening， and high DAI score， increased expression of inflammatory factors IL-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α， as well as increased mRNA expression levels of angiogenesis-related mediators VEGF， vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 （VCAM1）， angiotensin 1 （Ang1）， matrix metalloproteinase （MMP）-1， MMP-2， and MMP-9. The positive expression of CD31 and VEGF in colonic tissue increased， and the protein expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway was increased （P<0.05）. The endothelial cells of the colonic mucosa and the colonic vasculature were severely damaged. Compared with the model group， mice in the DH groups had significantly reduced weight loss and colon shortening， lower DAI scores， and a significant decrease in mRNA expression of inflammatory factors and angiogenesis-related mediators. In addition， there was decreased positive expression of CD31 and VEGF in colonic tissue and decreased protein expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway （P<0.05）. ConclusionNetwork pharmacology， molecular docking， and experimental validation are applied to explore the mechanism of action of DH in the treatment of UC， and it is found that DH is able to improve the symptoms of colitis and inhibit the pathological angiogenesis in UC mice. Its action might be related to affecting the PI3K/Akt pathway.

ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of action of the combination of Sanguisorbae Radix-Sophorae Flos （DH） in the treatment of ulcerative colitis （UC） using network pharmacology methods and molecular docking technology. MethodsNetwork pharmacology analysis was utilized to predict the potential targets of DH for the treatment of UC. The therapeutic effects were experimentally validated by inducing a UC model in mice with 3% dextran sulfate sodium （DSS）. The experimental groups were the normal group， the model group， the salazosulfapyridine group （100 mg·kg^-1）， and the low， medium， and high dose groups of DH （1.2， 2.4， and 4.8 g·kg^-1）. The efficacy of the treatment was assessed through the general condition of the mice， histopathological examination， and the expression levels of inflammatory markers in the colon. The effect of DH on angiogenesis was explored by messenger RNA （mRNA） detection of colonic angiogenesis-related mediators， vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） immunohistochemistry， microvessel density （MVD） detection， and transmission electron microscopy. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase （PI3K）-protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway proteins were quantitatively analyzed through Western blot to assess whether the suppression of pathological angiogenesis by DH is associated with this pathway. ResultsNetwork pharmacological analysis yielded 112 potential core therapeutic targets for the treatment of UC with DH， of which the core targets were tumor protein 53 （TP53）， JUN， interleukin （IL）-6， Akt1， and tumor necrosis factor （TNF）. Compared with the normal group， mice in the model group showed significant weight loss， colon shortening， and high DAI score， increased expression of inflammatory factors IL-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α， as well as increased mRNA expression levels of angiogenesis-related mediators VEGF， vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 （VCAM1）， angiotensin 1 （Ang1）， matrix metalloproteinase （MMP）-1， MMP-2， and MMP-9. The positive expression of CD31 and VEGF in colonic tissue increased， and the protein expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway was increased （P<0.05）. The endothelial cells of the colonic mucosa and the colonic vasculature were severely damaged. Compared with the model group， mice in the DH groups had significantly reduced weight loss and colon shortening， lower DAI scores， and a significant decrease in mRNA expression of inflammatory factors and angiogenesis-related mediators. In addition， there was decreased positive expression of CD31 and VEGF in colonic tissue and decreased protein expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway （P<0.05）. ConclusionNetwork pharmacology， molecular docking， and experimental validation are applied to explore the mechanism of action of DH in the treatment of UC， and it is found that DH is able to improve the symptoms of colitis and inhibit the pathological angiogenesis in UC mice. Its action might be related to affecting the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Premature ejaculation refers to a sexual dysfunction in which men experience a short intravaginal ejaculation latency and a lack of control over ejaculation during sexual activity. The onset of this condition is often accompanied by anxiety and depression, which can seriously affect the quality of the patient′s sexual life and the relationship between partners. Based on the "integration of body and spirit" theory in traditional Chinese medicine, our team believes that this condition is a comorbidity of physical and spiritual factors. We propose that the core pathogenesis of this disease lies in the "loss of form and essence, impairment of spirit, and depression of the mind, "while the primary treatment principle involves "nourishing form and regulating spirit." As a result, a new diagnosis and treatment approach of "four-dimensional integration" is summarized in this study. The disease is treated through the four dimensions of shape, body, spirit, and emotion. Traditional Chinese medicine is used to adjust the shape in cases where the physical form is damaged. For individuals with depression of heart and liver qi, the treatment focuses on soothing the heart and smoothing liver qi, and the modified Wangyou Powder and Xuanzhi Decoction is used. In cases where the heart and kidney function are compromised, the treatment involves nourishing both the heart and kidney while restoring interaction between the heart and the kidney, and modified Jihuo Yansi Elixir is used. To reduce the sensitivity of the glans penis, the patient′s body is washed with a traditional Chinese medicine formula, and a delicate fumigation formula is decocted for external washing. For those who are not in tune with their god, psychological counseling can be used to regulate their spirit and advocate "self-partner" and psychotherapy. If there are issues with intimacy, partners should focus on cooperating during foreplay, sexual intercourse, and post-coital interactions. Overall, the treatment aims to harmonize the body and spirit, addressing both physical and psychological factors through a comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach. This method provides new perspectives and ideas for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Objective: Negative symptoms in schizophrenia indicate a poor prognosis. However, the mechanisms underlying the development of negative symptoms remain unclear. This study investigated the relationship between negative symptoms in schizophrenia and frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA). Methods: The study used a 32-channel electroencephalography to acquire alpha power in 4 target-paired sites in each patient. Regional alpha asymmetry was calculated based on the alpha power using EEGLAB Frontal Alpha Asymmetry Toolbox. Results: Sixty schizophrenia patients with predominant negative symptoms (PNS), 72 stabilized schizophrenia (SS) patients, and 73 healthy control (HC) participants were enrolled in this study. No significant differences were observed in FAA between the PNS and SS groups, although both groups exhibited reduced P3-P4 alpha asymmetry compared to HCs. A positive correlation was found between F7-F8 alpha asymmetry and illness duration. Additionally, a predictive model based on P3-P4 alpha asymmetry scores was able to differentiate schizophrenia patients from HCs, achieving a sensitivity of 71.2% and a specificity of 72.6%. Conclusion This study highlighted that parietal alpha asymmetry could serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for schizophrenia.

