The occurrence of diabetes mellitus （DM） is closely related to insulin resistance and islet β cell dysfunction. Modern studies have found that macrophages are widely present in the liver，fat，skeletal muscle，islets， and other tissues and organs. Macrophage M1/M2 polarization plays an important role in the occurrence and development of diabetes mellitus and its related complications by intervening in inflammatory response，improving insulin resistance，and promoting tissue repair. Most of the traditional Chinese medicines that regulate the activation and polarization of macrophages are Qi-replenishing and Yin-nourishing，heat-clearing， and detoxicating medicinal，which are consistent with the etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes and its related complications. Therefore，by summarizing the mechanisms between macrophage activation，polarization， and insulin resistance in various tissues，this paper reviewed traditional Chinese medicine and its effective components and compounds in improving diabetes mellitus and its related complications through multi-channel regulation of macrophage polarization and regulation of M1/M2 ratio，providing references for the future treatment of DM and its related complications with traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective: To explore the clinical features, treatment and prognosis of emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN), so as to enhance the clinical awareness of this disease. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of one EPN patient at The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, and a literature review was performed on articles published in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure and PubMed databases from Jan.1, 2015 to Dec.31, 2024. Results: The patient, a 62-year-old male with a 5 years' history of type 2 diabetes, was admitted due to left flank pain for 4 days, with a temperature of 39.4 ℃.Laboratory tests indicated significantly elevated inflammatory markers, decreased platelet count, and abnormal coagulation function.Preoperative blood and urine cultures showed positivity for Escherichia coli.Computed tomography (CT) revealed complete erosion of the left kidney, with gas in the left ureter and surrounding effusion, as well as multiple free gas in the abdominal cavity, bilateral ureteral stones, right renal lower calyx stones.After a multidisciplinary consultation, he underwent emergency phase Ⅰ left pyeloplasty and perirenal drainage with ureteral stenting.After discharge, the patient received maintenance hemodialysis once every two days in the outpatient clinic.One week after-discharge, the patient was readmitted due to polypnea.Following symptomatic management, vital signs stabilized.Approximately 2 months after the first-stage surgery, ureteroscopic stone extraction was successfully performed.One month after the stone extraction procedure, a follow-up CT showed normalization of the left kidney, renal pelvis and calyces, leading to phase Ⅱ laparoscopic left nephrectomy via the abdominal approach, with postoperative pathology indicating renal necrosis.Among 89 EPN patients reported in 35 articles, the median age was 58(24-92) years old；there were 59（66.3%） females and 30（33.7%） males；fever was the most common clinical symptom (60.7%)；73(82.0%) had diabetes, 12 (13.5%) had urinary tract obstruction；55 (61.8%) were infected with Escherichia coli, and 7 (7.9%) were infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae; 13 died due to ineffective treatmen. Conclusion: EPN presents acutely and progresses rapidly, often leading to misdiagnosis due to the lack of specific early symptoms.Abdominal CT is the preferred imaging modality for rapid diagnosis, and proactive interdisciplinary intervention can improve survival rates, reduce the need for nephrectomy, and enhance