ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Tongluo Baoshen prescription （TLBS）-containing serum on the rat podocyte injury induced by lipopolysaccharide （LPS） and explore the potential mechanisms. MethodsSD rats were used to prepare the blank serum， losartan potassium-containing serum， and low-， medium-， and high-dose TLBS-containing sera. Rat podocytes were cultured in vitro， and the effects of drug-containing sera on podocyte viability were detected by the cell counting kit-8 （CKK-8） method. The optimal intervention volume fraction of drug-containing sera and the optimal concentration of LPS for inducing the podocyte injury were determined. Rat podocytes were grouped as follows： normal control （NC， 10% blank serum）， model control （MC， 20.00 mg·L^-1 LPS+10% black serum）， losartan potassium （LP， 20.00 mg·L^-1 LPS+10% losartan potassium-containing serum）， low-dose TLBS （TLBS-L， 20.00 mg·L^-1 LPS+10% low-dose TLBS-containing serum）， medium-dose TLBS （TLBS-M， 20.00 mg·L^-1 LPS+10% medium-dose TLBS-containing serum）， and high-dose TLBS （TLBS-H， 20.00 mg·L^-1 LPS+10% high-dose TLBS-containing serum）， and the interventions lasted for 48 h. The ultrastructure of podocytes was observed under a transmission electron microscope. The podocyte apoptosis was detected by the terminal deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick-end labeling （TUNEL） kit. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of gasdermin D N-terminal fragment （GSDMD-NT） in podocytes. The mRNA and protein levels of G protein-coupled receptor family C group 5 member B （GPRC5B）， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） p50， NF-κB p52， NF-κB p65， Rel B， c-Rel， NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-1 （Caspase-1）， GSDMD-NT， interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-18， nephrin， integrin α₃， and integrin β₁ in podocytes were determined by real-time quaritiative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. ResultsCompared with the NC group， the MC group showed reduced podocyte protrusions and organelles， segmental missing of cell membranes， increased and swollen mitochondria， irregular nuclear membranes， light chromatin， increased TUNEL fluorescence-positive nuclei （P<0.01）， obviously enhanced fluorescence intensity of GSDMD-NT， up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of GPRC5B， NF-κB p50， NF-κB p52， NF-κB p65， Rel B， c-Rel， NLRP3， caspase-1， GSDMD-NT， IL-1β， and IL-18 （P<0.01）， and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of nephrin， integrin α₃， and integrin β₁ （P<0.01） in podocytes. Compared with the MC group， the LP， TLBS-M， and TLBS-H groups showed improved ultrastructure of podocytes with increased protrusions， intact cell membranes， reduced organelles， and alleviated mitochondrial swelling， decreased TUNEL fluorescence-positive nuclei （P<0.01）， weakened fluorescence intensity of GSDMD-NT， down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of GPRC5B， NF-κB p50， NF-κB p52， NF-κB p65， Rel B， c-Rel， NLRP3， caspase-1， GSDMD-NT， IL-1β， and IL-18 （P<0.01）， and up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of nephrin， integrin α₃， and integrin β₁ （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， the changes above were the most obvious in the TLBS-H group. ConclusionThe TLBS-containing serum can regulate the GPRC5B/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway to inhibit pyroptosis， thereby ameliorating the podocyte injury induced by LPS.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect and mechanism of Jingangteng capsules in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD）. METHODS Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into normal group and modeling group. The modeling group was fed a high-fat diet to establish a NAFLD model. The successfully modeled rats were then randomly divided into model group， atorvastatin group[positive control， 2 mg/（kg·d）]， and Jingangteng capsules low- and high-dose groups [0.63 and 2.52 mg/（kg·d）]， with 6 rats in each group. The pathological changes of the liver were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and oil red O staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to determine the serum levels of triglycerides （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， alanine transaminase （ALT）， aspartate transaminase （AST）， tumour necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， IL-6， IL-18. 