Objective To systematically review international research on health communication, and to provide valuable insights and reference for China's health communication research and practice. Methods This study included 693 articles published from January 2023 to April 2024 in two authoritative academic journals in the field of health communication, ^“Health Communication^” and the ^“Journal of Health Communication^”. A systematic review was conducted on the themes, theoretical foundations, research methods, and populations of international health communication research. Results The findings in this study revealed that international health communication research topics were diverse, with hotspots including social media, health information behavior, health misinformation, stigmatization, trust, and risk perception. The results showed that 34% of the articles were based on theoretical foundations, and 93.3% employed research methods, focusing on adolescents, parents, women, and other key populations. Conclusion Domestic health communication research can expand its perspective from ^“information transmission^” to ^“social interaction^”, innovate theories and methods from ^“single paradigm" to ^“multi-integration^” and shift focus from a ^“mass perspective^” to ^“targeted care^” for the health of all populations. Domestic health communication practice can delve into the localization of social media health communication practices, the comprehensive management of health misinformation, and the critical application of new technologies.

Background: Sex-based differences often influence the therapeutic efficacy and safety of medications. Semen Cuscutae is a traditional tonic botanical drug with sex-specific characteristics, traditionally indicated for conditions such as impotence (exclusive to males) and restless fetus (exclusive to pregnant females). However, most existing studies have focused on a single sex. Objective: To evaluate the sex-specific biological effects of Semen Cuscutae in rats and explore its molecular mechanisms, with the aim of uncovering its pharmacological characteristics through a multiomics approach. Methods: A traditional aqueous extract of Semen Cuscutae (SCA) was used as the experimental material. Forty adult Sprague-Dawley rats (equal numbers of males and females) were randomly divided into 4 groups: male control, male SCA treatment (240 mg/kg), female control, and female SCA treatment (240 mg/kg), with 10 rats in each group. The biological effects were comprehensively evaluated using a combination of open field test, biochemical analyses, proteomics, and gut microbiota profiling. Results: As a tonic botanical drug, SCA appeared to directly affect the mental and behavioral state of rats. It significantly altered the time spent by rats in the center area during the open field test, showing a sex-dependent reversal of behaviors. Proteomic analysis of brain tissue identified 624 differentially expressed proteins across the groups, with 10 key differentially expressed proteins related to sex differences, including fibroblast growth factor receptor 3, transcription elongation factor A protein-like 1, 40S ribosomal protein S25, neural cell adhesion molecule, and anion exchange protein 2 (SLC4A2). Enrichment analysis revealed that in male rats, SCA upregulated proteins involved in biological processes such as ribosome function and energy derivation, supporting protein synthesis and enhancing energy supply, showing an overall gain effect. In contrast, in female rats, SCA downregulated proteins associated with processes such as positive regulation of target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling and vesicle transport, suggesting suppression of neuronal signaling and material transport, indicative of a shift toward a more restrained physiological state. Furthermore, SCA reduced gut microbiota diversity in female rats but increased it in males, including the abundance of Akkermansia, which may serve as a crucial mediator. Conclusion: Overall, the biological effects of SCA differ significantly between male and female rats, with evidence suggesting greater health benefits in males. These findings help elucidate the scientific basis of its traditional applications and provide guidance for the precise application of SCA as a functional health food.

Constipation is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder with a global prevalence of approximately 10％to 20％.Its causes include functional disorders,organic diseases,and drug factors,with the majority being functional constipation.In recent years,driven by advancements in biomedicine,artificial intelligence(AI),and microbiome research,significant progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of constipation.This review systematically explores the latest developments in constipation treatment,including the role of the gut microbiota in constipation,the metabolic regulatory effects of short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs),the impact of mental factors on intestinal motility.Additionally,it discusses future development directions such as AI-assisted diagnosis,AI-based consultation systems,personalized microbiota transplantation,and minimally invasive neuromodulation,providing new insights for precision medicine in constipation.

This study explored whether Astragalus polysaccharide(APS)can regulate the VEGF/VEGFR signaling pathway to affect the proliferative activity of rat intestinal mucosal microvascu-lar endothelial cells(RIMMVECs).RIMMVECs were isolated from newborn rats,then purified and treated with APS at concentrations of 0.1,1.0,10.0,100.0,1 000.0,and 10 000.0 mg/L.MTT was used to determine the effect of APS on RIMMVECs proliferation and screen for the optimal concentration of APS.Subsequently,flow cytometry was used to detect the changes in cell cycle to evaluate the stage of action of APS on the cell cycle in RIMMVECs.Then,the ELISA was used to detect the changes of VEGFA in cell supernatant to evaluate the potential of cell proliferation and angiogenesis.The changes in fluorescence intensity of Fluo-8AM was observed using fluorescence microscopy to evaluate intracellular Ca2+levels.Finally,Western blot was used to detect the ex-pression of PERK in RIMMVECs to analyze the possible mechanism of APS.The results showed that 100 mg/L APS significantly enhanced the proliferative activity of RIMMVECs,increased the content of VEGFA in the cell supernatant,the intracellular Ca2+levels,and the expression of PERK protein,indicating that APS promotes the proliferation of RIMMVECs,which may be a-chieved by promoting the expression of VEGFA and activating the ERK pathway.