prognosis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-dose ilaprazole combined with amoxicillin for newly diagnosed elderly patients with Helicobacter pylori （Hp） infection， and analyze independent risk factors for failure of Hp infection eradication treatment. METHODS Totally 200 cases of newly diagnosed elderly patients with Hp infection in Xinxiang Central Hospital from August 1， 2021 to December 1， 2024 were selected and randomly divided into control group and study group， with 100 cases in each group. The control group was treated with classic quadruple therapy regimen （Amoxicillin capsules+ Clarithromycin tablets+Bismuth potassium citrate tablets+Ilaprazole enteric-coated tablets）. The study group was treated with high- dose Ilaprazole enteric-coated tablets+Amoxicillin capsules. All patients were administered medication for 2 weeks. Hp eradication rates in the two groups were compared using intention-to-treat （ITT） and per-protocol （PP） analyses. The incidence of adverse reactions in both groups was also recorded. The multiple-factor Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for failure of Hp infection eradication treatment. RESULTS In ITT and PP analyses， there was no significant difference of Hp eradication rates between the two groups （P＞0.05）. There was no significant difference in incidence of mild to moderate adverse reactions between the two groups （P＞0.05）. BMI ≤18.5 kg/m2， BMI ＞23.9 kg/m2， rural residence， concomitant diabetes and concomitant heart disease were identified as independent risk factors influencing the failure of Hp infection eradication treatment （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS The efficacy and safety of high-dose ilaprazole combined with amoxicillin are comparable to classic quadruple therapy regimen in treating newly diagnosed elderly patients with Hp infection. Independent risk factors influencing the failure of Hp infection eradication treatment include BMI ≤18.5 kg/m2， BMI ＞23.9 kg/m2， rural residence， concomitant diabetes and concomitant heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) have pharmacological functions and clinical use. BIAs are mainly distributed in plant species across the order Ranunculales and the genus Phellodendron from Sapindales. The BIA biosynthesis has been intensively investigated in Ranunculales species. However, the accumulation mechanism of BIAs in Phellodendron is largely unknown. The aim of this study is to unravel the biosynthetic pathways of BIAs in Phellodendron amurens. METHODS: The transcriptome and metabolome data from 18 different tissues of P. amurense were meticulously sequenced and subsequently subjected to a thorough analysis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), a powerful systems biology approach that facilitates the construction and subsequent analysis of co-expression networks, was utilized to identify candidate genes involved in BIAs biosynthesis. Following this, recombinant plasmids containing candidate genes were expressed in Escherichia coli, a widely used prokaryotic expression system. The purpose of this genetic engineering endeavor was to express the candidate genes within the bacteria, thereby enabling the assessment of the resultant enzyme activity. RESULTS: The synonymous substitutions per synonymous site for paralogs indicated that at least one whole genome duplication event has occurred. The potential BIA biosynthetic pathway of P. amurense was proposed, and two PR10/Bet v1 members, 14 CYP450s, and 33 methyltransferases were selected as related to BIA biosynthesis. One PR10/Bet v1 was identified as norcoclaurine synthase, which could catalyze dopamine and 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde into (S)-norcoclaurine. CONCLUSION Our studies provide important insights into the biosynthesis and evolution of BIAs in non-Ranunculales species.

