ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects of the Anemarrhenae Rhizoma water extract （AR） on Alzheimer's disease （AD） model rats and to explore its potential underlying mechanisms. MethodsMale rats were intraperitoneally injected with D-galactose （100 mg·kg^-1） for 42 days， and on day 14， 1 μL of β-amyloid （Aβ_25-35， 2 g·L^-1） solution was injected into the hippocampus. Rats were randomly divided into a model group， low-dose AR （0.6 g·kg^-1）， medium-dose AR （1.2 g·kg^-1）， high-dose AR （2.4 g·kg^-1）， and a positive control group （donepezil， 5 mg·kg^-1）. Healthy rats receiving only a hippocampal injection of 1 μL of sterile saline served as the sham-operated group. From day 21， rats in the treatment groups were administered the corresponding drugs by gavage once daily for 21 consecutive days， while the blank control and model groups received an equal volume of saline. Learning and memory abilities were assessed using the Morris water maze. Brain tissue damage was observed by hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining， and neuronal apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL） staining. Levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and interleukin-10 （IL-10） in brain tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. BV2 microglial cells were co-cultured with Aβ_25-35 （40 μmol·L^-1） for 2 h， and cell viability was determined by the CCK-8 assay to screen the optimal concentration of AR-containing serum （S-AR）. Cells were divided into blank control， Aβ_25-35， S-AR， EX527 ［silent information regulator 1 （SIRT1） inhibitor］， and S-AR+EX527 groups. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of CD16， CD206， and high-mobility group box 1 （HMGB1）. Western blot analysis was performed to measure the protein expression of CD16， inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， CD206， arginase （Arg）， and proteins related to the SIRT1/HMGB1/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway. ResultsIn vivo experiments showed that， compared with the sham-operated group， the model group exhibited reduced platform crossings and time spent in the target quadrant （P<0.01）， prolonged escape latency， increased hippocampal neuronal apoptosis （P<0.01）， and obvious hippocampal damage. The expression levels of IL-6， TNF-α， IL-10， CD16， and iNOS in brain tissues were significantly elevated （P<0.01）， while CD206 and Arg protein expression showed an increasing trend without statistical significance. Compared with the model group， all AR-treated groups significantly increased platform crossings and target quadrant time （P<0.05， P<0.01）， alleviated hippocampal damage， reduced escape latency and neuronal apoptosis， downregulated the expression of TNF-α， IL-6， CD16， and iNOS （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and upregulated the expression of IL-10， CD206 and Arg （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In vitro experiments demonstrated that， compared with the blank control group， the Aβ_25-35 group showed increased fluorescence intensity of CD206， CD16， and HMGB1， as well as elevated protein expression of iNOS and CD16 （P<0.01）， while CD206 and Arg protein expression exhibited an increasing trend without statistical significance. After S-AR intervention， CD206 fluorescence intensity and the protein expression of Arg and CD206 were significantly increased （P<0.01）， whereas the fluorescence intensity of CD16 and HMGB1 and the protein expression of iNOS and CD16 were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. These effects were reversed by EX527 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Furthermore， compared with the blank control group， the Aβ_25-35 group showed significantly increased cytoplasmic HMGB1 expression and p-p65/p65 ratio （P<0.01）， along with significantly decreased SIRT1 and nuclear HMGB1 expression （P<0.01）. In contrast， the S-AR group exhibited opposite trends compared with the Aβ_25-35 group， and the regulatory effects of S-AR on these proteins were reversed by EX527 （P<0.01）. ConclusionAR exerts neuroprotective effects in AD model rats by regulating microglial polarization and alleviating neuroinflammation， potentially through modulation of the SIRT1/HMGB1/NF-κB signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo compare the differences in the interactions with host proteins between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus （SARS-CoV） nucleocapsid protein （NP） and SARS-CoV-2-NP， and to screen out specific differential proteins for analyzing the pathogenicity differences between the two at the protein level. MethodsAll proteins in Vero