High-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC) is associated with a higher risk of recurrence and progression. The standard treatment involves intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation following transurethral resection of the bladder cancer. However, in cases of BCG unresponsiveness, radical cystectomy is typically recommended. Due to the high complication rates and significant impact on quality of life associated with this procedure, bladder-preserving treatment (BPT) strategies have emerged as an alternative. This review summarizes recent advances in BPT, including combined chemoradiotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapies, localized precision treatments, and novel immunomodulators. With ongoing technological and therapeutic innovations, BPT has become an effective alternative for patients who are unable or unwilling to undergo surgery, reshaping the treatment landscape of HR-NMIBC.

Objective To analyze ancient prescriptions for knee osteoarthritis(KOA),and explore their application patterns,for providing clinical reference value.Methods Prescriptions were collected from ancient documents,and a database was created by using Excel 2016 for frequency analysis.Association rules and hidden structures were analyzed by using SPSS Modeler 18.0 and Lantern 5.0.Results A total of 373 prescriptions and 421 herbs were collected,with 3894 times of frequency of medication.Danggui was the most frequently used herb.Herbs primarily tonified deficiencies,relieved exterior symptoms,and expelled wind-dampness,with warm properties and pungent,sweet,or bitter tastes,mainly targeting the spleen and kidney meridians.Thirteen strong association rules were identified,including Chuanxiong+Niuxi-Danggui,and Bixie-Niuxi.Hidden structure analysis revealed 10 variables,leading to 4 clusters and 4 core prescriptions.Common syndromes included wind-damp,wind-cold-damp,wind-damp-heat,and qi-blood deficiency.Conclusion The treatment of KOA in ancient literature focuses on dispelling wind and removing dampness,taking into account both positive deficiency and evil excess,flexible use of tonifying spleen and kidney,clearing dampness-heat,tonifying Qi and blood and other drugs.

[Purpose]To analyze the incidence and mortality of liver cancer in Fusui County of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in 2019 and the trend of change from 201 1 to 2019.[Meth-ods]Based on the incidence and mortality data of liver cancer in Fusui County from 2011 to 2019,the crude incidence rate,crude mortality rate,age-standardized rate by Chinese standard population(ASIRC/ASMRC),age-standardized rate by world standard population(ASMRW/ASM-RW),disability-adjusted life years(DALY),years of life lost(YLL),years of lived with disability(YLD)were calculated.The Joinpoint linear regression model was used to calculate the average annual percentage change(AAPC)of the ASIRC/ASMRC and DALY rate of liver cancer in Fusui County from 2011 to 2019.[Results]In 2019,there were 345 new cases and 298 deaths of liver cancer in Fusui County,accounting for 28.49％and 35.86％of all new cases and death cases of malignant tumors in Fusui County,respectively.The crude incidence rate,ASIRC and ASIRW were 74.71/105,67.55/105 and 65.63/105,respectively;the crude mortality rate,ASMRC and ASMRW were 64.53/105,58.78/105 and 56.88/105,respectively.In 2019,ASIRC/ASMRC of men were higher than those of women(105.32/105 and 95.67/105 for men;27.26/105 and 19.11/105 for women).The peak incidence and mortality rates were in the 65～69 and 80～84 age groups,re-spectively.The incidence rate of liver cancer in Fusui County declined from 82.50/105 in 2011 to 67.55/105 in 2019,with an AAPC of-3.01％(P=0.024),but the mortality rate did not have sig-nificant changes(AAPC=-1.44％,P=0.224).The rate of DALY decreased from 14.51/105 to 10.36/105,with an AAPC of-2.82％(P=0.050).[Conclusion]The incidence rate and DALY rate of liv-er cancer in Fusui County showed an overall decreasing trend from 2011 to 2019,but still re-mained at a high level.It is necessary to further strengthen the prevention,screening and early treatment of liver cancer in this region,especially for men and the elderly.