Purpose: This study assessed the performance of the ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter (UGAP) in diagnosing and grading hepatic steatosis in patients with metabolic dysfunctionassociated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) served as the reference standard. Methods: Patients with hepatic steatosis were enrolled in this prospective study and underwent UGAP measurements. MRI-PDFF values of ≥5%, ≥15%, and ≥25% were used as references for the diagnosis of steatosis grades ≥S1, ≥S2, and S3, respectively. Spearman correlation coefficients and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were calculated. Results: Between July 2023 and June 2024, the study included 88 patients (median age, 40 years; interquartile range [IQR], 36 to 46 years), of whom 54.5% (48/88) were men and 45.5% (40/88) were women. Steatosis grades exhibited the following distribution: 22.7% (20/88) had S0, 50.0% (44/88) had S1, 21.6% (19/88) had S2, and 5.7% (5/88) had S3. The success rate for UGAP measurements was 100%. The median UGAP value was 0.74 dB/cm/MHz (IQR, 0.65 to 0.82 dB/ cm/MHz), and UGAP values were positively correlated with MRI-PDFF (r=0.77, P<0.001). The AUCs of UGAP for the diagnoses of ≥S1, ≥S2, and S3 steatosis were 0.91, 0.90, and 0.88, respectively. In the subgroup analysis, 98.4% (60/61) of patients had valid controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) values. UGAP measurements were positively correlated with CAP values (r=0.65, P<0.001). Conclusion Using MRI-PDFF as the reference standard, UGAP demonstrates good diagnostic performance in the detection and grading of hepatic steatosis in patients with MASLD.

This case report explores the therapeutic potential of theta burst stimulation (TBS) for cognitive enhancement in individuals with brain injuries. The study presents a 38-year-old male suffering from an organic mental disorder attributed to a traumatic brain injury (TBI), who demonstrated notable cognitive improvements following an intensive TBS protocol targeting the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex. The treatment led to significant enhancements in impulse control, irritability, and verbal comprehension without adverse effects. Neuropsychological assessments and brain imaging post-intervention revealed improvements in short-term memory, abstract reasoning, list-generating fluency, and increased cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that TBS, by promoting neural plasticity and reconfiguring neural networks, offers a promising avenue for cognitive rehabilitation in TBI patients. Further research is warranted to optimize TBS protocols and understand the mechanisms underlying its cognitive benefits.

Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) has been a safe and viable alternative to conversion to laparotomy in cases of severe cholecystitis. The objective of this study is to determine the utility of intraoperative choledochoscopy in LSC for the exploration of the gallbladder, cyst duct, and subsequent stone clearance of the cystic duct in cases of severe cholecystitis. A total of 72 patients diagnosed with severe cholecystitis received choledochoscopy-assisted laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (CALSC). A choledochoscopy was performed to explore the gallbladder cavity and/or cystic duct, and to extract stones using a range of techniques. The clinical records, including the operative records and outcomes, were subjected to analysis. No LSC was converted to open surgery, and no bile duct or vascular injuries were sustained. All stones within the cystic duct were removed by a combination of techniques, including high-frequency needle knife electrotomy, basket, and electrohydraulic lithotripsy. A follow-up examination revealed the absence of residual bile duct stones, with the exception of one common bile duct stone, which was extracted via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In certain special cases, CALSC may prove to be an efficacious treatment for the management of severe cholecystitis. This technique allows for optimal comprehension of the situation within the gallbladder cavity and cystic duct, facilitating the removal of stones from the cystic duct and reducing the residue of the non-functional gallbladder remnant.

This case report explores the therapeutic potential of theta burst stimulation (TBS) for cognitive enhancement in individuals with brain injuries. The study presents a 38-year-old male suffering from an organic mental disorder attributed to a traumatic brain injury (TBI), who demonstrated notable cognitive improvements following an intensive TBS protocol targeting the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex. The treatment led to significant enhancements in impulse control, irritability, and verbal comprehension without adverse effects. Neuropsychological assessments and brain imaging post-intervention revealed improvements in short-term memory, abstract reasoning, list-generating fluency, and increased cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that TBS, by promoting neural plasticity and reconfiguring neural networks, offers a promising avenue for cognitive rehabilitation in TBI patients. Further research is warranted to optimize TBS protocols and understand the mechanisms underlying its cognitive benefits.

Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) has been a safe and viable alternative to conversion to laparotomy in cases of severe cholecystitis. The objective of this study is to determine the utility of intraoperative choledochoscopy in LSC for the exploration of the gallbladder, cyst duct, and subsequent stone clearance of the cystic duct in cases of severe cholecystitis. A total of 72 patients diagnosed with severe cholecystitis received choledochoscopy-assisted laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (CALSC). A choledochoscopy was performed to explore the gallbladder cavity and/or cystic duct, and to extract stones using a range of techniques. The clinical records, including the operative records and outcomes, were subjected to analysis. No LSC was converted to open surgery, and no bile duct or vascular injuries were sustained. All stones within the cystic duct were removed by a combination of techniques, including high-frequency needle knife electrotomy, basket, and electrohydraulic lithotripsy. A follow-up examination revealed the absence of residual bile duct stones, with the exception of one common bile duct stone, which was extracted via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In certain special cases, CALSC may prove to be an efficacious treatment for the management of severe cholecystitis. This technique allows for optimal comprehension of the situation within the gallbladder cavity and cystic duct, facilitating the removal of stones from the cystic duct and reducing the residue of the non-functional gallbladder remnant.

Objective: Negative symptoms in schizophrenia indicate a poor prognosis. However, the mechanisms underlying the development of negative symptoms remain unclear. This study investigated the relationship between negative symptoms in schizophrenia and frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA). Methods: The study used a 32-channel electroencephalography to acquire alpha power in 4 target-paired sites in each patient. Regional alpha asymmetry was calculated based on the alpha power using EEGLAB Frontal Alpha Asymmetry Toolbox. Results: Sixty schizophrenia patients with predominant negative symptoms (PNS), 72 stabilized schizophrenia (SS) patients, and 73 healthy control (HC) participants were enrolled in this study. No significant differences were observed in FAA between the PNS and SS groups, although both groups exhibited reduced P3-P4 alpha asymmetry compared to HCs. A positive correlation was found between F7-F8 alpha asymmetry and illness duration. Additionally, a predictive model based on P3-P4 alpha asymmetry scores was able to differentiate schizophrenia patients from HCs, achieving a sensitivity of 71.2% and a specificity of 72.6%. Conclusion This study highlighted that parietal alpha asymmetry could serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for schizophrenia.