ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Qishao capsules on renal injury in db/db mice with diabetic kidney disease （DKD），and explore its mechanism of protecting the kidney by inhibiting podocyte apoptosis. Methodsdb/m mice （7 mice） were used as the normal group，and db/db mice （35 mice） were randomly divided into a model group，a dapagliflozin group （0.001 g·kg^-1·d^-1），and low-，medium-，and high-dose groups of Qishao capsules （0.341 3，0.682 5，and 1.365 g·kg^-1·d^-1，respectively）. Drug intervention lasted for 8 consecutive weeks. After sampling，the serum renal function indicators ［creatinine（SCr），and urea nitrogen（BUN）］，fasting blood glucose （FBG），24 h urinary protein quantification （24 h-UTP）， and other indicators of the mice were measured. The pathological tissue morphology of the kidney was observed by periodic acid-silver methenamine （PASM） and Masson's trichrome （Masson） staining. Immunohistochemical detection of cysteine-dependent aspartate-specific protease （Caspase）-3 and B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2） was performed. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of Caspase-8，Caspase-7，Caspase-3， and other molecules. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick End labeling （TUNEL） staining was used to observe apoptosis in renal tissue. Immunofluorescence staining of Wilms tumor suppressor gene-1 （WT-1） was used to observe podocyte injury. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was employed to detect Caspase-8 and Caspase-3 mRNA expression in the kidneys of experimental mice. Data analysis was conducted using statistical software GraphPad Prism 10. ResultsCompared with the normal group，the model group showed significantly increased 24 h-UTP，SCr，BUN，and FBG （P<0.01）. Additionally， PASM staining of renal tissue showed increased glycogen deposition，glomerular hypertrophy，and thickening of the basement membrane. Masson staining showed collagen fiber proliferation in renal tissue. Transmission electron microscopy showed thickening of the renal tissue basement membrane and fusion or loss of foot processes in the model group. The immunohistochemical results showed that Caspase-3 in the kidneys of the mice in the model group significantly increased （P<0.01），while the Bcl-2 protein expression level decreased significantly （P<0.01）. The number of TUNEL positive cells in renal tissue significantly increased （P<0.01）. The positive expression of WT-1 in podocytes was significantly reduced （P<0.01）. Western blot analysis showed significant upregulation of Caspase-8，Caspase-7，and Caspase-3 protein expression in renal tissue （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression levels of Caspase-8 and Caspase-3 in the kidneys increased significantly （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group，the Qishao capsules groups can significantly reduce the levels of 24 h-UTP，SCr，BUN，and FBG （P<0.01）. The pathological damage of renal tissue and podocyte injury were improved to some extent. Immunohistochemistry in the kidney showed a significant decrease in Caspase-3 （P<0.01） and a significant increase in Bcl-2 protein expression level （P<0.01）. Additionally， there were a significant decrease in the number of TUNEL positive cells in renal tissue （P<0.01），a significant increase in WT-1 positive expression in podocytes （P<0.01），marked downregulation of Caspase-8，Caspase-7，and Caspase-3 protein expression in renal tissue （P<0.05，P<0.01），and a significant decrease in Caspase-8 and Caspase-3 mRNA expression levels （P<0.01）. ConclusionQishao capsules can inhibit podocyte apoptosis by regulating the expression of Caspase-8，Caspase-7， and Caspase-3，thereby improving the diabetic renal injury in db/db mice.

ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the association between serum indirect bilirubin （IBIL） levels and the risk of stroke incidence in patients with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic （CKM） syndrome stages 0-3. MethodsA total of 48 301 participants with CKM syndrome stages 0-3 were included， during which 2 904 stroke events were recorded. A prospective cohort study design was employed. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze the relationship between IBIL and stroke risk， and restricted cubic spline （RCS） regression was applied to examine the dose-response relationship. Threshold effect analysis was conducted to identify potential inflection points in nonlinear relationships. ResultsMultivariable Cox regression analysis showed that in the overall population， each 1 μmol/L increase in IBIL level was associated with approximately a 1.2% reduction in stroke risk （HR = 0.988， 95% CI： 0.979-0.996， P < 0.05）. A significant interaction was observed between IBIL and CKM stages in relation to stroke risk （P_interaction < 0.05）. In individuals with stages 0–2 of CKM syndrome， higher IBIL levels showed a significant inverse association with stroke risk （P_trend < 0.05）； however， no such association was observed in stage 3 patients. RCS regression and threshold effect analysis further revealed a nonlinear relationship between IBIL levels and stroke risk in stage 3 CKM patients （P_{log-likelihood ratio} < 0.05）. When serum IBIL exceeded 10.980 μmol/L， each 1 μmol/L increase was associated with approximately 5.7% increase in stroke risk （HR = 1.057， 95% CI： 1.009–1.107， P < 0.05）. ConclusionThe correlation between serum IBIL and stroke varies across different stages of CKM syndrome， showing a significant negative association in individuals at stages \0–2， while in stage 3 patients， it exhibits a threshold effect with an inflection point at 10.980 μmol/L.