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing and metabolomics techniques were applied to explore the effects of Jingangteng capsules on gut microbiota and metabolisms in NAFLD rats. Based on the E-mail：591146765@qq.com metabolomics results， Western blot analysis was performed to detect proteins related to the nuclear factor kappa-B （NF-κB）/NOD-like receptor family protein 3 （NLRP3） signaling pathway in the livers of NAFLD rats. RESULTS The experimental results showed that Jingangteng capsules could significantly reduce the serum levels of TG， TC， LDL-C， AST， ALT， TNF-α， IL-1β， IL-6， IL-18， while increased the level of HDL-C， and alleviated the hepatic cellular steatosis and inflammatory infiltration in NAFLD rats. They could regulate the gut microbiota disorders in NAFLD rats， significantly increased the relative abundance of Romboutsia and Oscillospira， and significantly decreased the relative abundance of Blautia （P＜0.05）. They also regulated metabolic disorders primarily by affecting secondary bile acid biosynthesis， fatty acid degradation， O-antigen nucleotide sugar biosynthesis， etc. Results of Western blot assay showed that they significantly reduced the phosphorylation levels of NF-κB p65 and NF-κB inhibitor α， and the protein expression levels of NLRP3， caspase-1 and ASC （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS Jingangteng capsules could improve inflammation， lipid accumulation and liver injury in NAFLD rats， regulate the disorders of gut microbiota and metabolisms， and inhibit NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway. Their therapeutic effects against NAFLD are mediated through the inhibition of the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Objective: We employed Mendelian randomization (MR) to test the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory of emotional pathogenesis concept and explore the causal relationship between negative emotions and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Data of negative emotions, bronchitis, emphysema, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were downloaded from genome-wide association study (GWAS) public database for a two-sample MR analysis. Independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with negative emotions, bronchitis, and emphysema were selected as instrumental variables. Primary causal estimates were derived using inverse-variance weighting (IVW), supplemented by weighted median (WM), and simple mode (SM) methods. Sensitivity analyses included MR-Egger regression and MR-PRESSO to assess pleiotropy, Cochran’s Q test for heterogeneity, and multivariate MR to adjust for smoking. Mediation analysis evaluated the role of inflammatory markers. Reverse MR was tested for bidirectional causality. Weak instrument bias was mitigated via F-statistic thresholds (> 10). All analyses were conducted in RStudio. Results: MR analysis identified significant causal effects of several negative emotions on COPD. Genetically, the IVW analysis of seen doctors for nerves anxiety tension or depression [ORIVW = 1.006, 95% CI = (1.002, 1.010), P = 0.002], sensitivity/hurt feelings [ORIVW = 1.024, 95% CI = (1.004, 1.044), P = 0.017], and irritability [ORIVW = 1.019, 95% CI = (1.003, 1.035), P = 0.019 were robustly associated with increased risks of COPD. No heterogeneity was detected among the different instrumental variables (IVs) for depression (P = 0.655) and irritability (P = 0.163). MR-Egger regression intercepts for all emotional exposures were close to zero and statistically non-significant, indicating no evidence of directional pleiotropy. The horizontal pleiotropy results showed that except for worry (MR-PRESSO P = 0.006), other emotion exposures confirming no substantial pleiotropic bias. Multivariable MR demonstrated that anxiety remained independently associated with COPD after adjusting for smoking (P = 0.002), while associations with other negative emotions were attenuated post-adjustment. The mediation analysis revealed that CRP mediated 3.93% of the total effect of anxiety on COPD. However, reverse MR analysis found no evidence of reverse causality. Conclusion This study confirmed the causal effects of negative emotions on COPD through MR analysis and revealed that negative emotions may trigger CRP production, which plays an essential mediating role in this relationship. This study provides a reliable modern theoretical basis for emotion theory in TCM.

