ObjectiveHeadspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（HS-SPME-GC-MS） and GC-triple quadrupole MS（GC-QqQ-MS） in combination with non-targeted and targeted metabolomics were employed to systematically analyze the chemical composition differences of Xihuangwan prepared with natural musk and artificial musk， and establish an identification system for them. MethodsThe volatile components of 9 batches of Xihuangwan samples from 8 manufacturers were analyzed by HS-SPME-GC-MS non-targeted metabolomics， and identified by comparing their MS data with the National Institute of Standards and Technology（NIST） spectral library. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA） was used to identify differential volatile components of Xihuangwan prepared with natural musk and artificial musk. Additionally， GC-QqQ-MS targeted metabolomics was applied to quantify the levels of α-pinene， β-elemene， muscone， dehydroepiandrosterone， bornyl acetate， and octyl acetate in 27 batches of samples from 9 manufacturers. Cluster analysis， principal component analysis（PCA）， and partial least squares-discriminant analysis（PLS-DA） were conducted to further explore the differences in volatile components between Xihuangwan samples prepared with natural musk and artificial musk. ResultsNon-targeted metabolomics identified 291 volatile compounds in Xihuangwan， including alkanes， esters， alkanes， alcohols， ketones， naphthalenes and others. OPLS-DA analysis revealed distinct separation between Xihuangwan samples containing artificial musk（A1， C1， D1， E1， F1， G1， I1） and those containing natural musk（H1， H3）. A total of 30 differential metabolites were identified. The relative contents of these 30 differential metabolites were visualized using a radar chart， revealing significant differences in the levels of octanol， borneol acetate and muscone. Cluster analysis and PCA results from targeted metabolomics indicated that Xihuangwan could be classified into two distinct groups：one composed of natural musk（H1， H3） and the other of artificial musk， sample H2. PLS-DA identified muscone， octyl acetate， and dehydroepiandrosterone as key differential volatile components. Although no significant difference was observed in the content of octyl acetate between the two groups， statistically significant differences were found for muscone and dehydroepiandrosterone（P<0.05）. ConclusionMuscone and dehydroepiandrosterone can be used for the differentiation of Xihuangwan samples containing natural musk from those containing artificial musk. This study systematically and comprehensively analyzed the differences in the types and contents of major volatile components in Xihuangwan prepared with natural musk and artificial musk， providing a scientific basis for quality evaluation and control of Xihuangwan.

ObjectiveHeadspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（HS-SPME-GC-MS） and GC-triple quadrupole MS（GC-QqQ-MS） in combination with non-targeted and targeted metabolomics were employed to systematically analyze the chemical composition differences of Xihuangwan prepared with natural musk and artificial musk， and establish an identification system for them. MethodsThe volatile components of 9 batches of Xihuangwan samples from 8 manufacturers were analyzed by HS-SPME-GC-MS non-targeted metabolomics， and identified by comparing their MS data with the National Institute of Standards and Technology（NIST） spectral library. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA） was used to identify differential volatile components of Xihuangwan prepared with natural musk and artificial musk. Additionally， GC-QqQ-MS targeted metabolomics was applied to quantify the levels of α-pinene， β-elemene， muscone， dehydroepiandrosterone， bornyl acetate， and octyl acetate in 27 batches of samples from 9 manufacturers. Cluster analysis， principal component analysis（PCA）， and partial least squares-discriminant analysis（PLS-DA） were conducted to further explore the differences in volatile components between Xihuangwan samples prepared with natural musk and artificial musk. ResultsNon-targeted metabolomics identified 291 volatile compounds in Xihuangwan， including alkanes， esters， alkanes， alcohols， ketones， naphthalenes and others. OPLS-DA analysis revealed distinct separation between Xihuangwan samples containing artificial musk（A1， C1， D1， E1， F1， G1， I1） and those containing natural musk（H1， H3）. A total of 30 differential metabolites were identified. The relative contents of these 30 differential metabolites were visualized using a radar chart， revealing significant differences in the levels of octanol， borneol acetate and muscone. Cluster analysis and PCA results from targeted metabolomics indicated that Xihuangwan could be classified into two distinct groups：one composed of natural musk（H1， H3） and the other of artificial musk， sample H2. PLS-DA identified muscone， octyl acetate， and dehydroepiandrosterone as key differential volatile components. Although no significant difference was observed in the content of octyl acetate between the two groups， statistically significant differences were found for muscone and dehydroepiandrosterone（P<0.05）. ConclusionMuscone and dehydroepiandrosterone can be used for the differentiation of Xihuangwan samples containing natural musk from those containing artificial musk. This study systematically and comprehensively analyzed the differences in the types and contents of major volatile components in Xihuangwan prepared with natural musk and artificial musk， providing a scientific basis for quality evaluation and control of Xihuangwan.