Objective To study the correlation between Periostin, interleukin-33 (IL-33), and chronic cough after thoracoscopic lobectomy in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) combined with lung cancer. Methods A total of 102 lung cancer and coronary heart disease patients at Tianjin Chest Hospital from January 2022 to January 2024 were prospectively enrolled, and they were divided into a chronic cough group (n=42) and a non-chronic cough group (n=60) based on whether chronic cough occurred after surgery. Serum levels of Periostin and IL-33 were measured on the 1st, 7th, and 14th days post-lobectomy. The Pearson method was employed to analyze the correlation between Periostin and IL-33 levels and the severity of cough. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors influencing the occurrence of chronic cough. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was utilized to assess the potential value of serum Periostin and IL-33 levels in predicting postoperative chronic cough. Results In patients with chronic cough, the peripheral blood Periostin and IL-33 levels measured on days 7 and 14 were significantly higher than those in patients with non-chronic cough, and the interactions between the two groups and at different time points were significant (P<0.001). The degree of cough was positively correlated with the levels of Periostin and IL-33 on days 7 and 14 (P<0.05), but had no significant correlation with the levels on day 1 (P>0.05). In patients with lung cancer, after thoracoscopic lobectomy, Periostin [OR=1.619, 95%CI (1.295, 2.025)] and IL-33 [OR=1.831, 95%CI (1.216, 2.758)] on day 7 and Periostin [OR=1.952, 95%CI (1.306, 2.918)] and IL-33 [OR=1.742, 95%CI (1.166, 2.603)] on day 14 were identified as risk factors for chronic cough. ROC curve analysis showed that the sensitivity of Periostin on day 7 was 69.05%, the specificity was 71.67%, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.756 [95%CI (0.616, 0.893)]. The sensitivity of Periostin on day 14 increased to 71.43% and the specificity was 76.67%, AUC was 0.762 [95%CI (0.633, 0.898)]. At the same time, the critical value of IL-33 on day 7 was 45.03 pg/mL, the sensitivity and specificity were both 83.33%, the AUC was 0.884 [95%CI (0.789, 0.980)], and the critical value of IL-33 on day 14 was 56.01 pg/mL, the sensitivity was 85.71%, the specificity was 80.00%, and the AUC was 0.899 [95%CI (0.799, 0.999)]. Joint logistic regression analysis of Periostin and IL-33 levels on days 7 and 14 showed showed that the sensitivity was 95.24%, the specificity was 95.00%, and the AUC reached 0.993 [95%CI (0.979, 1.000)]. Conclusion Periostin and IL-33 levels, measured at various time points, are abnormally elevated following thoracoscopic lobectomy in patients with combined CABG and lung cancer. These levels significantly correlate with cough severity. Given their predictive potential for chronic cough, these markers are deemed valuable biomarkers.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the improvement mechanism of hyperoside （HYP） on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD）. METHODS Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal （NFD） group， model （HFD） group and HYP group， with 8 mice in each group. Except for NFD group， the mice in other groups were fed with HF60 high-fat diet to establish NAFLD model； HYP group was simultaneously given HYP 100 mg/kg intragastrically every day， for 16 consecutive weeks. The body weight and liver weight of mice in each group were recorded 16 h after the last medication； the histopathological changes and lipid accumulation in the liver were observed， and the contents of triglyceride （TAG） in liver tissue and serum contents of TAG， aspartate transaminase （AST） and alanine transaminase （ALT） were measured； LC-MS/MS method was adopted to detect lipid changes in the liver tissue of mice for lipidomics analysis， and protein expressions of lipid synthesis-associated proteins peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α （PPARα） were also tested. Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 was divided into normal control group， model group， HYP low-concentration group （50 μmol/L）， HYP high-concentration group （100 μmol/L）， HYP low-concentration+GW6471 （PPARαinhibitor） group， and HYP high-concentration+GW6471 group. Except for normal control group， the remaining cells were induced with oleic acid and palmitic acid to establish a high-fat cell model. The accumulation of lipid droplets in each group of cells was observed， and the TAG content was detected. RESULTS Compared with HFD group， HYP group exhibited significant reductions in liver fat vacuoles， lipid accumulation， liver weight， and TAG content in liver tissue， as well as serum contents of ALT， AST and TAG （P＜0.05）. Additionally， the expression of PPARα protein in liver tissue was significantly increased （P＜0.05）， and the pathological morphological changes associated with NAFLD were alleviated. Lipidomic analysis revealed that HYP significantly reduced the levels of TAG， diacylglycerol and other lipids in the liver. Compared with model group， cellular lipid droplet accumulation and TAG content decreased significantly in HYP low- and high-concentration groups （P＜0.05）； GW6471 could significantly reverse the improvement effect of HYP on above indicators （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS HYP can effectively ameliorate NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet in mice， and the mechanism may be related to the activation of PPARα to regulate hepatic lipid synthesis.

