Triptolide （TP）， the core active component of the traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii ， exhibits remarkable pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory， immunosuppressive and anti-tumor effects， and holds broad application prospects in the treatment of major diseases such as autoimmune diseases and malignant tumors. However， TP has a narrow therapeutic window and causes multi-organ toxicities including liver， kidney and reproductive toxicities， which severely restrict its safe clinical application and new drug development. Therefore， toxicity reduction and efficacy enhancement has become a core scientific problem urgently to be solved in this field. This paper systematically reviews the four core strategies for TP toxicity reduction and efficacy enhancement， including structural modification， dosage form improvement， herbal compatibility， and external therapies of traditional Chinese medicine. Among them， structural modification optimizes the toxic and efficacy characteristics of TP from the molecular structure level， with typica l derivatives including （5 R ）-5-hydroxy triptolide， ZT01， PG490-88， etc. Dosage form modification achieves toxicity reduction and efficacy enhancement via targeted and sustained-controlled drug release of diverse delivery systems. It includes triptolide preparations such as nanoparticles， liposomes， microemulsion gels and liquid crystals， possessing favorable clinical transformation potential. The herbal compatibility and external therapies of traditional Chinese medicine conform to the holistic view of traditional Chinese medicine and have a profound clinical application foundation， but their mechanisms of action are insufficiently elucidated， and they lack unified standardized specifications and high-quality evidence-based proof. In the future， we should rely on multi-omics technology to elucidate the toxic and efficacy mechanisms， integrate technologies to optimize preparations， improve the evaluation system and promote clinical transformation.

Background: Adrenocortical hormones, particularly 11-oxygenated androgens, are pivotal in female reproductive health and fertility. Standardized detection kits and population-specific reference intervals are lacking in China, hindering related clinical applications. Methods: A HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) pipeline was developed, rigorously validated, and applied to simultaneously quantify corticosterone, cortisone, cortisol, 18-OH cortisol, androstenedione (A4), 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OH A4), dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum samples from 455 reproductive-aged women (18–45 yrs) in Guangxi, China. Age-dependent concentration trends were analyzed, and reference intervals stratified by age (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles) were established. Correlations with body-composition metrics, ethnicity, and the menstrual cycle were investigated. Results: The HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated high precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs < 15%), accuracy, and sensitivity. All eight hormones exhibited significant age-related declines (P < 0.001 for seven hormones; P = 0.001 for 11-OH A4). Notably, 11-OH A4 levels were significantly lower in the 35–45-yr (3.05 nmol/L) and 25–34-yr (3.09 nmol/L) age groups than in the 18–24-yr (3.57 nmol/L) age group, whereas no significant difference was observed between the 35–45-yr and 25–34-yr age groups. Weak negative correlations were observed between the body mass index and corticosterone and cortisone levels, whereas ethnicity and the menstrual cycle showed no significant associations with hormone levels. Conclusions We developed an HPLC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneously quantifying eight adrenocortical hormones, including 11-OH A4, and defined age-specific reference intervals for reproductive-aged Chinese women. These findings advance the clinical utility of adrenocortical hormones in diagnosing and managing reproductive disorders.

Autoimmune hepatitis （AIH） is a chronic inflammatory liver disease mediated by T lymphocytes， and it can progress to liver cirrhosis or even liver failure without timely intervention. As a natural flavonoid compound， naringenin （NAR） shows a potential value in the prevention and treatment of AIH through multiple mechanisms such as remodeling immune homeostasis， targeted inhibition of inflammatory pathways， antioxidation， regulating hepatocyte metabolism and apoptosis， improving mitochondrial function， and regulating intestinal flora. However， the clinical translation and application of NAR is limited by issues such as low bioavailability and insufficient efficiency of liver-targeted delivery. This article systematically reviews the mechanism of action of NAR in the prevention and treatment of AIH， explores the potential signaling pathways involved in this process， and analyzes existing challenges in its translation and application and future research directions， so as to provide a reference for further research on NAR and its application in the prevention and treatment of AIH.

The core pathogenesis of childhood IgA vasculitis nephritis （IgAVN） lies in the intermingled conditions of heat， stasis and deficiency. Deficiency is the fundamental cause， while heat acts as the predominant manifestation at the initial stage， and stasis serves as the key factor leading to protracted illness. Based on this understanding， the overall therapeutic principle of clearing heat and cooling blood， dissolving stasis and unblocking collaterals， reinforcing healthy qi and consolidating the root is established. A self-formulated Qingre Zhixue Formula （清热止血方） is used as the basic prescription. According to the characteristics of different disease stages， childhood IgAVN is further classified into three main syndrome types， including blood heat with stasis obstruction， deficiency of both qi and yin， and deficiency of both spleen and kidney， with corresponding syndrome-based treatments. Throughout the treatment process， emphasis is placed on dissolving stasis and unblocking collaterals， while protecting the spleen and stomach of children and maintaining healthy qi. This paper provides new perspectives for diagnosis and treatment of childhood IgAVN with traditional Chinese medicine.

To assess the current status of early surgical site infections following prosthetic implantation in plastic surgery across four provincial-level administrative regions in China, and to explore the effectiveness of standardized training for infection prevention and control.

