A growing body of research points out that gut microbiota plays a key role in tumor immunotherapy. By optimizing the composition of intestinal microbiota, it is possible to effectively improve immunotherapy resistance and enhance its therapeutic effect. This article comprehensively analyzes the mechanism of intestinal microbiota influencing tumor immunotherapy resistance, expounds the current strategies for targeted regulation of intestinal microbiota, such as traditional Chinese medicine and plant components, fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics and dietary therapy, and explores the potential mechanisms of these strategies to improve patients' resistance to tumor immunotherapy. At the same time, the article also briefly discusses the prospects and challenges of targeting intestinal microbiota to improve tumor immunotherapy resistance, which provides a reference for related research to help the strategy research of reversing tumor immunotherapy resistance.

As an important part of Chinese traditional culture， the processing technology of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） carries the wisdom of TCM for thousands of years， and its process is complex and rigorous. With the popularization of modern production technology， traditional processing techiques are facing the dual pressures from technological innovation and production standardization under the perspective of intangible cultural heritage. The modernization of TCM processing technology is an inevitable trend for industrial upgrading， but it cannot be separated from the foundation of traditional skills and ignore the core concepts and cultural values it embodies. Therefore， by analyzing the core characteristics of TCM processing technology and its differences with modern production， this paper discusses the establishment of a synergistic innovation mechanism between traditional techniques and modern technologies， the promotion of joint research and development between scientific research institutes and the industry， the strengthening of standardization of processing techniques， and the enhancement of social education and industry training to improve the recognition and inheritance of processing techniques in order to achieve the goal of innovation and protection of TCM processing technologies in the context of modernization， and to promote the high-quality development of the TCM processing industry.

The inheritance, innovation, and development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) need to be based on Chinese medicinal materials. The TCM seed industry is the source of TCM production, which is related to the stable supply and quality safety of TCM. This paper summarizes the basic situation of the TCM seed industry and introduces relevant policies and regulations to TCM seeds in the seed industry and the TCM field. At present, the Management Measures of TCM Seeds and Seedlings has not yet promulgated, and TCM seeds are classified as non-major crops in the category of crops for management. This paper also describes the current situation of TCM seed and seedling system construction, which is in the development stage, from six aspects, including the construction of TCM seed industry technical support system; the establishment of TCM seed standard; the construction of germplasm resource preservation system; TCM seed testing, variety registration, and variety protection; production and management of TCM seeds; TCM seed supervision. According to the development status of the TCM seed industry, four problems are put forward, including imperfect systems and standards relevant to TCM seeds, insufficient supervision and law enforcement regarding TCM seeds, insufficient policy measures and capital investment to promote the development of the industry, and the industry's falling into a low-level cycle.Accordingly, four suggestions are provided, including improving laws, regulations, and policies, perfecting standards and norms,strengthening supervision and law enforcement, and promoting support system construction, in order to boost the high-quality development of the TCM seed industry.
Seeds/chemistry* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards* ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry*

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of Chinese medicine (CM) Lianhua Qingwen Granule (LHQW) and Jingyin Gubiao Prescription (JYGB) in asymptomatic or mild patients with Omicron infection in the shelter hospital. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted in the largest shelter hospital in Shanghai, China, from April 10, 2022 to May 30, 2022. A total of 56,244 asymptomatic and mild Omicron cases were included and divided into 4 groups, i.e., non-administration group (23,702 cases), LHQW group (11,576 cases), JYGB group (12,112 cases), and dual combination of LHQW and JYGB group (8,854 cases). The length of stay (LOS) in the hospital was used to assess the effectiveness of LHQW and JYGB treatment on Omicron infection. RESULTS: Patients aged 41-60 years, with nadir threshold cycle (C_T) value of N gene <25, or those fully vaccinated preferred to receive CM therapy. Before or after propensity score matching (PSM), the multiple linear regression showed that LHQW and JYGB treatment were independent influence factors of LOS (both P<0.001). After PSM, there were significant differences in LOS between the LHQW/JYGB combination and the other groups (P<0.01). The results of factorial design ANOVA proved that the LHQW/JYGB combination therapy synergistically shortened LOS (P=0.032). CONCLUSIONS Patients with a nadir C_T value <25 were more likely to accept CM. The LHQW/JYGB combination therapy could shorten the LOS of Omicron-infected individuals in an isolated environment.
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Hospitalization ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Length of Stay ; Young Adult ; Aged