Based on the viewpoint of "sweat pore-qi and liquid-kidney collaterals"， it is believed that children's nephrotic syndrome is caused by the core mechanism of sweat pore constraint and closure， qi and liquid imbalance， and kidney collaterals impairment， and it is proposed that the treatment principle is to nourish the sweat pore， regulate qi and fluid， and supplement the kidney and unblock the collaterals. In clinic， guided by sequential therapy and according to the different disease mechanism characteristics of the four stages， including early stage of the disease， hormone induction stage， hormone reduction stage， hormone maintenance stage， the staged dynamic identification and treatment was applied. For early stage of the disease with edema due to yang deficiency， modified Zhenwu Decoction （真武汤） was applied to warm yang and drain water； for hormone induction stage with yin deficiency resulting in effulgent fire， modified Zhibai Dihuang Pill （知柏地黄丸） plus Erzhi Pill （二至丸） was used to enrich yin and reduce fire； for hormone reduction stage with qi and yin deficiency， modified Shenqi Dihuang Decoction （参芪地黄汤） was used to boost qi and nourish yin； for hormone maintenance stage， modified Shenqi Pill （肾气丸） was used to supplement yin and yang. Meanwhile， the treatment also attaches importance to the combination of vine-based or worm medicinals to dredge collaterals， so as to providing ideas for clinical treatment.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the contents of characteristic components in Hugan qingzhi formula （HGQZ） decoction and formulated granules and the pharmacodynamic consistency of them on high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） model mice， and explore their potential underlying mechanisms of action. METHODS Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze and compare the contents of six characteristic components in HGQZ decoction and formulated granules. Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control group， model group， HGQZ decoction low- dose and high-dose groups （13， 26 g/kg， calculated by crude drugs）， and HGQZ formulated granules low-dose and high-dose groups （13， 26 g/kg， calculated by crude drugs）， with 6 mice in each group. Except for the normal control group， which was fed a regular diet， the mice in the other groups were fed a high-fat diet for 20 weeks to establish the NAFLD model； at the same time， the mice in each group were gavaged with the corresponding drugs/water once. The fasting blood glucose （FBG） levels， glucose and insulin tolerance， body weight， liver index， white adipose Δ 基金项目 国家自然科学基金项目（No.82074078）；广东省基础 tissue index， brown adipose tissue index， as well as lipid levels （total cholesterol， triglycerides） and liver function indicators （aspartate transaminase， alanine transaminase） were measured. Additionally， histopathological changes and lipid accumulation in liver tissues were observed. The serum samples of mice in the model group， HGQZ decoction high-dose group and HGQZ formulated granules high-dose group were taken for metabolomics analysis， and validation of the underlying mechanisms was conducted. RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences in the contents of ginsenoside Rb1， typhaneoside， isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperidoside， hyperoside， nuciferine， and 23-acetylalismol B between HGQZ decoction and HGQZ formulated granules （P＞0.05）. Compared with the model group， the hepatic histopathological changes in mice were alleviated in both the HGQZ decoction group and all dose groups of HGQZ formulated granules. Inflammatory cell infiltration and lipid vacuoles were reduced. Additionally， there was a general improvement in FBG levels， glucose tolerance， insulin tolerance， body weight， liver index， white/brown adipose tissue index， lipid levels， and liver function indicators （P＜0.05）. However， no statistically significant differences were observed between these treatment groups （P＞0.05）. There were 234 and 136 differentially expressed serum metabolites identified in the model group versus HGQZ decoction high-dose group， and model group versus HGQZ formulated granules high-dose group， respectively. After taking the intersection， 65 common differentially expressed metabolites were obtained， which were enriched in metabolic pathways such as purine metabolism and tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolism. Among these， the content of citrate in the model group was significantly lower than that in both the HGQZ decoction group and HGQZ formulated granules high-dose group （P＜0.05）. Both high-dose HGQZ decoction and formulated granules could significantly elevate the phosphorylation levels of AMP-activated protein kinase （AMPK） （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS HGQZ decoction and formulated granules contain comparable amounts of characteristic components， and both exhibit equivalent efficacy on NAFLD model mice. The anti-NAFLD effects of HGQZ are associated with the activation of the AMPK energy metabolism pathway.