cells interacting with SARS-CoV-NP or SARS-CoV-2-NP were screened by the pull-down assay， and the screened proteins were analyzed by mass spectrometry for quantitative and qualitative analysis， protein function annotation， and protein-protein interaction （PPI） network construction by mass spectrometry. ResultsA total of 1 345 proteins were retrieved from the database. Compared with the SARS-CoV-2-NP group， the SARS-CoV-NP group had 358 downregulated differentially expressed proteins and 476 upregulated differentially expressed proteins. Biosignature analysis revealed that these proteins were predominantly located in the cytoplasm and nucleus. They participated in biological processes such as regulation of biological processes and metabolic processes. Their molecular functions included ion-binding， nucleotide-binding， and carbohydrate derivative-binding. These proteins were closely associated with diseases linked to metabolism and genetic information processing. Many of them contained functional structural domains like RNA recognition motifs and tryptophan-aspartic acid repeat （WD） domains. ConclusionCompared with the SARS-CoV-NP group， the SARS-CoV-2-NP group exhibited multiple differential host proteins， providing a basis for investigating the molecular pathogenesis and therapeutic targets of SARS-CoV-2.

ObjectiveTo study on the different therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma（RH） before and after steaming with wine on constipation model mice. MethodsFifty-four male ICR mice were randomly divided into control group， model group， lactulose group（1.5 mg·kg^-1）， high， medium and low dose groups of RH and RH steaming with wine（PRH）（8， 4， 1 g·kg^-1）. Except for the control group， the constipation model was replicated by gavage of loperamide hydrochloride（6 mg·kg^-1） in the other groups. After 2 weeks of modeling， each administration group was gavaged with the corresponding dose of drug solution， and the control and model groups were given an equal volume of normal saline， 1 time/d for 2 consecutive weeks. After administration， the feces were collected for 16S rRNA sequencing， the levels of gastrin（GAS）， motilin（MTL）， interleukin-6（IL-6）， γ-interferon（IFN-γ） in the colonic tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）， the histopathological changes of colon were observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining， flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion changes of CD4⁺， CD8⁺ and regulatory T cell（Treg） in peripheral blood. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group showed significantly decrease in fecal number in 24 h， fecal quality and fecal water rate（P<0.01）， the colon was seen to have necrotic shedding of mucosal epithelium， localized intestinal glands in the lamina propria were degenerated， necrotic and atrophied， a few lymphocytes were seen to infiltrate in the necrotic area in a scattered manner， the contents of GAS and MTL， the proportions of CD4⁺， CD8⁺ and Treg were significantly reduced（P<0.01）， the contents of IL-6 and IFN-γ were significantly elevated（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the fecal number in 24 h， fecal quality and fecal water rate of high-dose groups of RH and PRH were significantly increased（P<0.05， P<0.01）， the pathological damage of the colon was alleviated to varying degrees， the contents of GAS， MTL， IL-6 and IFN-γ were significantly regressed（P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the proportions of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ were significantly increased（P<0.01）， although the proportion of Treg showed an upward trend， there was no significant difference. In addition， the results of intestinal flora showed that the number of amplicon sequence variant（ASV） and Alpha diversity were decreased in the model group compared with the control group， and there was a significant difference in Beta diversity， with a decrease in the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and an increase in the relative abundances of Bacillus and Helicobacter. Compared with the model group， the ASV number and Alpha diversity were increased in the high-dose groups of RH and PRH， and there was a trend of regression of Beta diversity to the control group， the relative abundance of Lactobacillus increased， and the relative abundances of Bacillus and Helicobacter decreased. ConclusionRH and PRH can improve dysbacteriosis， promote immune system activation， inhibit the release of inflammatory factors for enhancing the gastrointestinal function， which may be one of the potential mechanisms of their therapeutic effect on constipation.