[摘 要] 目的：探讨甲硫氨酸限制对肺腺癌（LUAD）细胞增殖、凋亡及磷酸戊糖途径的影响。方法：将H1299、A549细胞分为Met+组和Met−组，分别用含100 μmol/L或不含甲硫氨酸的培养基连续培养4 d，采用细胞计数法评估甲硫氨酸处理对H1299和A549细胞增殖的影响，PI染色法检测细胞周期分布，Annexin Ⅴ-PE/7AAD标记细胞凋亡，利用DCFH-DA探针检测细胞内ROS水平，WST-8法和DTNB法分别测定细胞内NADPH与GSH含量；通过癌症基因组图谱（TCGA）数据库分析葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶（G6PD）和6-磷酸葡萄糖酸脱氢酶（6PGD）表达与甲硫氨酸代谢通路的关系；采用WB法检测甲硫氨酸处理及回补甲硫氨酸下游代谢产物S-腺苷甲硫氨酸（SAM）对LUAD细胞中磷酸戊糖途径关键酶G6PD和6PGD表达的影响。结果：甲硫氨酸限制显著抑制H1299和A549细胞增殖（均P < 0.01），将细胞周期阻滞于G2/M期（均P < 0.05），显著升高细胞内总ROS水平（均P < 0.001）并促进细胞凋亡（均P < 0.001）；同时，甲硫氨酸限制显著降低了细胞内NADPH和GSH水平（均P < 0.01），抑制DNA合成（均P < 0.01）。分析TCAG数据发现，G6PD和6PGD表达水平与甲硫氨酸代谢通路呈正相关（均P < 0.001），甲硫氨酸限制下调G6PD和6PGD蛋白表达（均P < 0.01），而回补SAM可部分逆转甲硫氨酸限制对G6PD和6PGD的表达的抑制（均P < 0.01），提示甲硫氨酸通过SAM合成调控磷酸戊糖途径。结论：甲硫氨酸限制通过抑制磷酸戊糖途径抑制LUAD细胞增殖，为甲硫氨酸限制疗法治疗LUAD提供实验依据。

IgA nephropathy is recognized as the most common primary glomerular disease， with up to 20%-40% of patients developing end-stage kidney disease within 20 years of onset. The deposition of IgA1-containing immune complexes targeting glycosylation defects in the mesangial region and the subsequent inflammation caused by T lymphocyte activation are considered as the main causes of IgA nephropathy， and innate immunity is also involved in the pathogenesis. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain （NOD）-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） is a newly discovered pattern recognition receptor expressed in renal intrinsic cells such as renal tubular epithelial cells， mesangial cells， and podocytes. Activated by external stimuli， NLRP3 can form NLRP3 inflammasomes with apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain （ASC）. The NLRP3 inflammasome can activate cysteine aspartate-specific protease-1 （Caspase-1）， causing the maturation and release of interleukin-18 （IL-18） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） involved in inflammation. Increasing evidence has suggested that NLRP3 inflammasomes are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of IgA nephropathy and associated with the damage of renal intrinsic cells such as podocytes， mesangial cells， endothelial cells， and renal tubular epithelial cells. Chinese medicine can regulate inflammatory cytokines and their signaling pathways by acting on NLRP3 inflammasomes and related molecules， exerting therapeutic effects on IgA nephropathy. This article introduces the role of NLRP3 inflammasomes in IgA nephropathy and reviews the clinical and experimental research progress of Chinese medicine intervention in IgA nephropathy via NLRP3 inflammasomes， aiming to provide a reference for further research and application of Chinese medicine intervention in the NLRP3 inflammasome as a new therapeutic target.

Objective: To reveal the molecular mechanism underlying the compatibility of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge (S. miltiorrhiza, Dan Shen) and C. tinctorius L. (C. tinctorius, Hong Hua) as an herb pair through network pharmacology and subsequent experimental validation. Methods: Network pharmacology was applied to construct an active ingredient-efficacy target-disease protein network to reveal the unique regulation pattern of S. miltiorrhiza and C. tinctorius as herb pair. Molecular docking was used to verify the binding of the components of these herbs and their potential targets. An H9c2 glucose hypoxia model was used to evaluate the efficacy of the components and their synergistic effects, which were evaluated using the combination index. Western blot was performed to detect the protein expression of these targets. Results: Network pharmacology analysis revealed 5 pathways and 8 core targets of S. miltiorrhiza and C. tinctorius in myocardial protection. Five of the core targets were enriched in the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) signaling pathway. S. miltiorrhiza-C. tinctorius achieved vascular tone mainly by regulating the target genes of the HIF-1 pathway. As an upstream gene of the HIF-1 pathway, STAT3 can be activated by the active ingredients cryptotanshinone (Ctan), salvianolic acid B (Sal. B), and myricetin (Myric). Cell experiments revealed that Myric, Sal. B, and Ctan also exhibited synergistic myocardial protective activity. Molecular docking verified the strong binding of Myric, Sal. B, and Ctan to STAT3. Western blot further showed that the active ingredients synergistically upregulated the protein expression of STAT3. Conclusion The pharmacodynamic transmission analysis revealed that the active ingredients of S. miltiorrhiza and C. tinctorius can synergistically resist ischemia through various targets and pathways. This study provides a methodological reference for interpreting traditional Chinese medicine compatibility.

