Based on the theory of collateral disease， the treatment of late-stage sequela of cerebrovascular disease is considered to be primarily associated with deficiency and obstruction of cerebral collaterals and dysfunction of the spirit mechanism. Therefore， the fundamental therapeutic principle is to unblock and supplement the brain collaterals. Clinically， the late-stage sequelae of cerebrovascular disease are classified into four patterns， which are malnourishment， deficiency-heat， stasis obstruction， and phlegm clouding of brain collaterals. These are treated respectively with Tiansui Tongqiao Decoction （填髓通窍汤） to supplement essence and nourish the brain through moistening， unblocking and supplementing， Qingnao Touluo Decoction （清脑透络汤） to enrich yin， regulate spirit， and unblock collaterals through clearing and penetrating， Yiqi Tongluo Decoction （益气通络汤） to tonify qi and resolve stasis while softening tendons and unblocking collaterals， and Xinrun Touqiao Beverage （辛润透窍饮） to unblock and tonify yin and yang while unblocking the collaterals through acrid-moistening medicinals. Flexible modification of prescriptions according to individual symptoms was applied， resulting in favorable therapeutic outcomes.

This study explores the pathogenesis characteristics and treatment of somatic symptom disorder （SSD） from the perspective of the mutual influence among mental activities， qi transformation within membrane-striae-three jiao （焦）， and the functions of the five zang （脏） organs. It is proposed that the emotional， cognitive， and somatic perceptual abnormalities observed in SSD are closely associated with dysfunction of the spirit mechanism. Such dysfunction may disturb the ascent and descent of qi movement as well as the distribution of qi， blood， and body fluids， thereby leading to stagnation of membrane-striae-three jiao and disharmony of the five zang organs. Conversely， impaired membrane-striae and dysfunction of the five zang organs may further aggravate emotional abnormalities and somatic discomfort. These three aspects interact with one another and jointly contribute to the onset， progression， and persistence of SSD. Treatment should focus not only on calming the spirit， harmonizing the body， and regulating emotions， but also on unblocking membrane-striae and facilitating qi movement， and take into account the functional imbalances of the five zang organs. The ultimate goal is to achieve tranquility of the spirit， unobstructed membrane， and harmony of the zang organs， thereby addressing both the manifestations and the root causes of the disorder and reducing the risk of recurrence.

This study explores the pathogenesis characteristics and treatment of somatic symptom disorder （SSD） from the perspective of the mutual influence among mental activities， qi transformation within membrane-striae-three jiao （焦）， and the functions of the five zang （脏） organs. It is proposed that the emotional， cognitive， and somatic perceptual abnormalities observed in SSD are closely associated with dysfunction of the spirit mechanism. Such dysfunction may disturb the ascent and descent of qi movement as well as the distribution of qi， blood， and body fluids， thereby leading to stagnation of membrane-striae-three jiao and disharmony of the five zang organs. Conversely， impaired membrane-striae and dysfunction of the five zang organs may further aggravate emotional abnormalities and somatic discomfort. These three aspects interact with one another and jointly contribute to the onset， progression， and persistence of SSD. Treatment should focus not only on calming the spirit， harmonizing the body， and regulating emotions， but also on unblocking membrane-striae and facilitating qi movement， and take into account the functional imbalances of the five zang organs. The ultimate goal is to achieve tranquility of the spirit， unobstructed membrane， and harmony of the zang organs， thereby addressing both the manifestations and the root causes of the disorder and reducing the risk of recurrence.

Senile osteoporosis is a growing public health challenge with significant impacts on the daily life of the elderly population as a result of its hidden nature,high prevalence,and high risk of disability.Suitable animal models that simulate senile osteoporosis are crucial for understanding its pathological mechanism and to facilitate the development of anti-osteoporosis drugs and identify new therapeutic targets.This review considers the most commonly used method for creating animal models of senile osteoporosis,analyzes their advantages and limitations,and discusses research progress in animal models in terms of evaluation indicators,to provide references for research using animal models of senile osteoporosis.