The core pathogenesis of childhood IgA vasculitis nephritis （IgAVN） lies in the intermingled conditions of heat， stasis and deficiency. Deficiency is the fundamental cause， while heat acts as the predominant manifestation at the initial stage， and stasis serves as the key factor leading to protracted illness. Based on this understanding， the overall therapeutic principle of clearing heat and cooling blood， dissolving stasis and unblocking collaterals， reinforcing healthy qi and consolidating the root is established. A self-formulated Qingre Zhixue Formula （清热止血方） is used as the basic prescription. According to the characteristics of different disease stages， childhood IgAVN is further classified into three main syndrome types， including blood heat with stasis obstruction， deficiency of both qi and yin， and deficiency of both spleen and kidney， with corresponding syndrome-based treatments. Throughout the treatment process， emphasis is placed on dissolving stasis and unblocking collaterals， while protecting the spleen and stomach of children and maintaining healthy qi. This paper provides new perspectives for diagnosis and treatment of childhood IgAVN with traditional Chinese medicine.

Background: s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated. Methods: In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs. Results: Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment. Conclusions We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.

Macrophages are innate immune cells connected with the development of inflammation. Retinoic acid has previously been proved to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. However, the exact mechanism through which retinoic acid modulates arthritis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether retinoic acid ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis by modulating macrophage polarization. This study used retinoic acid to treat mice with adjuvant arthritis and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects by arthritis score, thermal nociceptive sensitization test, histopathologic examination and immunofluorescence assays. In addition, its specific anti-arthritic mechanism was investigated by flow cytometry, cell transfection and inflammatory signaling pathway assays in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Retinoic acid significantly relieved joint pain and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in mice. Furthermore, this treatment modulated peritoneal macrophage polarization, increased levels of arginase 1, as well as decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. In vitro, we verified that retinoic acid promotes macrophage transition from the M1 to M2 type by upregulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) expression and inhibiting P38, JNK and ERK phosphorylation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Notably, the therapeutic effects of retinoic acid were inhibited by MKP-1 knockdown. Retinoic acid exerts a significant therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis in mice by regulating macrophage polarization through the MKP-1/MAPK pathway, and play an important role in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Macrophages are innate immune cells connected with the development of inflammation. Retinoic acid has previously been proved to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. However, the exact mechanism through which retinoic acid modulates arthritis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether retinoic acid ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis by modulating macrophage polarization. This study used retinoic acid to treat mice with adjuvant arthritis and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects by arthritis score, thermal nociceptive sensitization test, histopathologic examination and immunofluorescence assays. In addition, its specific anti-arthritic mechanism was investigated by flow cytometry, cell transfection and inflammatory signaling pathway assays in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Retinoic acid significantly relieved joint pain and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in mice. Furthermore, this treatment modulated peritoneal macrophage polarization, increased levels of arginase 1, as well as decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. In vitro, we verified that retinoic acid promotes macrophage transition from the M1 to M2 type by upregulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) expression and inhibiting P38, JNK and ERK phosphorylation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Notably, the therapeutic effects of retinoic acid were inhibited by MKP-1 knockdown. Retinoic acid exerts a significant therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis in mice by regulating macrophage polarization through the MKP-1/MAPK pathway, and play an important role in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Objective:To investigate the perioperative safety, short-term and long-term efficacy, and surgical strategy of laparoscopic partial gastrectomy for gastrointestinal stromal tumors at the esophagogastric junction.Methods:Seventy-eight patients with mesenchymal tumors in the esophagogastric junction were retrospectively enrolled from September 2018 to August 2023 in which the upper edge of the tumor is less than 2 cm from the Z-line or has invaded the Z-line <1/2 circumference. There were 31 males (39.7%) and 47 females (60.3%), with an average age of (57.2±11.8) years and an average body mass index of (24.5±3.5) kg/m 2. All cases were divided into the wedge resection (WR) group ( n=51) and the resection by opening all of the layers of the stomach wall (RASW) group ( n=27) according to the surgical methods. Surgical outcomes, complications, recover and postoperative gastroesophageal reflux of both groups were compared. The measurement data with a normal distribution were represented by mean±standard deviation ( ± s), and values were compared using the independent sample t-test. The measurement data with a skewed distribution were represented by median (interquartile range) [ M( Q1, Q3)], and values were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were expressed as examples (percentages) [ n(%)], and the χ2 test was used to compare countable data. A non-parametric test was used to compare the grade data. Results:The WR group had shorter operation time [(97.1±32.6) min vs (149.9±54.9) min, t=-5.33, P<0.001], less intraoperative blood loss [15(10, 20) mL vs 20(10, 50) mL, z=-2.47, P=0.014], shorter postoperative exhaust time [2(1, 3) d vs 3(2, 3) d, z=-2.49, P=0.013], shorter postoperative oral intake time [2(2, 3) d vs 4(2, 5) d, t=-3.70, P<0.001], shorter postoperative semi-liquid diet time[5(4, 6) d vs 7(5, 8) d, z=-3.57, P<0.001], and shorter postoperative hospital stay [5(4, 6) d vs 7(6, 8) d, z=-4.16, P<0.001] than the RASW group, with statistically significant differences. There was no significant difference in short-term (≤30 days) complications between the two groups (2.0% vs 3.7%, z=-0.46, P=0.648). No cases of cardia stenosis occurred in either group. In the WR group, 3 patients developed gastroesophageal reflux at 6 months postoperatively, with 2 patients relieved after taking acid-suppressing drugs and 1 patient not completely relieved. In the RASW group, 1 patient developed gastroesophageal reflux at 6 months postoperatively and was not completely relieved after taking acid-suppressing drugs. No other patients had gastroesophageal reflux. No other patients have gastroesophageal reflux. Conclusions:WR and RASW are safe and feasible for mesenchymal tumors at the esophagogastric junction in which the upper edge of the tumor is less than 2 cm from the Z-line or has invaded the Z-line <1/2 circumference, and has achieved an excellent short-term effect. The choice of surgical approach can be determined based on varions factors such as the location of the tumor, the relationship of the position between the tumor and the cardia, and whether the tumor is exophytic growth.