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy of oral administration of modified Tuoli Xiaodusan on postoperative patients with perianal abscess， and its effects on related inflammatory factors and signal transducers and activators of transcription protein 3 （STAT3）/vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） signaling pathways. MethodsFrom January 2023 to December 2023 in Inner Mongolia hospital of traditional Chinese medicine， 60 postoperative patients with perianal abscess who met the inclusion criteria were selected. They were divided into a treatment group and a control group using the random number table method， with 30 cases in each group. The control group received conventional treatment， while the treatment group received additional treatment with modified Tuoli Xiaodusan on the basis of the control group. The course of treatment in both groups was three weeks. On the day of operation and on the 7^th， 14^th and 21^st day after operation， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure the expression levels of serum interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）. Hematoxylin eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the pathological morphology of pathological tissue. Western blot was used to measure the levels of phosphorylated STAT3 （p-STAT3） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） proteins， and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to determine the expression level of VEGF mRNA. The clinical efficacy of the two groups was compared according to the wound pain， secretion volume score， and healing rate of patients on the 3^rd， 7^th， 14^th， and 21^st day after operation. ResultsThe total effective rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group （P<0.05）. For intra-group comparison， the pain score of the control group decreased at each time period （P<0.05）， and the healing rate increased （P<0.05）. The secretion volume score decreased on the 14^th and 21^st days after operation （P<0.05）. The pain score and secretion volume score of the treatment group decreased at each time period （P<0.05）， and the healing rate increased （P<0.05）. The levels of various inflammatory factors decreased in both groups （P<0.05）. Compared with those on the surgical day， the levels of p-STAT3 and VEGF proteins in the wound tissue of the two groups were different on the 7^th and 21^st days after operation （P<0.05）. There were significant differences in VEGF mRNA levels in wound tissue between the two groups at each time period （P<0.01）. For inter-group comparison， on the 7^th and 14^th days after operation， the pain score in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group. On the 7^th， 14^th and 21^st days after operation， the secretion volume scores and healing rate of the treatment group were better than those of the control group （P<0.05）. The levels of various inflammatory factors in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group （P<0.05）， and the decline rate was faster （P<0.05）. On the 7^th day after operation， the levels of p-STAT3， VEGF protein， and VEGF mRNA in the wound tissue of the treatment group were higher than those in the control group （P<0.05）. HE staining showed that the inflammatory cell infiltration in the treatment group decreased faster. The cell arrangement was more orderly， and new blood vessel lumens were visible. There were no abnormalities in the safety observation indexes of all patients during the study period. ConclusionModified Tuoli Xiaodusan can relieve wound pain after perianal abscess surgery， reduce secretions， and improve wound healing rate. The mechanism may be reducing the levels of serum IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α， reducing the inflammatory response of the wound， upregulating the expression of p-STAT3 and VEGF proteins， and stimulating the STAT3/VEGF signaling pathway， thereby accelerating angiogenesis and promoting wound healing.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are pivotal mediators of intercellular communication within the tumor immune microenvironment (TME). They are broadly categorized into exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies based on their distinct biogenesis pathways. Exosomes originate from the endosomal system via multivesicular body fusion, microvesicles bud directly from the plasma membrane, and apoptotic bodies are released during programmed cell death. By shuttling diverse bioactive cargoes—including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids such as mRNA, miRNA, and DNA—EVs exert dual modulatory effects on tumor initiation, progression, and immune evasion. Importantly, EVs exhibit remarkable compositional heterogeneity that is intrinsically linked to their cellular origin. Tumor-derived EVs (TDEVs) are typically enriched with immunosuppressive molecules like PD-L1, TGF‑β, and miR-21, which promote tumor immune escape and metastasis. In contrast, EVs derived from immune cells, such as dendritic cells or cytotoxic T lymphocytes, often carry immunostimulatory components including antigens, co-stimulatory molecules, and granzymes, thereby potentiating anti-tumor immunity. This review systematically delineates the biogenesis and molecular composition of EVs, with a particular emphasis on their dynamic regulatory functions within the TME. Specifically, we discuss how EVs mediate intricate crosstalk between immune and tumor cells, facilitating signal transfer that reshapes immune surveillance. For instance, TDEVs can induce macrophage polarization toward an M2-like pro-tumor phenotype, while also suppressing natural killer cell cytotoxicity and dendritic cell maturation. The clinical utility of EV-associated biomarkers in liquid biopsy is increasingly recognized. Circulating EVs carry tumor-specific molecular signatures that mirror