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Yangxue Qingnao Pills (YXQNP) combined with amlodipine in treating patients with grade 1 hypertension. METHODS: This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Adult patients with grade 1 hypertension of blood deficiency and Gan (Liver)-yang hyperactivity syndrome were randomly divided into the treatment or the control groups at a 1:1 ratio. The treatment group received YXQNP and amlodipine besylate, while the control group received YXQNP's placebo and amlodipine besylate. The treatment duration lasted for 180 days. Outcomes assessed included changes in blood pressure, Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome scores, symptoms and target organ functions before and after treatment in both groups. Additionally, adverse events, such as nausea, vomiting, rash, itching, and diarrhea, were recorded in both groups. RESULTS: A total of 662 subjects were enrolled, of whom 608 (91.8%) completed the trial (306 in the treatment and 302 in the control groups). After 180 days of treatment, the standard deviations and coefficients of variation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were lower in the treatment group compared with the control group. The improvement rates of dizziness, headache, insomnia, and waist soreness were significantly higher in the treatment group compared with the control group (P<0.05). After 30 days of treatment, the overall therapeutic effects on CM clinical syndromes were significantly increased in the treatment group as compared with the control group (P<0.05). After 180 days of treatment, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, ankle brachial index and albumin-to-creatinine ratio were improved in both groups, with no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). No serious treatment-related adverse events occurred during the study period. CONCLUSIONS Combination therapy of YXQNP with amlodipine significantly improved symptoms such as dizziness and headache, reduced blood pressure variability, and showed a trend toward lowering urinary microalbumin in hypertensive patients. These findings suggest that this regimen has good clinical efficacy and safety. (Registration No. ChiCTR1900022470).
Humans ; Amlodipine/adverse effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Hypertension/complications* ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Adult ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Double-Blind Method ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents/adverse effects*

The oxytocin receptor (OXTR) has garnered increasing attention for its role in regulating both mature behaviors and brain development. It has been established that OXTR mediates a range of effects that are region-specific or period-specific. However, the current studies of OXTR expression patterns in mice only provide limited help due to limitations in resolution. Therefore, our objective was to generate a comprehensive, high-resolution spatiotemporal expression map of Oxtr mRNA across the entire developing mouse brain. We applied RNAscope in situ hybridization to investigate the spatiotemporal expression pattern of Oxtr in the brains of male mice at six distinct postnatal developmental stages (P7, P14, P21, P28, P42, P56). We provide detailed descriptions of Oxtr expression patterns in key brain regions, including the cortex, basal forebrain, hippocampus, and amygdaloid complex, with a focus on the precise localization of Oxtr⁺ cells and the variance of expression between different neurons. Furthermore, we identified some neuronal populations with high Oxtr expression levels that have been little studied, including glutamatergic neurons in the ventral dentate gyrus, Vgat⁺Oxtr⁺ cells in the basal forebrain, and GABAergic neurons in layers 4/5 of the cortex. Our study provides a novel perspective for understanding the distribution of Oxtr and encourages further investigations into its functions.
Animals ; Receptors, Oxytocin/metabolism* ; Male ; Brain/growth & development* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Animals, Newborn

Objective To investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)in the eNOS gene and genetic susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)in Hainan.Methods Blood samples were collected from SLE patients(SLE group,n=214)and healthy controls(control group,n=214)from January 2020 to December 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College and Hainan Provincial People's Hospital.The bases of eNOS gene rs3918188,rs1799983 and rs1007311 loci in each group were detected by SNaPshot sequencing technology.Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between genotypes,alleles and gene models(dominant model,recessive model,and overdominant model)of the above 3 target loci of the eNOS gene and genetic susceptibility to SLE.Haplotype analysis was conducted using HaploView 4.2 software to investigate the relationship between haploid and genetic susceptibility to SLE at each site.Results The results of logistic regression analysis revealed that the CC genotype and the C allele at rs3918188 locus were risk factors for genetic susceptibility to SLE(CC vs.AA:OR=2.449,P<0.05;C vs.A:OR=2.133,P<0.001).In recessive model at rs3918188 locus,CC genotype carriers had an increased risk of SLE development compared with AA+AC genotype carriers(OR=2.774,P<0.001).In contrast,in overdominant model at this locus,AC genotype carriers had a decreased risk of SLE occurrence compared with AA+CC genotype carriers(OR=0.385,P<0.001).In addition,polymorphisms of rs1799983 and rs1007311 were not associated with susceptibility to SLE in genotype,allele type and the 3 genetic models(P>0.05).Haplotype analysis revealed a strong linkage disequilibrium between the rs1007311 and rs1799983 loci of the eNOS gene,but no significant correlation was found between haplotype and genetic susceptibility to SLE(P>0.05).Conclusion The CC genotype and C allele at rs3918188 locus of eNOS gene may be risk factors for SLE in Hainan,while the risk of SLE occurrence is reduced in carriers of AC genotype under the overdominant model.