To investigate the effect of isthmin-1 (ISM1) on the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer and its underlying mechanism, this study analyzed the expression of ISM1 in pancreatic cancer patients and normal pancreatic tissues using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Western blot was employed to detect differences in ISM1 protein expression between pancreatic cancer cell lines (Aspc1, Bxpc3, PANC1, SW1990) and the pancreatic epithelial cell line (hPNE). Cell models with stable ISM1 overexpression and knockdown were constructed, and changes in cell migration and invasion capabilities were assessed via Transwell invasion assays and wound healing assays. Meanwhile, Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of key markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Furthermore, TCGA and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were utilized to analyze pathways regulated downstream of ISM1 and the mechanisms promoting pancreatic cancer invasion and metastasis. Immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry (IP-MS) was used to screen for vimentin as an ISM1-binding protein, and the interaction between ISM1 and vimentin was verified by immunofluorescence and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Bxpc3 cells overexpressing ISM1 were treated with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) to detect vimentin protein stability. The results indicate that ISM1 promotes the EMT process by inhibiting vimentin degradation, thereby enhancing the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. This study provides new experimental evidence for elucidating the mechanism of pancreatic cancer metastasis.

OBJECTIVE To study the correlation between penetration enhancement effect and transepidermal water loss(TEWL)values of essential oils(EOs)from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).METHODS The amount of 3 kinds of glycosides(geniposide,gentiopicroside,paeoniflorin)and their oil-water partition coefficient were determined by HPLC.The penetration enhancement effect of the five EOs from Gaoliangjiang(Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma,AOR),Ganjiang(Zingiberis Rhizoma,ZR),Bohe(Menthae Haploca-lycis Herba,MHH),Hujiao(Piperis Fructus,PF)and Wuzhuyu(Euodiae Fructus,EF)on geniposide,gentiopicroside,and paeoniflor-in were performed by the modified Franz diffusion cell method with the abdominal skin of rats.The TEWL values were measured to evalu-ate the effect of the five EOs on the skin barrier function of rats.The correlation between penetration enhancement effect of EOs and their effect on skin barrier function was investigated by correlation analysis.RESULTS AOR oil,ZR oil,MHH oil,and PF oil could im-prove the absorption of the three glycosides and reduce skin barrier function of rats.The results of correlation analysis showed that the penetration enhancement effect of EOs was significantly related to TEWL values following dermal administration of EOs.CONCLUSION TEWL measurement technology provides a more convenient method for the selection of penetration enhancers.

Objective:To investigate of the concentrations of uranium in drinking water in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for providing theoretical basis for the health protection of local residents and the assessment of nuclear emergency.Methods:During the dry season and wet water season, tap water and well water samples were collected from 12 cities in Inner Mongolia, 644 unfiltered water samples and 34 filtered water samples were collected, and the uranium concentrations in drinking water was measured using a trace uranium analyzer.Results:During dry and wet seasons the uranium concentration were 0.85-23.61 μg/L and 0.98-23.65 μg/L in tap water, 3.74-88.28 μg/L and 3.68-95.36 μg/L in well water, respectively.Conclusions:The levels of uranium concentrations in drinking water in Inner Mongolia has been preliminarily ascertained, and the installation of filtration devices can significantly reduce the content of uranium in drinking water.

Renal foreign-body is rare in clinical practice. This article reports a case of 12-year-old male patient who presented with intermittent right lumbar stabbing pain for one year. Physical and laboratory examinations showed no significant abnormalities. Enhanced CT and three-dimensional angiography indicated a metal object in the anterior superior pole of the right kidney. The patient had a history of consuming vermicelli frequently over the past year. Considering the medical history and clinical examinations, it was hypothesized that a foreign body had penetrated the duodenum and lodged into the kidney. A foreign body extraction was performed via 3D laparoscopy, confirming the object to be a 25 mm long metallic needle. The patient was discharged on the third postoperative day. Follow-up at six months showed the patient to be in good condition.

Objective:This study aimed to assess the effects of Peer Balint-style group on the empathy ability of third-year long-term medical students and to provide a theoretical and practical reference for effectively improving their humanistic quality.Methods:Ninety third-year Chinese long-term medicine students participated. Volunteers received either ten sessions of 1.5-h Peer Balint-style group which were led by specially trained peers from June 2019 to August 2019. The College Students' Empathy Ability Questionnaire was used before the experiment and the second day after the experiment. The total score of the scale from the pre-test and post-test and the scores of each dimension conformed to a normal distribution, with equal variance, describing in the form of ( x± s). Paired t-tests were performed to compare the total score and each dimension score before and after the intervention, using SPSS 22.0. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7 peer-group leaders and group members after the clinical practice period. The interview materials were analyzed by traditional content analysis. The content of the qualitative research was open-coded to obtain 10 categories, suggesting the role and inadequacy of Peer Balint-style groups. Results:A total of 63 valid samples were obtained. There was no significant difference of ( t=-0.44, P=0.661, P>0.05) between the total score of the post-test (118.00±11.98) and the total score of the pre-test (117.38±12.36). In each dimension, the reverse comprehension score of post-test (9.06±1.97) was significantly different ( t=-2.08, P=0.041, P>0.05) from the pre-test's (8.57±2.15), which increased compared to the pre-test score. Conclusions:Peer Balint-style group had a positive effect on improving empathy among medical students. Compared with the traditional Balint group, it has wider coverage, higher affinity and greater mobility. However, the design of the Peer Balint-style group still needs to be further improved.