the genetic and proteomic alterations of primary tumors, enabling non-invasive early diagnosis, molecular subtyping, and real-time monitoring of therapeutic responses. Their natural biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and intrinsic ability to traverse biological barriers make them ideal candidates for drug delivery systems. This review explores cutting-edge applications, including the use of EVs in immune checkpoint blockade therapy—for instance, engineered EVs displaying anti-PD-1 antibodies or carrying siRNA to silence immunosuppressive genes. Moreover, EV-based tumor vaccines are being developed, leveraging dendritic cell-derived EVs loaded with tumor antigens to elicit potent T cell responses. The feasibility of loading EVs with therapeutic molecules such as chemotherapeutic agents, oncolytic viruses, or CRISPR-Cas9 components is also under active investigation. The advent of engineered EVs has further expanded their therapeutic potential. Through surface modification or cargo encapsulation, EVs can be tailored for targeted delivery and controlled release, enhancing precision immunotherapy. However, several hurdles impede clinical translation. Current isolation and purification methods, such as ultracentrifugation and size-exclusion chromatography, suffer from low yield and purity. Distinguishing EV subpopulations remains technically challenging due to overlapping size and marker expression. Moreover, the lack of standardized protocols for EV production, characterization, and quality control poses significant barriers to regulatory approval and clinical adoption. Looking forward, the convergence of multi-omics technologies with artificial intelligence offers a powerful approach to decipher EV heterogeneity and identify robust diagnostic signatures. Machine learning algorithms can integrate proteomic, transcriptomic, and lipidomic data from large patient cohorts to construct predictive models for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Concurrently, advances in bioengineering are enabling the design of next-generation EVs with enhanced targeting specificity, on-demand drug release, and reduced off-target effects. Future efforts should also focus on establishing good manufacturing practice (GMP)‑compliant production processes and conducting rigorous preclinical and clinical evaluations. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive overview of EV biology, their multifaceted roles in the TME, and their transformative potential in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. By addressing current challenges and leveraging emerging technologies, EV-based strategies are poised to revolutionize precision oncology.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Chaihu anxin capsules in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression， analyze the influencing factors of its efficacy, construct a nomogram prediction model.METHODS Patients with mild-to-moderate depression treated at The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from May 1， 2023 to March 10， 2025 were retrospectively included and categorized into Chaihu anxin capsules group and milnacipran group according to treatment regimen. Propensity score matching （PSM） was used to balance baseline characteristics， and treatment efficacy was compared after 8 weeks， including 24 Hamilton Depression Scale （HAMD-24） scores and changes， Hamilton Anxiety Scale （HAMA） scores and changes， and treatment response rate after 8 weeks of treatment. Patients receiving Chaihu anxin capsules were further classified as responders or non-responders based on the occurrence of treatment response. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the influencing factors of treatment response， and a nomogram model was constructed to predict the probability of treatment response， its predictive performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curves， calibration curves， and decision curve analysis.RESULTS A total of 297 patients were included before PSM， including 196 patients in the Chaihu anxin capsules group and 101 patients in the milnacipran group. After PSM， each group included 44 patients. After PSM， the HAMD-24 scores and HAMA scores at 8 weeks after treatment in the Chaihu anxin capsules group， as well as the HAMD-24 scores in the milnacipran group， were significantly lower than their respective baseline values （ P ＜0.05）； the change in HAMA score in the Chaihu anxin capsules group was significantly greater than that in the milnacipran group （ P ＝0.04）. Multivariable Logistic regression identified age， total bilirubin， and baseline HAMD-24 score as independent predictors of treatment response （ P ＜0.05）. The area under the ROC curve of the constructed nomogram prediction model was 0.72 （95% confidence interval： 0.637-0.799）， and the corrected Brier score was 0.143 （95% confidence interval： 0.112-0.176）； compared with the “all intervention” and “all non intervention” strategies， applying this nomogram prediction model could achieve higher net benefits within the threshold probability range of 8% to 37%.CONCLUSIONS The efficacy of Chaihu anxin capsules in improving mild-to-moderate depression is comparable to that of milnacipran， and it has certain advantages in improving anxiety symptoms； age， total bilirubin， and baseline HAMD-24 score are independent influencing factors for the treatment response of Chaihu anxin capsules. The nomogram prediction model constructed based on these factors has good discrimination， calibration， and clinical applicability.

To analyze the clinical and genetic features of oculopharyngodistal myopathy (OPDM) patients and compare the phenotypic differences among various causative genes.

