This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name， origin， quality evaluation， harvesting， processing and other aspects of Picrorhizae Rhizoma by referring to the medical books， prescription books， and other documents of the past dynasties， combined with relevant modern research materials， in order to provide a basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this medicinal herb. The research results indicate that Picrorhizae Rhizoma was first recorded in New Revised Materia Medica from the Tang dynasty. Throughout history， Huhuanglian has been used as its official name， and there are also aliases such as Gehu Luze， Jiahuanglian and Hulian. The main source of past dynasties is the the rhizomes of Picrorhiza kurrooa and P. scrophulariiflora. In ancient times， Picrorhizae Rhizoma was mainly imported by foreign traders via Guangzhou and other regions， and also produced in China， mainly in Xizang. In ancient times， it was harvested and dried in early August of the lunar calendar， while in modern times， it is mostly harvested from July to September， with the best quality being those with thick and crispy rhizomes without impurities， and bitter taste. Throughout history， Picrorhizae Rhizoma was collected， washed， sliced， and dried before being used as a raw material for medicine， it has a bitter and cold taste， mainly used to treat bone steaming， hot flashes， infantile chancre fever， and dysentery. There is no significant difference in taste and efficacy between ancient and modern times. Based on the research results， it is recommended that the rhizomes of P. scrophulariiflora in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia， or the rhizomes of P. kurrooa， can be used in famous classical formulas containing this medicinal herb， which can be processed according to the processing requirements marked by the original formula. For those without clear processing requirements， the dried raw products are used as medicine.

Objective To explore the relationship between plasma trimethylamine N-oxide(TMAO)level and atrial fibrillation(AF)by a clinical trial.Methods Totally 257 patients with AF were enrolled including 114 patients with paroxysmal AF and 143 with persistent AF.The control group had 122 non-AF patients;Plasma TMAO level,the demographic characteristics and clinical data of patients were collected.Regression analysis was performed to identify the association between TMAO and presence of AF.Results Plasma TMAO level of patients with AF was higher than that of patients without AF(3.9[2.4-5.9]vs.2.4[1.6-3.7]μmol/L,P＜0.001);Even after adjust-ment of confounding factors including age,hypertension,diabetes,heart failure and body mass index;Plasma TMAO level was still related to presence of AF(OR:1.290,95％CI:1.151-1.445;P＜0.001).The plasma TMAO level of patients with persistent AF was higher than that of patients with paroxysmal AF(4.4[2.8-6.8]vs.3.2[2.2-5.0]μmol/L,P＜0.01);Even after adjustment of confounding factors including age,hypertension,diabetes and heart failure and coronary heart disease;Plasma TMAO level was still related to persistent AF(OR:1.092,95％CI:1.009-1.182;P=0.029).Conclusions The level of plasma TMAO of patients with AF is higher than that of patients without AF.Elevated plasma TMAO level is related to an increased risk of AF.Elevated plasma TMAO level in patients with AF is related to an increased risk of persistent AF.

Objective:To study the feasibility of detecting vertical semicircular canal function and to analyze the three-dimensional(3D)characteristics and normal reference value in healthy young people.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study conducted from January to June 2024. A three-axis rotating chair was used to perform vertical sinusoidal rotation on 52 healthy young adults (26 males and 26 females, aged 18-40 years) in the left anterior-right posterior (LARP) and right anterior-left posterior (RALP) semicircular canal planes. For each plane, nystagmus was induced with six combinations of different angles and velocity front and back rotation angles of ±30°,±60°,±90°, and velocities of 40°/s and 80°/s, the slow phase velocity (SPV) and their symmetry of 3D nystagmus were analyzed. SPSS 20.0 was used to compare the statistical differences in these two parameters across different stimulation protocols.Results:There were no spontaneous nystagmus in the 52 subjects, and all tests were finished. Except the combinations of (±30°-40°/s), three components of nystagmus were induced stably in the rest of the stimulations. The SPVs of vertical components were no statistically insignificant ( P>0.05), and some horizontal or torsion components were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The 95% reference range of the symmetry was≤25% in the vertical and≤30% in the torsional component of the nystagmus except for (±30°-80°/s), the symmetry was 32.2% and 49.2% respectively. The trend changes of the three components were consistent, among which the vertical and torsional components induced by (±60°-80°/s) and (±90°-80°/s) were the best, the SPV value of the vertical components was higher in the latter group than the former apart from the front RALP, while no significant difference was found in the torsional components ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The (±90°-80°/s) combination is the optimal method to detect the function of vertical semicircular canal in 3D chair test. When observing torsional component, the combining scheme of (±60°-80°/s) and (±90°-80°/s) is better. Considering tolerance, the (±60°-80°/s) combination is recommended.