Objective To explore the feasibility and safety of fastest recovery after surgery(FRAS)in laparoscopic surgery of gastrointestinal tumors.Methods The clinical data of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal tumors under FRAS and enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)from Jan.2023 to May 2024 were collected,and perioperative safety and medical cost were analyzed.Results A total of 87 patients were enrolled,including 43 in the FRAS group and 44 in the ERAS group.Compared with the ERAS group,the FRAS group had significantly shorter surgical time(3.0[2.5,3.5]h vs 3.0[2.5,4.0]h),first postoperative movement time([2.85±4.29]h vs[20.18±6.13]h),first postoperative oral feeding time(2.0[2.0,3.0]h vs 24.0[15.0,48.0]h),postoperative hospital stay(24.0[20.0,40.0]h vs 192.0[150.0,216.0]h),lower hospitalization costs(50 515.61[46 650.44,56 827.12]yuan vs 65 555.09[58 683.21,86 239.02]yuan),and lower medication costs(2 671.09[2 063.31,3 127.09]yuan vs 7 326.90[5 104.66,10 674.26]yuan)(all P＜0.05).Conclusion It is safe and feasible to use FRAS during the perioperative period of laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastrointestinal tumors,and FRAS can also reduce the costs of hospitalization and medications.

Objective To analyze the current research status,hotspots,and trends in the field of mechanical ventilation weaning.Methods Literatures in the field of mechanical ventilation wea-ning were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection,PubMed,China National Knowledge In-frastructure(CNKI),and Wanfang Data Knowledge Platform from January 1,2010 to November 27,2024.CiteSpace software was used to analyze the research status and future trends.Results A total of 705 English and 494 Chinese eligible articles were included in this study.The author with the most publications was Laurent Brochard(14 articles).Research hotspots focused on mechanical ventila-tion,weaning,non-invasive ventilation,respiratory failure,etc.New research hotspots have shifted towards mechanical ventilation weaning failure,weaning complications,and prolonged weaning.Con-clusion Further research is needed on weaning failure,complications,and prolonged weaning,par-ticularly in the direction of invasive-high-flow oxygen therapy sequential therapy,which will help opti-mize clinical treatment plans and reduce patients' suffering and economic burdens.

Objective:To investigate the effect of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) on energy metabolism and thermal balance in ICU patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).Methods:This study was a prospective observational study, which included AKI patients who underwent CRRT in ICU of the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from May 2020 to December 2023. The patients' general clinical characteristics, comorbidities, body temperature, disease severity score, CRRT treatment time and filter lifespan were recorded. The concentrations of glucose and lactate in blood and ultrafiltrate, and the citrate level in the ultrafiltrate when regional citrate anticoagulation adopted were analyzed regularly. Subgroup analysis was carried out according to different anticoagulation modes and whether the patients with diabetes or shock. The changes of energy metabolism and thermal balance corresponding to the changes in glucose, lactate, citrate and body temperature induced by CRRT were calculated daily.Results:This study included 420 AKI patients undergoing CRRT. When the blood lactate was between 14-18 mmol/L, there was a loss of approximately 200-250 kcal of energy per day, while the blood lactate was between 6.5-11.5 mmol/L, the daily corresponding energy loss was about 100-150 kcal. During CRRT on the first day, the patients with diabetes or shock had a mild decrease of blood glucose, while patients without diabetes and shock had mild increase of blood glucose. When the target of blood glucose was gradually achieved, the mean daily increase of energy corresponding to blood glucose intake was about 100-130 kcal in patients undergoing CRRT. The mean daily increase of energy corresponding to citrate intake was approximately 330 kcal, when the patient was undertaken by CRRT with regional citrate anticoagulation. For every 1℃ decrease in body temperature, the mean daily heat loss caused by extracorporeal thermal radiation during CRRT was about 200 kcal.Conclusions:When conducting nutritional assessment and prescription for AKI patients supported by CRRT in the ICU, it is essential to fully consider the impact of CRRT on the patient's energy metabolism and heat balance. This includes the clearance of lactate, the balance of blood glucose, the intake of citrate, and the reduction in body temperature. Additionally, the type and stage of the disease, as well as individual differences, must be taken into account to achieve personalized nutritional assessment and precise implementation.