Objective To investigate the effects of 0.5 Gy 60Co γ-ray irradiation on intestinal tissue injury and intestinal microflora in mice.Methods C57BL/6N mice were irradiated with 0.5 Gy 60Co γ-ray at 1 d,3 d,7 d and 14 d after irradiation.Jejunum tissues were fixed and frozen,and feces were frozen.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological injury to jejunum after irradiation,ki67 immunohistochemical staining was adopted to detect the proliferation of jejunum crypt cells,and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling was employed to detect the apoptosis of jejunum crypt cells.The expressions of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 and IL-10 cytokines in small intestines were detected via radioimmunoassay.The changes of intestinal flora in mice after irradiation were analyzed by metagenomic sequencing,and LEfSe analysis and ROC analysis were used to screen the bacteria with significant differences.Results After 0.5 Gy 60Co γ-ray irradiation,the proliferative cells of the jejunal crypt were significantly decreased at 1 d after irradiation(P＜0.05),while the apoptotic cells were significantly increased at 1 and 3 d after irradiation(P＜0.01).The expression of TNF-α at 7 and 14 d after irradiation,that of IL-1 β at 1,3,7 and 14 d after irradiation and that of IL-6 at 3,7 and 14 d after irradiation were significantly increased(P＜0.05),while the expression of IL-10 at 7 and 14 d after irradiation was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).After 0.5 Gy 60Co γ-ray irradiation,intestinal flora composition changed significantly at phylum,genus and species levels,and Lactobacillus murinus,Lactobacillus johnsonii,Alistipes-unclassified,Mucispirillum schaedleri underwent the most significant changes and had higher LDA scores.Conclusion The whole body irradiation of 0.5 Gy 60Co γ-ray can cause intestinal tissue damage and change the composition of intestinal flora in mice.

Purpose::Minimal data exist on brain injury in patients with exertional heatstroke (EHS) in developing country. In this study, we explored the risk factors for brain injury induced by EHS 90-day after onset.Methods::A retrospective cohort study of patients with EHS was conducted in the intensive care unit of the General Hospital of Southern Theater Command of PLA in China from April 2014 to June 2019. Patients were divided into non-brain injury (fully recovered) and brain injury groups (comprising deceased patients or those with neurological sequelae). The brain injury group was further subdivided into a death group and a sequela group for detailed analysis. General information, neurological performance and information on important organ injuries in the acute stage were recorded and analysed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for brain injury after EHS and mortality risk factors for brain injury, and Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to evaluate the effect of the neurological dysfunction on survival.Results::Out of the 147 EHS patients, 117 were enrolled, of which 96 (82.1%) recovered, 13 (11.1%) died, and 8 (6.8%) experienced neurological sequelae. Statistically significant differences were found between non-brain injury and brain injury groups in age, hypotension, duration of consciousness disorders, time to drop core body temperature below 38.5°C, lymphocyte counts, platelet counts, procalcitonin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, cystatin C, coagulation parameters, international normalized ratio, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II scores, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores, and Glasgow coma scale scores (all p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that age ( OR = 1.090, 95% CI: 1.02 - 1.17, p = 0.008), time to drop core temperature ( OR = 8.223, 95% CI: 2.30 - 29.40, p = 0.001), and SOFA scores ( OR= 1.676, 95% CI: 1.29 - 2.18, p < 0.001) are independent risk factors for brain injury induced by EHS. The Kaplan-Meier curves suggest significantly prolonged survival ( p < 0.001) in patients with early Glasgow coma scale score > 8 and duration of consciousness disorders ≤ 24 h. Conclusions::Advanced age, delayed cooling, and higher SOFA scores significantly increase the risk of brain injury post-EHS. These findings underscore the importance of rapid cooling and early assessment of organ failure to improve outcomes in EHS patients.