Objective To explore an epileptic seizure prediction method for patients with refractory epilepsy to improve the classification and prediction efficiency of epileptic electroencephalogram(EEG)signals.Methods The study used the long-term EEG database of patients with intractable epilepsy from Children's Hospital Boston(CHB-MIT).The EEG features of epileptic seizures and preictal periods were extracted from multiple dimensions such as EEG synchronization,complexity,and energy distribution,and then these features were input into the artificial neural network model for classification and identification,thereby achieving accurate prediction of epilepsy.The performance were optimized by adjusting the model parameters,and a comparative evaluation was conducted with existing deep learning models.Results The model proposed in this study showed an accuracy rate of 99.29％,a precision of 91.44％,a sensitivity of 96.46％,and a specificity of 99.46％.Compared with current epilepsy seizure prediction studies based on machine learning or deep learning frameworks,the model in this study improved its classification prediction capabilities and demonstrated higher prediction accuracy.Conclusion An effective prediction of epileptic seizures was achieved by manually extracting epileptic EEG features and constructing an artificial neural network model.The model demonstrated high accuracy and stability,providing reliable technique to support clinical treatment and prevention of epilepsy.

Objective To explore an epileptic seizure prediction method for patients with refractory epilepsy to improve the classification and prediction efficiency of epileptic electroencephalogram(EEG)signals.Methods The study used the long-term EEG database of patients with intractable epilepsy from Children's Hospital Boston(CHB-MIT).The EEG features of epileptic seizures and preictal periods were extracted from multiple dimensions such as EEG synchronization,complexity,and energy distribution,and then these features were input into the artificial neural network model for classification and identification,thereby achieving accurate prediction of epilepsy.The performance were optimized by adjusting the model parameters,and a comparative evaluation was conducted with existing deep learning models.Results The model proposed in this study showed an accuracy rate of 99.29％,a precision of 91.44％,a sensitivity of 96.46％,and a specificity of 99.46％.Compared with current epilepsy seizure prediction studies based on machine learning or deep learning frameworks,the model in this study improved its classification prediction capabilities and demonstrated higher prediction accuracy.Conclusion An effective prediction of epileptic seizures was achieved by manually extracting epileptic EEG features and constructing an artificial neural network model.The model demonstrated high accuracy and stability,providing reliable technique to support clinical treatment and prevention of epilepsy.

Objective:To study the feasibility of detecting vertical semicircular canal function and to analyze the three-dimensional(3D)characteristics and normal reference value in healthy young people.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study conducted from January to June 2024. A three-axis rotating chair was used to perform vertical sinusoidal rotation on 52 healthy young adults (26 males and 26 females, aged 18-40 years) in the left anterior-right posterior (LARP) and right anterior-left posterior (RALP) semicircular canal planes. For each plane, nystagmus was induced with six combinations of different angles and velocity front and back rotation angles of ±30°,±60°,±90°, and velocities of 40°/s and 80°/s, the slow phase velocity (SPV) and their symmetry of 3D nystagmus were analyzed. SPSS 20.0 was used to compare the statistical differences in these two parameters across different stimulation protocols.Results:There were no spontaneous nystagmus in the 52 subjects, and all tests were finished. Except the combinations of (±30°-40°/s), three components of nystagmus were induced stably in the rest of the stimulations. The SPVs of vertical components were no statistically insignificant ( P>0.05), and some horizontal or torsion components were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The 95% reference range of the symmetry was≤25% in the vertical and≤30% in the torsional component of the nystagmus except for (±30°-80°/s), the symmetry was 32.2% and 49.2% respectively. The trend changes of the three components were consistent, among which the vertical and torsional components induced by (±60°-80°/s) and (±90°-80°/s) were the best, the SPV value of the vertical components was higher in the latter group than the former apart from the front RALP, while no significant difference was found in the torsional components ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The (±90°-80°/s) combination is the optimal method to detect the function of vertical semicircular canal in 3D chair test. When observing torsional component, the combining scheme of (±60°-80°/s) and (±90°-80°/s) is better. Considering tolerance, the (±60°-80°/s) combination is recommended.