Objective To summarize and analyze the clinical efficacy of negative pressure suction bell in the treatment of young children (≤6 years) with pectus excavatum. Methods The relevant clinical medical records of the children with pectus excavatum who received negative pressure suction bell treatment in the Outpatient Department of Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from May 2019 to January 2023 were collected. The age, sex, type, severity, depth of depression, duration of use and prognosis of children with pectus excavatum were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 100 pediatric patients were ultimately included in the study, comprising 74 males and 26 females. The age distribution was 57 patients aged 0-3 years and 43 patients aged 3-6 years. All patients were prescribed and used a negative pressure suction device for at least 3 months, after which they returned to our department's outpatient clinic for follow-up. The treatment demonstrated clinical effectiveness in 99 patients, yielding an efficacy rate of 99.00%. The excellent/good rate was 52.00%, and the complication rate was 8.00%. After treatment, the Haller index and the depth of sternal depression were reduced compared with those before treatment (P<0.001), and there was no statistical difference in the effective rate and excellent/good rate between different genders, different ages, different types of pectus excavatum, or different severity (P＞0.05). Conclusion Negative pressure suction bell is safe and effective in the treatment of young children (≤6 years) with pectus excavatum, and the correction effect has nothing to do with gender, type and severity.

Flexible conductive fibers have been widely applied in wearable flexible sensing. However, exposed wearable flexible sensors based on liquid metal (LM) are prone to abrasion and significant conductivity degradation. This study presented a high-sensitivity LM conductive fiber with integration of strain sensing, electrical heating, and thermochromic capabilities, which was fabricated by coating eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) onto spandex fibers modified with waterborne polyurethane (WPU), followed by thermal curing to form a protective polyurethane sheath. This fiber, designated as Spandex/WPU/EGaIn/Polyurethane (SWEP), exhibits a four-layer coaxial structure: spandex core, WPU modification layer, LM conductive layer, and polyurethane protective sheath. The SWEP fiber had a diameter of (458.3 ± 10.4) μm, linear density of (2.37 ± 0.15) g/m, and uniform EGaIn coating. The fiber had excellent conductivity with an average value of (3 716.9 ± 594.2) S/m. The strain sensing performance was particularly noteworthy. A 5 cm × 5 cm woven fabric was fabricated using polyester warp yarns and SWEP weft yarns. The fabric exhibited satisfactory moisture permeability [(536.06 ± 33.15) g/(m ²·h)] and maintained stable thermochromic performance after repeated heating cycles. This advanced conductive fiber development is expected to significantly promote LM applications in wearable electronics and smart textile systems.
Wearable Electronic Devices ; Polyurethanes/chemistry* ; Electric Conductivity ; Gallium/chemistry* ; Metals/chemistry*

Objective To explore the bioactive components in Jiawei Xiaoyao Pills(JWXYP)and their mechanisms for alleviating depression-like behaviors.Methods The active compounds,key targets,and pathways of JWXYP were identified using TCMSP and TCMIP databases.Thirty-six SD rats were randomized equally into 6 groups including a control group and 5 chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)-induced depression groups.After modeling,the 5 model groups were treated with daily gavage of normal saline,1.8 mg/kg fluoxetine hydrochloride(positive control drug),or JWXYP at 1.44,2.88,and 4.32 g/kg.The depression-like behaviors of the rats were evaluated using behavioral tests,and pathological changes in the liver and hippocampus were examined with HE staining.The biochemical indicators in the serum and brain tissues were detected using ELISA.Serum metabolomics analysis was performed to identify the differential metabolites using OPLS-DA,and gut microbiota changes were analyzed using 16S rDNA sequencing.Results Network pharmacology revealed that menthone and paeonol in JWXYP were capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier to regulate inflammatory pathways and protect the nervous system.In the rat models subjected to CUMS,treatment with JWXYP significantly improved body weight loss,sucrose preference and open field activities,reduced liver inflammation,alleviated structural changes in the hippocampal neurons,decreased serum levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 and LBP,and increased 5-HT and VIP concentrations in the serum and brain tissue,and these effects were the most pronounced in the high-dose group.Metabolomics analysis showed changes in such metabolites as indole-3-acetamide and acetyl-L-carnitine in JWXYP-treated rats,involving the pathways for bile acid biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism.16S rDNA analysis demonstrated increased gut microbiota diversity and increased abundance of Lactobacillus species in JWXYP-treated rats.Conclusion JWXYP alleviates depression-like symptoms in rats by regulating the neurotransmitters,inhibiting inflammation and oxidation,and modulating gut microbiota.