Objective:This study aims to investigate the alterations in m 6A methylation associated with age-related idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF). Methods:By collecting peripheral blood samples from IPF patients, we investigated the changes in m6A modification levels of total RNA and key regulatory factors in elderly IPF patients.Then, the pulmonary fibrosis models of young and old mice were constructed for verification.A total of 10 IPF patients and 10 healthy controls were selected for this study.The m 6A methylation quantitative kit was employed to assess the m 6A modification levels of total RNA.The expression levels of key m 6A methylation regulators, METTL3, METTL14, and FTO, were quantified using qRT-PCR.Additionally, thirty-two healthy male C57BL/6 mice, comprising 16 mice aged 10-12 weeks and 16 mice aged 6-7 months, were divided into four groups: young control(A), young pulmonary fibrosis(B), aged control(C), and aged pulmonary fibrosis(D), with 8 mice in each group.Mice in groups B and D were intratracheally administered bleomycin to establish a pulmonary fibrosis model, while those in groups A and C received normal saline.Twenty-eight days post-model establishment, the mice were euthanized, and lung tissues were collected for analysis.Histological evaluations were performed using hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining, Masson staining, hydroxyproline content determination, and immunohistochemistry to assess the extent of pulmonary fibrosis.The m 6A methylation quantification kit was also utilized to measure the m 6A modification levels of total RNA in lung tissue.Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression levels of the methyltransferase METTL3 were assessed by qRT-PCR and Western blot experiments. Results:The level of m 6A modification was significantly elevated in the aged IPF patient group(0.36±0.03)compared to the control group t=4.882( P<0.05).Furthermore, the expression of METTL3 was markedly higher in the aged IPF patients( t=6.082), while the expression of METTL14 was significantly lower t=17.58( P<0.05).In contrast, the expression level of FTO did not exhibit a significant difference.It is hypothesized that the increased m 6A modification of total RNA in aged IPF patients is closely associated with METTL3.Furthermore, the degree of lung fibrosis in aged mice was more severe than that in young mice.Immunohistochemistry results indicated that TGF-β1 expression was elevated in the lung fibrosis group, with higher levels observed in group D compared to group B( t=5.891, P<0.05), and in group C compared to group A t=4.135( P<0.05).The percentage of positive area for α-SMA was significantly greater in the lung fibrosis mouse model than in the control group t=20.08( P<0.05).The level of m 6A modification was increased in both lung fibrosis groups relative to the normal control group( P<0.05), although no significant difference was found between group D and group B. Overall, METTL3 mRNA and protein expression were upregulated in the lung fibrosis group, with expression in group D being lower than in group B( P<0.05). Conclusions:The level of m 6A modification is elevated in pulmonary fibrosis, and the expression of METTL3 is upregulated in this condition.The downregulation of METTL3 may be associated with the extent of aging, which subsequently exacerbates the progression of pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective:This study aims to investigate the alterations in m 6A methylation associated with age-related idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF). Methods:By collecting peripheral blood samples from IPF patients, we investigated the changes in m6A modification levels of total RNA and key regulatory factors in elderly IPF patients.Then, the pulmonary fibrosis models of young and old mice were constructed for verification.A total of 10 IPF patients and 10 healthy controls were selected for this study.The m 6A methylation quantitative kit was employed to assess the m 6A modification levels of total RNA.The expression levels of key m 6A methylation regulators, METTL3, METTL14, and FTO, were quantified using qRT-PCR.Additionally, thirty-two healthy male C57BL/6 mice, comprising 16 mice aged 10-12 weeks and 16 mice aged 6-7 months, were divided into four groups: young control(A), young pulmonary fibrosis(B), aged control(C), and aged pulmonary fibrosis(D), with 8 mice in each group.Mice in groups B and D were intratracheally administered bleomycin to establish a pulmonary fibrosis model, while those in groups A and C received normal saline.Twenty-eight days post-model establishment, the mice were euthanized, and lung tissues were collected for analysis.Histological evaluations were performed using hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining, Masson staining, hydroxyproline content determination, and immunohistochemistry to assess the extent of pulmonary fibrosis.The m 6A methylation quantification kit was also utilized to measure the m 6A modification levels of total RNA in lung tissue.Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression levels of the methyltransferase METTL3 were assessed by qRT-PCR and Western blot experiments. Results:The level of m 6A modification was significantly elevated in the aged IPF patient group(0.36±0.03)compared to the control group t=4.882( P<0.05).Furthermore, the expression of METTL3 was markedly higher in the aged IPF patients( t=6.082), while the expression of METTL14 was significantly lower t=17.58( P<0.05).In contrast, the expression level of FTO did not exhibit a significant difference.It is hypothesized that the increased m 6A modification of total RNA in aged IPF patients is closely associated with METTL3.Furthermore, the degree of lung fibrosis in aged mice was more severe than that in young mice.Immunohistochemistry results indicated that TGF-β1 expression was elevated in the lung fibrosis group, with higher levels observed in group D compared to group B( t=5.891, P<0.05), and in group C compared to group A t=4.135( P<0.05).The percentage of positive area for α-SMA was significantly greater in the lung fibrosis mouse model than in the control group t=20.08( P<0.05).The level of m 6A modification was increased in both lung fibrosis groups relative to the normal control group( P<0.05), although no significant difference was found between group D and group B. Overall, METTL3 mRNA and protein expression were upregulated in the lung fibrosis group, with expression in group D being lower than in group B( P<0.05). Conclusions:The level of m 6A modification is elevated in pulmonary fibrosis, and the expression of METTL3 is upregulated in this condition.The downregulation of METTL3 may be associated with the extent of aging, which subsequently exacerbates the progression of pulmonary fibrosis.