Objective:To identify the differentially expressed proteins that caused hippocampal damage after liver ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods:Eighteen clean-grade healthy juvenile male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 2 weeks, weighing 20-30 g, were divided into 2 groups ( n=9 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S group) and liver I/R group (IR group). A rat model of liver I/R injury was prepared by restoring perfusion after 1 h of liver ischemia. The rats were sacrificed after being anesthetized at day 3 of reperfusion, and the hippocampal tissue was isolated and analyzed to obtain gene expression profiles. Differentially expressed genes were identified using the R software, and further protein interaction networks were constructed through Cytoscape and Kyoto Encyclopedia Genes and Genomes pathway analysis to determine the differentially expressed proteins. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used for validation. Results:A total of 45 differentially expressed proteins were identified by the proteomic analysis of hippocampal tissues, including 36 significantly up-regulated proteins and 9 significantly down-regulated proteins. The proteins with significant expression related to injury were identified from the PPI network complex using the CytoHubBA plug-in cystscape: Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate (RAC2), HRAS, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase inhibitor phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN), and N-methyl-D-aspartate ionotropic glutamate receptor 2b (GRIN2b). The results of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot showed that the expression of RAC2, HRAS, PTEN, and GRIN2b in the hippocampal tissue was significantly up-regulated in IR group compared with S group ( P<0.05). The results of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis showed that differentially expressed proteins were significantly enriched in the expression of PD-L1 and its checkpoint pathway, long-term potentiation, and regulation of the Wnt signaling pathway in cancer. Conclusions:The mechanism by which liver I/R induces hippocampal injury may be related to the up-regulation of the expression of RAC2, HRAS, PTEN and GRIN2b in rats.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of mouse nerve growth factor (mNGF) combined with rehabilitation on children with global developmental delay(GDD).Methods:It was a prospective multicenter clinical randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 120 children with GDD admitted to 5 hospitals in China from May 2020 to January 2022.They were randomly divided into mNGF group and conventional rehabilitation group using block randomization method.All children were managed by standardized rehabilitation after recruitment, and those in the mNGF group were additionally given mNGF injections.All subjects were surveyed using the Gesell Development Diagnosis Schedules(GDDS) at baseline, 90 days and 120 days after treatment, and their developmental quotient (DQ) was recorded.Clinical efficacy was analyzed by the paired t-test, rank sum test and Chi- squared test. Results:After 90 days of treatment and the continuous follow-up to 120 days, the increases in the DQ of gross motor (7.520±13.900 vs.0.450±11.459), fine motor (7.800±15.346 vs.1.250±11.581), adaptive behavior (7.730±13.428 vs.2.100±12.022) and personal-social behavior (6.780±11.651 vs.1.780±10.120) than baseline were significantly higher in mNGF group than those of conventional rehabilitation group (all P<0.05). Serious adverse events and important drug-related medical events were not reported. Conclusions:mNGF combined with rehabilitation effectively enhances the development levels of gross motor, fine motor, adaptive behavior and personal-social behavior, and continuously improves the condition of GDD in children with a high safety.

Carenoprazan has the similar structure and mechanism with the potassium-competitive blocker vonoprazan. Howerver, its safety during the pregnancy remains uncertain. To study the embryo-fetal development toxicity and toxicokinetics of carenoprazan hydrochloride via oral administration, time-mated Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups, treated with normal saline, cyclophosphamide for injection(3. 8 mg/kg), and carenoprazan hydrochloride(20, 60, 200 mg/kg), respectively. Administrated orally from gestation day(GD)6 - 15. At the termination(GD 20), pregnant dams were sacrificed, and concentrations of carenoprazan hydrochloride as well as its metabolite in plasma and issues of both maternal and fetus were examined. As a result, the body weight gain of maternal in both high(200 mg/kg)and medium(60 mg/kg)dose as well as the food consumption of high-dose were decreased during GD 10-16. At the high dose group, decrease of crown rump length of fetuses were significant. Also, skeletal malformation/variations of fetus increased obviously at both high- and medium- dosage. The toxcicokinetics of carenoprazan hydrochloride are linear after single treatment between 20-200 mg/kg. The placental barrier was penetrated by carenoprazan hydrochloride and metabolite, and the distribution of metabolite in organs were similar in both maternal and fetus, with the highest concentration in livers. Therefore might resulted in the development toxicity. The No Observed Adverse Effect Level(NOAEL)of carenoprazan hydrochloride for both maternal and fetal was 20 mg/kg.

AIM To establish an HPLC method for the simultaneous content determination of swertiamarin,gentiopicrin,swertianolin,taxifolin,silychristin,silydianin and silybin in Dangfei Liganning Capsules (Silybi Fructus and Swertiae Herba).METHODS The analysis of 75％ methanol extract of this drug was performed on a 30 ℃ thermostatic Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm,5.0 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of methanol-0.1％ formic acid flowing at 0.9 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelengths were set at 254 nm and 288 nm.RESULTS Seven constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges (r ＞ 0.999 0),whose average recoveries were 96.78％-100.45％ with the RSDs of less than 2.0％.CONCLUSION This accurate and reproducible method can be used for the rapid quality control of Dangfei Liganning Capsules.