Objective To explore the mechanism of the gut-lung axis in paraquat-induced lung injury in mice, with a focus on analyzing the changes in intestinal gene expression and their potential roles. Methods Specific pathogen-free C57BL/6 wild-type mice were randomly divided into control, low-dose, and high-dose groups, with 10 mice in each group. Mice in the three groups received a single intragastric administration of paraquat solution at doses of 0, 25, or 50 mg/kg body weight. The mice were euthanized on day 21. Lung histopathological changes were assessed, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the intestinal tissues of mice in these two groups were analyzed through transcriptomics. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted to explore potential mechanisms of the gut-lung axis in paraquat-induced lung injury and fibrosis. Results Paraquat exposure induced dose-dependent pulmonary injury and fibrosis in the mice. The Ashcroft score of lung tissue was higher in the mice of low-dose group than that in the control group (P<0.05). Both the lung organ coefficient and Ashcroft score of lung tissues in the mice of high-dose group were higher than those in the control group and the low-dose group (all P<0.05). The result of transcriptomic analysis showed 146 DEGs, including 91 upregulated and 55 downregulated genes, in intestinal tissues of mice in the low-dose group, and 57 DEGs, including 47 upregulated and 10 downregulated genes in the high-dose group, compared with the control group. Notably, 19 DEGs were commonly altered in both low- and high-dose groups. The result of GO enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were primarily involved in biological processes including "immune response", "oxidative stress" and "cell differentiation". The result of KEGG enrichment analyses showed that DEGs were primarily involved in key processes including "oxidative stress response path way", "immune response path way" and "digestion and absorption path way". Conclusion Paraquat exposure alters intestinal gene expression, particularly in genes in biological processes related to immune responses and oxidative stress. These changes may mediate inflammatory signaling via the gut-lung axis and contribute to the development of paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of Shentong Zhuyutang combined with Dilongtang in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation （LDH） with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome， and its effect on nucleus pulposus reabsorption and immune-inflammatory factors， exploring its therapeutic mechanism from the perspective of reabsorption. MethodsA total of 120 patients with LDH from the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine， treated between June 2020 and January 2023， were randomly divided into the control group （52 cases， with 8 dropouts） and the observation group （49 cases， with 11 dropouts） according to a random number table. The control group received routine treatment， while the observation group was treated with Shentong Zhuyutang combined with Dilongtang in addition to routine treatment. Visual Analogue Scale （VAS）， Oswestry Disability Index （ODI）， Japanese Orthopaedic Association （JOA） score， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome score were measured before treatment and after 3 courses of treatment. Venous blood samples were collected for the determination of serological indexes. MR examination was performed during the 6-month follow-up to calculate the absorption rate. ResultsAfter treatment， both groups showed significant reductions in VAS， ODI， TCM syndrome score， serum tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， matrix metalloproteinase （MMP）-9， and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） levels， and a significant increase in JOA score compared with pre-treatment values （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group， the observation group showed significantly lower VAS， ODI， TCM syndrome score， serum TNF-α， MMP-9， and VEGF levels， and a significantly higher JOA score （P<0.05）. The proportion of nucleus pulposus reabsorption in the observation group was 57.14% （28/49）， significantly higher than 21.15% （11/52） in the control group （χ²=6.161， P<0.05）. ConclusionShentong Zhuyutang combined with Dilongtang can effectively relieve pain， improve lumbar function， and alleviate TCM clinical symptoms in LDH patients with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome. Imaging findings suggest that the treatment promotes the reabsorption of nucleus pulposus protrusion， while laboratory testing shows reduced serum levels of TNF-α， MMP-9， and VEGF， which contribute to the rehabilitation of patients.

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanisms of silica dust on the apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) through in vitro and animal experiments. Methods i) In vitro experiment. A549 cells were stimulated with 100 mg/L silica suspension for 0, 12, 24 and 48 hours. The cell apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. ii) Animal experiment. Specific pathogen-free male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control, 14-day, 28-day, and 56-day groups, with five mice in each group. The mice in the control group were sacrificed at 56 days after being treated with 40.0 μL 0.9% sodium chloride solution, and the mice in the last three groups were sacrificed at 14, 28 and 56 days after being treated with 40.0 μL silica suspension with a mass concentration of 125 g/L via tracheal exposure method. The lung tissues of mice were collected to measure lung organ coefficients. Masson staining was used to detect the degree of pulmonary fibrosis, and Ashcroft scores were evaluated. The apoptosis of AEC in mice was observed by TUNEL immunofluorescence assay. iii) The mRNA relative expression of apoptosis-related genes in A549 cells and mouse lung tissue was detected using reverse transcription and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results i) In vitro experiment. The apoptosis rate of A549 cells increased with longer silica exposure (all P<0.05). The relative expression of B cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) mRNA in A549 cells in 24 h group and 48 h group decreased (both P<0.05), and the relative expression of BCL-2 associated X protein (BAX) mRNA increased (both P<0.05), compared with 0 h group. The mRNA relative expression of caspase (CASP) -3 and CASP-9 in A549 cells increased with longer silica exposure (all P<0.05). ii) Animal experiment. The lung organ coefficients and Ashcroft score in mice progressively increased (all P<0.05), the degree of pulmonary fibrosis was gradually aggravated, and TUNEL positive cells in lung tissue were gradually increased, while Bax, Casp-3 and Casp-9 mRNA relative expression increased with longer silica exposure (all P<0.05). Conclusion Silica dust may cause pulmonary fibrosis by inducing apoptosis of AEC, with a time-dependent effect. The mechanism may be related to the effect of silica dust on mitochondrial apoptosis through Bcl-2/Bax/Caspase-3 signaling pathway.

Biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) is a highly aggressive malignancy,and the majority of patients present with advanced stage at first diagnosis which resulting in poor prognosis. Traditional chemotherapy and monotherapy have shown limited efficacy in treating BTC. However,with the continuous emergence of clinical research findings and updates to relevant guidelines,there have been some breakthroughs in systemic therapies for BTC. This paper analyzes domestic and international literature on neoadjuvant therapy and conversion therapy for BTC,aiming to provide a reference for clinical research. Overall,research on neoadjuvant therapy and conversion therapy remains in the preliminary exploration phase. Current evidence suggests that combination strategies involving immunotherapy and chemotherapy,with or without targeted therapy,have demonstrated promising clinical efficacy,offering new hope for neoadjuvant therapy and conversion therapy in BTC. Furthermore,the evolution of precision targeted therapies offers better opportunities for personalized treatment,and the combination of local interventions and systemic therapies demonstrates promising therapeutic potential. However,the optimal strategies and timing for surgery of neoadjuvant therapy and conversion therapy have not yet been standardized. Moreover,most studies lack precise designs to address the heterogeneity of BTC,new therapies have not yet reached the ideal stage of personalized treatment,further research is warranted to address these challenges.

Biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) is a highly aggressive malignancy,and the majority of patients present with advanced stage at first diagnosis which resulting in poor prognosis. Traditional chemotherapy and monotherapy have shown limited efficacy in treating BTC. However,with the continuous emergence of clinical research findings and updates to relevant guidelines,there have been some breakthroughs in systemic therapies for BTC. This paper analyzes domestic and international literature on neoadjuvant therapy and conversion therapy for BTC,aiming to provide a reference for clinical research. Overall,research on neoadjuvant therapy and conversion therapy remains in the preliminary exploration phase. Current evidence suggests that combination strategies involving immunotherapy and chemotherapy,with or without targeted therapy,have demonstrated promising clinical efficacy,offering new hope for neoadjuvant therapy and conversion therapy in BTC. Furthermore,the evolution of precision targeted therapies offers better opportunities for personalized treatment,and the combination of local interventions and systemic therapies demonstrates promising therapeutic potential. However,the optimal strategies and timing for surgery of neoadjuvant therapy and conversion therapy have not yet been standardized. Moreover,most studies lack precise designs to address the heterogeneity of BTC,new therapies have not yet reached the ideal stage of personalized treatment,further research is warranted to address these challenges.

With the deepening of the research on uric acid, it has been found that abnormal uric acid metabolism is not only related to kidney and cardiovascular diseases, but also closely related to reproductive system diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Uric acid can play an important role in the occurrence and development of PCOS through oxidative stress, chronic inflammation and interference with key enzyme activities. PCOS is primarily characterized by hyperandrogenemia, insulin resistance, and dysregulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Researches have found that there is an interaction between hyperuricemia and hyperandrogenemia, as well as abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism. Additionally, elevated serum uric acid levels are associated with a higher incidence of pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with PCOS. However, there are few reviews on this aspect. Therefore, this review aims to provide a more comprehensive scientific basis for the clinical treatment and management of PCOS by deeply exploring the relationship between uric acid metabolism and the main clinical manifestations of PCOS, as well as the impact of abnormal uric acid metabolism on pregnancy outcomes and complications in PCOS patients.

OBJECTIVE To establish a quantitative fingerprint analysis method for sugar components in Yuanhu Zhitong oral liquid using high performance liquid chromatography-charged aerosol detection(HPLC-CAD). METHODS Chromatographic column was NH2P-50 4E(4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) column. Water(A) and acetonitrile(B) were used as the mobile phase in the gradient elute mode. The column temperature was 30 ℃. The injection volume was 10 μL. The flow rate was 0.6 mL·min−1. The evaporation temperature of CAD was 35 ℃. The acquisition frequency was 10 Hz. The power function value was 1.0. RESULTS The linear relationship of the quantitative component was good within the quantitative range, with R2>0.999. The relative standard deviations(RSDs) of instrument precision, intermediate precision and method repeatability were all <3%. The test solution was stable within 24 h. The average recoveries at low, medium and high concentration levels ranged 97.15%−101.13%. There were 5 common peaks in the fingerprint. The RSDs of instrument precision, method repeatability and sample stability were all <4%. CONCLUSION The established analytical method is stable, accurate and reproducible. It can be used to detect sugar excipients in the preparations.