Senile osteoporosis is a growing public health challenge with significant impacts on the daily life of the elderly population as a result of its hidden nature,high prevalence,and high risk of disability.Suitable animal models that simulate senile osteoporosis are crucial for understanding its pathological mechanism and to facilitate the development of anti-osteoporosis drugs and identify new therapeutic targets.This review considers the most commonly used method for creating animal models of senile osteoporosis,analyzes their advantages and limitations,and discusses research progress in animal models in terms of evaluation indicators,to provide references for research using animal models of senile osteoporosis.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between immune function and age-related pulmonary fibrosis, as well as the potential impact of bacterial lysates on this condition.Methods:Twenty-four healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 24, were randomly divided into three groups: a control group(Group N), a pulmonary fibrosis group(Group M), and a pulmonary fibrosis+ bacterial lysis product intervention group(Group P). Mice in Groups M and P were intratracheally injected with bleomycin(5 mg/kg)to induce a mouse pulmonary fibrosis model, while mice in Group N were injected with saline.After modeling, mice in Group P were orally administered 0.4 ml of a bacterial lysis product once a day.After 28 days, lung tissue and blood samples were collected for analysis.Pathological changes in lung tissue were assessed using hematoxylin and tosin staining(HE)and Masson staining and the Ashcroft score.The expression of CD4+ and CD8+ in lung tissue was evaluated using immunohistochemistry.The levels of serum interferon-γ(INF-γ), interleukin-3(IL-13), and immunoglobulin A(IgA)protein were measured using Enzyme-linked Immuno Sorbent Assay(ELISA). The levels of INF-γ and IL-13 mRNA in lung tissue were determined using Real-Time Quantitative Transcription PCR(RT-qPCR). Additionally, the protein expression levels of matrix metalloprotein-9(MMP-9)and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteincise 1(TIMP-1)in lung tissue were assessed using blot analysis.Results:The degree of lung fibrosis was significantly reduced in mice in group P compared with group M when treated with bacterial lysis products.Group M showed a significant decrease in the expression of CD4+ T cells and an increase in the expression of CD8+ T cells( P<0.05)compared to group N. Additionally, the content of IgA was decreased( P<0.05)in group M. On the other hand, group P showed a significant increase in the expression of CD4+ T cells and a decrease in the expression of CD8+ T cells( P<0.05)compared to group M. Furthermore, the content of IgA was elevated( P<0.05)in group P. After bacterial lysis product intervention, mRNA and protein expression levels of IFN-γ were elevated( P<0.05), while mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-13 were reduced( P<0.05). Moreover, protein expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was significantly up-regulated in group M compared with group N( P<0.05), and decreased after bacterial lysis product intervention( P<0.05). Conclusions:It is well-known that immune mechanisms play a crucial role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis.The use of bacterial lysates has been found to effectively regulate immune balance and mitigate the severity of pulmonary fibrosis in elderly mice.

ObjectiveThis paper aims to analyze the clinical characteristics and medication rationality of liver injury related to Epimedii Folium preparation （EP） and explore the possible risk factors of liver injury， so as to provide a reference for the safe clinical application of Epimedii Folium （EF）. MethodA retrospective analysis was conducted on liver injury cases related to EP from 2012 to 2016. ResultThe number of reported liver injury cases and the proportion of severe cases related to the use of EP show an increasing trend， indicating the objective existence of liver injury caused by EP. There are more cases of liver injury related to EP in women than in men， with an onset age range of 15-91 years old and a median onset age of 60 years old （median onset ages for men and women are 59 and 60 years old， respectively）. The time span from taking EP alone to the occurrence of liver injury is 1-386 days， with a median of 38 days. The time span from taking both EP and Western medicine to the occurrence of liver injury is 1-794 days， with a median of 34 days. EF-related liver injury preparations are mostly composed of traditional Chinese medicines that promote immunity and tonify the liver and kidney， indicating that immune stress in the body may be the mechanism of liver injury caused by the use of EP alone or in combination. There is no increasing trend of toxicity with time or dose in the liver injury caused by EP. By further exploring its risk factors， it is found that patients have unreasonable medication methods such as excessive dosage， repeated use， and multi-drug combination， which may also be one of the important risk factors for EF-related liver injury. ConclusionEP has a certain risk of liver injury and should be emphasized in clinical diagnosis and treatment. Immune stress may be the mechanism of liver injury caused by EP， and in clinical use， it is necessary to be vigilant about the risk of liver injury caused by unreasonable use and combined use with Western medicine.

The accurate annotation of transcription start sites(TSSs)and their usage are critical for the mechanistic understanding of gene regulation in different biological contexts.To fulfill this,specific high-throughput experimental technologies have been developed to capture TSSs in a genome-wide manner,and various computational tools have also been developed for in silico pre-diction of TSSs solely based on genomic sequences.Most of these computational tools cast the problem as a binary classification task on a balanced dataset,thus resulting in drastic false positive predictions when applied on the genome scale.Here,we present DeeReCT-TSS,a deep learning-based method that is capable of identifying TSSs across the whole genome based on both DNA sequence and conventional RNA sequencing data.We show that by effectively incorporating these two sources of information,DeeReCT-TSS significantly outperforms other solely sequence-based methods on the precise annotation of TSSs used in different cell types.Furthermore,we develop a meta-learning-based extension for simultaneous TSS annotations on 10 cell types,which enables the identification of cell type-specific TSSs.Finally,we demonstrate the high precision of DeeReCT-TSS on two independent datasets by correlating our predicted TSSs with experimentally defined TSS chromatin states.The source code for DeeReCT-TSS is available at https://github.-com/JoshuaChou2018/DeeReCT-TSS_release and https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/biocode/tools/BT007316.