Objective To evaluate the radiation impact of a self-developed digital miniature CT on the human body and the environment under simulated scanning conditions, and verify its safety and regulatory compliance. Methods Under typical head scanning conditions with the digital miniature CT (70 kV/10 mA), the equivalent doses received at the body surface sites corresponding to the thyroid, breast, stomach, liver, kidney, and gonads of the phantom were measured without protection and with 0.5 mmPb equivalent protection using LiF (Mg, Cu, P) thermoluminescent dosimeters. The ambient dose equivalent rates at the bed level inside the CT room at different directions and distances from the scanning center were measured using a model AT1121 X/γ dosimeter. The equivalent doses of organs on both sides of the phantom and the ambient equivalent dose rates on the left and right sides of the longitudinal axis of the bed in the CT room were compared. The Mann-Whitney test was used at a significance level of P < 0.05. Results During a single scan of the head with the digital miniature CT, the equivalent doses at the body surface sites corresponding to the thyroid, breast, stomach, liver, kidney, and gonads without protection were 1.04, 0.95, 0.55, 0.57, 0.40, and 0.12 mSv, respectively, which were only 0.84% to 8.24% of the doses inside the irradiation field. With 0.5 mm Pb equivalent protection, the equivalent dose of the thyroid decreased from 8.24 mSv to 3.27 mSv with a reduction of 60.3%, and the doses of the other organs were reduced to 1.5-11.5 μSv with the maximum reduction of 14 times. In the longitudinal axis direction of the CT bed, the ambient dose equivalent rate at a distance of 2 m from the scanning center was reduced to 0.066 mSv/h, which was only 9.6% of the ambient equivalent dose rate at a distance of 50 cm from the scanning center. Conclusion The digital miniature CT has advantages in ensuring patient safety, optimizing imaging quality, and promoting technological development, demonstrating promising application potential. However, the radiation protection of personal and CT room should not be ignored.

Several metal needles were unearthed from the tomb of LIU He, the Marquis of Haihun in Nanchang, Jiangxi province. Based on the inscription on the signboard unearthed from the tomb and the handed down literature, these needles should be closely related to the "nine needles" mentioned in the handed down medical classics. These needles should be used in acupuncture and moxibustion at that time, and their diameters are close to the specifications and dimensions of the needles in the modern time, which provides the important cultural relics data of the Han Dynasty for the research of early acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine. This article uses the method of mutual verification of unearthed cultural relics, unearthed documents, and handed down documents to investigate the acupuncture method of medical needles unearthed from the tomb of Marquis Haihun, and to sort out and demonstrate the development of acupuncture and moxibustion in the Western Han Dynasty. The medical needles unearthed from the tomb of Marquis Haihun and their needling techniques can be confirmed by the "nine needles" in the Lingshu (Miraculous Pivot), the "acupuncture treatment" in the bamboo slips of the Han Dynasty in the Northwest, and the "acupuncture atlas" on the Han portrait stone. It proves that the manufacturing of needles for acupuncture and moxibustion and the therapeutic methods and techniques of acupuncture had been greatly developed in the middle and late stages of the Western Han Dynasty.
Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Needles/history* ; China ; Humans ; History, Ancient ; Moxibustion/instrumentation* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/instrumentation*

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect of platelet-rich plasma(PRP)combined with Xianling Gubao Capsule on rats with osteoarthritis(OA)and the changes in the levels of related factors.Methods:Anterior cruciate ligament transection was performed to establish a rat model of OA,and after modeling,the rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,Xianling Gubao Capsule group,PRP group,and Xianling Gubao Capsule+PRP group,with 10 rats in each group.After intervention,ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of IL-1β and TNF-α;knee articular cartilage was collected,and qPCR and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP3,MMP13,Col2,Aggrecan,and p-p38;Micro-CT was used to assess the changes in bones around the knee joint;HE staining and SF staining were used to observe the changes in knee articular cartilage.Results:ELISA showed that PRP combined with Xianling Gubao Capsule significantly reduced the serum levels of the inflammatory factors such as IL-1β and TNF-α(P<0.05).The results of qPCR and Western blot showed that PRP combined with Xianling Gubao Capsule significantly reduced the expression levels of MMP3,MMP13,and p-p38 and increased the expression levels of Col2 and Ag-grecan in knee articular cartilage(P<0.05).Micro-CT,HE staining,and SF staining showed a certain degree of improvement in knee articular cartilage degeneration in the Xianling Gubao Capsule+PRP group(P<0.05).Conclusion:PRP combined with Xianling Gubao Capsule exerts a therapeutic effect on rats with OA,possibly by regulating the p38MAPK signaling pathway.