Objective:To analyze the current status and hotspots of myopia research in the past 10 years and the future development direction based on the bibliometric method.Methods:Relevant original research and reviews on myopia published from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science core database.Co-occurrence analysis of countries, research organizations, and authors was performed using the VOSviewer software.Cluster analysis of keywords and co-cited references was performed using the CiteSpace software.Results:A total of 9 745 articles were included, involving 123 countries/regions, 7 150 institutions, and 29 343 authors.The analysis revealed that the global publication in myopia has been increasing, with China having the highest publication, and research from the United States being the most cited.Keyword analysis showed that the early hotspots of myopia mainly focused on refractive surgery, diagnosis and treatment of complications, genetics, and epidemiological characteristics, while recent research has rapidly shifted towards myopia prevention and control.The results of the cluster analysis of the co-cited references showed that myopia research contained several clusters, such as #0 school-aged children, #1 small incision lenticule extraction, #2 myopia control, #3 refractive error, #4 contact lenses, etc.The current research frontier focuses on myopia management technology, myopia and retinal and choroidal vessels, and the application of artificial intelligence in myopia.Conclusions:Myopia research in the past 10 years covers a wide range of disciplines, including ophthalmology, molecular biology, genetics, optometry and epidemiology.In the future, there is a need to further explore the etiology and pathogenesis of myopia, enhance early identification and screening methods, improve management techniques for myopia, advance artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis of myopia to develop more effective and safe strategies for myopia prevention and control.

With the deepening of the research on uric acid, it has been found that abnormal uric acid metabolism is not only related to kidney and cardiovascular diseases, but also closely related to reproductive system diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Uric acid can play an important role in the occurrence and development of PCOS through oxidative stress, chronic inflammation and interference with key enzyme activities. PCOS is primarily characterized by hyperandrogenemia, insulin resistance, and dysregulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Researches have found that there is an interaction between hyperuricemia and hyperandrogenemia, as well as abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism. Additionally, elevated serum uric acid levels are associated with a higher incidence of pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with PCOS. However, there are few reviews on this aspect. Therefore, this review aims to provide a more comprehensive scientific basis for the clinical treatment and management of PCOS by deeply exploring the relationship between uric acid metabolism and the main clinical manifestations of PCOS, as well as the impact of abnormal uric acid metabolism on pregnancy outcomes and complications in PCOS patients.

Objective:To investigate the frequency of myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) in peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their relationship with renal injury.Methods:The frequency of peripheral mDC and pDC in 102 SLE patients and 10 healthy controls were detected by flow cytometry. The quantitative data were expressed by [ M( P25, P75)]. The measurement data of the two groups with non-normal distribution was analyzed by Mann Whitney U test. The correlation between the two groups was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation analysis and multiple linear regression. Results:The frequency of pDC [14.00%(7.92%, 19.65%) vs 24.55%(19.68%, 32.90%), Z=-3.163, P<0.01] and mDC [21.25%(13.28%, 32.83%) vs 34.85%(24.58%, 41.93%), Z=-2.607, P<0.01] in the peripheral blood of 102 patients with SLE were significantly lower than those of healthy controls. The frequency of pDC [9.09%(7.31%, 17.38%) vs 24.55%(19.68%, 32.90%), Z=-3.033, P=<0.01] and mDC [9.40%(7.88%, 21.60%) vs 34.85%(24.58%, 41.93%), Z=-3.231, P<0.01] in 12 patients with newly diagnosed SLE were also significantly lower than those in healthy controls. After adjustedfor confounding factors, multivariate analysis showed that SLEDAI level was the main factor influencing the frequency of pDC ( P=0.019) and mDC ( P<0.01). In addition, pDC[8.02%(2.25%, 9.97%) vs 16.70%(11.80%, 24.60%), Z=-2.490, P=0.015] and mDC[8.80%(5.99%, 12.80%) vs 20.20%(11.20%, 42.80%), Z=-2.226, P=0.029] in patients with active LN were also significantly lower than that of patients with stable LN. The mDC frequency was positively correlated with the levels of complement C3 ( r=0.455, P<0.01) and C4 ( r= 0.289, P, P<0.01). Conclusion:The frequency of mDC and pDC in SLE patients is significantly abnormal, which is closely related to disease activity. In addition, pDC and mDC may be involved in the occurrence and development of LN.