Objective To investigate the potential core target and its mechanism of Simiao San(SMS)in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)using network pharmacology and animal experiments.Methods Active components and corresponding SMS targets were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP)and cross-referenced with the Universal Protein(UniProt)database.RA-related targets were screened from The Human Gene Database(GeneCards),Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM),Therapeutic Target Database(TTD),DrugBank,and Disease Gene Network(DisGeNet).Protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks were constructed for shared targets between SMS and RA using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins(STRING),followed by Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analyses via The Database for Annotation,Visualization and Integrated Discovery(DAVID).A"herb active component-disease target-signaling pathway"network was established to predict the mechanism of SMS in RA treatment.Molecular docking was performed between aryl hydrocarbon receptor(AHR)and the core active components of SMS to identify AHR-targeting constituents.For animal experiments,30 female SPF-grade C57/BL mice were randomly divided into normal,model,methotrexate(1.52 mg/kg,every 3 days),and SMS(12.48 g/kg,daily)groups with a 30-day intervention.Ankle diameter and arthritis index scores were measured.HE staining was used to assess joint inflammation,whereas immunohistochemistry(IHC)was used to measure cytochrome P450 1A1(CYP1A1),nuclear factor kappa B subunit p65(p65),and phosphorylated p65(p-p65)protein expression levels.Multiplex immunofluorescence(mIHC)was used to evaluate forkhead box protein P3(FOXP3)and interleukin-17A(IL-17A)protein expression.Results Forty-one active components and 228 targets of SMS were identified from TCMSP,whereas 1,207 RA-related targets were extracted from GeneCards,OMIM,TTD,DrugBank,and DisGeNet.Ninety-four overlapping targets were analyzed,yielding 612 GO terms and 143 KEGG pathways.Molecular docking of the ligand-binding domain of AHR with the top 10 Degree values of compounds of SMS(quercetin,stigmasterol,wogonin,beta-sitosterol,kaempferol,baicalein,et al.)revealed that stigmasterol,beta-sitosterol,(S)-canadine,and isocorypalmine was able to bind to AHR stably.In vivo,compared to the model group,the mice of the SMS and methotrexate groups joint swelling and arthritis index scores reduced(P<0.01).IHC indicated elevated CYP1A1 protein and decreased p65 and p-p65 protein levels in the SMS and methotrexate groups(P<0.05,P<0.01).mIHC demonstrated reduced IL-17A and increased FOXP3 protein expression in the SMS and methotrexate groups(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion SMS alleviates joint inflammation in RA mice,potentially by targeting AHR,one of the core targets.SMS may suppress excessive inflammatory responses by activating AHR and inhibiting p65 phosphorylation.Additionally,SMS modulates the helper T cells 17/regulatory T cells balance by downregulating IL-17A and upregulating FOXP3.These results suggest that AHR is a key mediator in T-cell immune regulation.

High-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC) is associated with a higher risk of recurrence and progression. The standard treatment involves intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation following transurethral resection of the bladder cancer. However, in cases of BCG unresponsiveness, radical cystectomy is typically recommended. Due to the high complication rates and significant impact on quality of life associated with this procedure, bladder-preserving treatment (BPT) strategies have emerged as an alternative. This review summarizes recent advances in BPT, including combined chemoradiotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapies, localized precision treatments, and novel immunomodulators. With ongoing technological and therapeutic innovations, BPT has become an effective alternative for patients who are unable or unwilling to undergo surgery, reshaping the treatment landscape of HR-NMIBC.

[Purpose]To analyze the incidence and mortality of liver cancer in Fusui County of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in 2019 and the trend of change from 201 1 to 2019.[Meth-ods]Based on the incidence and mortality data of liver cancer in Fusui County from 2011 to 2019,the crude incidence rate,crude mortality rate,age-standardized rate by Chinese standard population(ASIRC/ASMRC),age-standardized rate by world standard population(ASMRW/ASM-RW),disability-adjusted life years(DALY),years of life lost(YLL),years of lived with disability(YLD)were calculated.The Joinpoint linear regression model was used to calculate the average annual percentage change(AAPC)of the ASIRC/ASMRC and DALY rate of liver cancer in Fusui County from 2011 to 2019.[Results]In 2019,there were 345 new cases and 298 deaths of liver cancer in Fusui County,accounting for 28.49％and 35.86％of all new cases and death cases of malignant tumors in Fusui County,respectively.The crude incidence rate,ASIRC and ASIRW were 74.71/105,67.55/105 and 65.63/105,respectively;the crude mortality rate,ASMRC and ASMRW were 64.53/105,58.78/105 and 56.88/105,respectively.In 2019,ASIRC/ASMRC of men were higher than those of women(105.32/105 and 95.67/105 for men;27.26/105 and 19.11/105 for women).The peak incidence and mortality rates were in the 65～69 and 80～84 age groups,re-spectively.The incidence rate of liver cancer in Fusui County declined from 82.50/105 in 2011 to 67.55/105 in 2019,with an AAPC of-3.01％(P=0.024),but the mortality rate did not have sig-nificant changes(AAPC=-1.44％,P=0.224).The rate of DALY decreased from 14.51/105 to 10.36/105,with an AAPC of-2.82％(P=0.050).[Conclusion]The incidence rate and DALY rate of liv-er cancer in Fusui County showed an overall decreasing trend from 2011 to 2019,but still re-mained at a high level.It is necessary to further strengthen the prevention,screening and early treatment of liver cancer in this region,especially for men and the elderly.