Objective:To compare the treatment time stability, inter- and intra-fraction errors, and clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) margin expansions under different gated window settings in deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) radiotherapy for breast cancer, and to analyze the correlation between organ at risk (OAR) dose optimization and changes in lung volume.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 65 patients with left-sided breast cancer who received DIBH radiotherapy after modified radical mastectomy. CT simulation positioning was performed using 2 mm or 3 mm gated window for DIBH, followed by target delineation, treatment planning, and dose verification. During treatment, setup errors guided by cone beam CT (CBCT), intra-fraction monitoring errors, and treatment times were recorded. The coefficient of variation (CV) of treatment time was calculated for both gated window settings. Based on inter- and intra-fraction error distributions, the expansion distance of the CTV were determined using the van Herk formula. Dosimetric differences between DIBH and free-breathing (FB) plans for the left lung, heart, and left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) were compared. Spearman correlation analysis was performed between the relative increase in left lung volume and the relative reduction in OAR dose. Paired t-tests were used for inter-group comparisons. Results:The mean CV of the 3 mm gated window group was 0.08±0.03, which was lower than that of the 2 mm group (0.10±0.04; t=-3.91, P<0.001). The setup errors of the 2 mm group in the X, Y, and Z directions were (1.27±1.03), (1.68±0.94), (1.90±1.25) mm, respectively-significantly smaller than those of the 3 mm group [(1.81±1.41), (2.07±1.69), (2.93±1.90) mm; t=-5.80, -2.33, -5.33; P<0.001,=0.014,<0.001). Setup errors for both groups were within the 25%-75% range and all below 5 mm. The intra-fraction deviations of the 2 mm group in the X, Y, and Z directions were (0.54±0.33), (0.79±0.44), (0.70±0.53) mm, respectively, significantly smaller than those of the 3 mm group [(0.62±0.43), (0.93±0.66), (0.87±0.67) mm; t=-3.87, -3.46, -2.71,all P<0.001). The mean intra-fraction errors of both groups were within 1 mm, with greater deviations in the Y and Z directions than those in the X direction. The CTV expansion margins for the 2 mm group in the X, Y, and Z directions were 4.21, 5.35, 5.99 mm, respectively, while those for the 3 mm group were 5.81, 6.89, 9.06 mm. Compared with FB, DIBH significantly reduced the doses to the left lung, heart, and LAD (all P<0.01). The increase in left lung volume was moderately negatively correlated with the reduction in left lung D mean ( r=-0.43, P=0.028), and highly negatively correlated with the dose reductions to the heart and LAD (both P<0.001). Conclusions:The variability in respiratory gated window settings can lead to differences in treatment time stability as well as inter- and intra-fraction errors, consequently affecting CTV-to-PTV margins. The DIBH technique demonstrates significant dosimetric benefits in reducing radiation exposure to the left lung, heart, and LAD. Volumetric expansion of the left lung is strongly and inversely correlated with the reduction in radiation dose to both the heart and LAD.