Against the backdrop of the transformation of the medical model towards the “bio-psycho-social” comprehensive model， strengthening the cultivation of doctor-patient communication capabilities among medical students has become an urgent task for medical education reform. Based on teaching model theory， this paper systematically analyzed specific problems existing in the “doctor-patient communication” course in terms of course positioning， the integration degree of teaching content， the scientific nature of evaluation methods， and the disconnection between students’ cognition and practice. Closely combining the humanistic concepts such as “a master physician must have superb skill and sincerity” and “medicine is a benevolent art” in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） as well as its diagnosis and treatment characteristics， this paper also constructed a “doctor-patient communication” course teaching model suitable for undergraduate students majoring in TCM from eight dimensions， encompassing course objectives， course types， course arrangement， course instructors， teaching environment， course content， teaching methods， and teaching evaluation. Through teaching practice and questionnaire surveys， it verified the rationality， feasibility， and effectiveness of this model in improving students’ doctor-patient communication capabilities， as well as in enhancing their professional identity and humanistic literacy， aiming to provide theoretical support and practical suggestions for improving the teaching quality of the course.

OBJECTIVE To develop evidence-based clinical practice recommendations for the use of hemostatic drugs in special populations， so as to improve the efficacy and safety of medication.METHODS Led by the Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital， a working group of 79 experts covering clinical pharmacy， obstetrics and gynecology， pediatrics and other fields was established. Clinical questions regarding the efficacy and safety of hemostatic drugs in special populations were screened through literature review and two rounds of Delphi questionnaire surveys. Intervention questions were structured using the population， intervention， comparison， and outcome framework， while management questions were additionally described using the population， clinical setting, management measure， and outcome framework. Databases including Medline， Embase， Cochrane Library， CNKI， Wanfang Data， and VIP were systematically searched to collect and screen relevant evidence. Recommendations were formulated through recommendation questionnaire surveys and expert consensus meetings， and the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations were graded according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment， Development and Evaluation system. RESULTS &CONCLUSIONS A total of 8 clinical questions were finally determined， the consensus rates of all clinical questions and recommendations were more than 90%， and 8 recommendations on the use of hemostatic drugs in special populations were formulated. These recommendations cover special populations including children， women during pregnancy/puerperium/lactation， the elderly， patients with hepatic impairment， patients in the perioperative period of liver transplantation， patients with renal impairment/on dialysis/in the perioperative period of kidney transplantation， immunocompromised patients， and patients with hematological diseases. The recommendations specify the applicable scenarios， dose adjustment principles， monitoring indicators， and safety management strategies of hemostatic drugs in different special populations， which can provide a reference for the clinical application of hemostatic drugs in special populations and help clinicians and pharmacists develop individualized medication plans.

This paper reported a type 1 diabetes patient who had severe diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy, hypertension, and hypothyroidism before pregnancy. The patient's blood glucose control was poor before pregnancy, and the complications were not properly treated. This was an unintended pregnancy, with a pre-pregnancy glycated hemoglobin A1c of 7.8% and early pregnancy urine protein of 3.81-4.53 g/24 h. Considering the patient's poor blood glucose control before pregnancy and the lack of proper treatment for multiple complications including nephropathy, a multidisciplinary consultation at an external hospital recommended termination of the pregnancy. However, the patient was determined to continue the pregnancy and was referred to Peking University First Hospital. Through strict blood glucose control, monitoring and evaluation of complications, and comprehensive management, the patient's blood glucose and blood pressure were well controlled during pregnancy. Regular monitoring of urine protein, renal function, and ocular fundus was conducted. At 31 weeks and 4 days of gestation, the patient's 24-hour urine protein significantly increased. After promoting fetal lung maturity, a cesarean section was performed at 34 weeks and 1 day of gestation, resulting in a successful delivery with good maternal and neonatal outcomes. At the 42-day postpartum follow-up, the patient's blood glucose and blood pressure were stable, urine protein returned to pre-pregnancy levels, and the infant was in good general condition.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) remains a leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), driven by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Current therapies targeting glycemic and blood pressure control fail to address the underlying molecular mechanisms of DN. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of andrographolide (AD), a diterpenoid lactone from Andrographis paniculata, in mitigating DN by modulating key molecular pathways. Through integrative network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vivo/in vitro experiments, 107 overlapping DN-related targets were identified, with STAT3, PI3K, and AKT1 emerging as core nodes. Molecular docking revealed high binding affinities between AD and these targets, supporting its modulatory potential. In vivo, AD significantly improved renal function in streptozotocin-induced DN rats, reducing proteinuria, glomerular hypertrophy, and renal fibrosis. AD also attenuated oxidative stress, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, demonstrating systemic anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects. In vitro studies further confirmed that AD alleviates podocyte oxidative stress and apoptosis under high glucose conditions by suppressing the RAGE-NF-κB and STAT3/PI3K/Akt pathways. Histological analyses revealed substantial improvements in renal architecture, including reductions in fibrosis and mesangial expansion. These results underscore AD’s multi-target mechanism, directly addressing DN’s core pathological drivers, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. As a natural compound with notable safety and efficacy, AD holds promise as an adjunct or standalone therapeutic agent for DN. This study establishes a robust preclinical foundation for AD, warranting further exploration in clinical trials and its potential application in other diabetic complications.