OBJECTIVE To explore the therapeutic effect and safety of tolvaptan in the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction （HFpEF） complicated with hyponatremia. METHODS Overall 106 patients with HFpEF complicated with hyponatremia were collected from the Department of Cardiology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanyang Medical College from January 1， 2020 to June 1， 2023. According to the random number table， the patients were divided into conventional treatment group （n＝53） and tolvaptan group （n＝53）. The conventional treatment group was given conventional treatment. Tolvaptan group additionally received Tolvaptan tablets 15 mg on the basis of conventional treatment group， increasing to 30 mg after 24 h， and then adjusting the dosage according to the levels of serum sodium； the maximum dose should not exceed 60 mg/d， and the medication should be stopped when the serum sodium level was≥150 mmol/L. Both groups of patients were treated for 6 months. The levels and changes of cardiac function indexes [left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， left ventricular end systolic diameter （LVESD）， left ventricular end diastolic diameter （LVEDD）， N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP）]， 24 h urine output， serum sodium， blood creatinine and urea nitrogen were compared between 2 groups before and after treatment. The occurrence of adverse drug reaction （ADR） was recorded. RESULTS Before treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in those indexes between 2 groups （P＞0.05）. After treatment， the levels of LVEF， 24 h urine output and serum sodium in 2 groups were significantly higher than before treatment， and the tolvaptan group was significantly higher than the conventional treatment group； the levels of LVESD， LVEDD and NT-proBNP were significantly lower than before treatment， and the tolvaptan group was significantly lower than the conventional treatment group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The changes in cardiac function indexes， 24 h urine output and serum sodium levels in the atorvastatin group were more significant than the conventional treatment group （P＜0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference in the levels and changes of blood creatinine and urea nitrogen before and after treatment， as well as the incidence of nausea and vomiting， dizziness， hypernatremia and frequent urination between 2 groups （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Tolvaptan can improve cardiac function and increase the blood sodium levels in patients with HFpEF complicated with hyponatremia， without affecting their renal function or increasing the risk of ADR.

OBJECTIVE To put forward the governance for the development of Chinese materia medica industry by studying the multi-chain docking and integration mechanism based on the investigation and analysis of Polygonati Rhizoma industry in Anhui province. METHODS Based on the theory of multi-chain integration, this research defines the connotation of multi-chain integration, proposes the mechanism of multi-chain integration, and takes Anhui Polygonati Rhizoma industry as a case to sort out the mechanism of inter-chain docking and integration in industrial development, and puts forward the management strategy of industrial development accordingly. RESULTS The precise docking of the industrial chain, value chain, innovation chain, information chain, capital chain and policy chain was explored. Leading enterprises, scientific research units, financial institutions, industry organizations, government departments five inter-chain contact points, docking to promote multi-chain integration. CONCLUSION This research promotes industrial multi-chain integration from five aspects: leading enterprises to promote product development, scientific research institutions to promote innovation, financial departments to increase capital investment, industry organizations to build information exchange platforms, and government departments to increase policy support, for government to promote the development of effective Chinese materia medica industry reference theory instruction value and reality significance.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adebrelimab combined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in the first-line treatment of extensive stage small cell lung cancer from Chinese healthcare system perspective. METHODS Using the data obtained from the CAPSTONE-1 trial(230 cases for adebrelimab group, and 232 cases for chemotherapy group), Markov model was created for simulation of the disease development process of the extensive stage small cell lung cancer. The total costs, quality-adjusted life-years(QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio(ICER) in each group were calculated. The sensitivity of key parameters was analyzed. RESULTS Compared with pure chemotherapy(etoposide plus carboplatin chemotherapy), the ICER of adebrelimab combined with chemotherapy was 157128.79 yuan·QALY−1 under the situation of charity assistance, and 351367.27 yuan·QALY −1 in the environment of no charity assistance. Sensitivity analysis showed that the utility and the cost of adebrelimab were the main influence parameter. CONCLUSION Adebrelimab combined with chemotherapy regimen has no cost-effective advantage versus chemotherapy alone in the treatment of extensive stage small cell lung cancer under the current economic level of China; the probability of adebrelimab combined with chemotherapy being cost- effectiveness was 44.5% under the situation of charity assistan.

OBJECTIVE To establish the characteristic chromatogram of the volatile oil in the standard decoction of Qingshang juantong decoction， and preliminarily infer the main active components of volatile oil that affect the clinical therapeutic effect. METHODS The volatile oil in the standard decoction of Qingshang juantong decoction was extracted by steam distillation. The ultra-high performance liquid chromatography （UPLC） characteristic chromatograms of 15 batches of samples were established by the Similarity Evaluation System of TCM Chromatographic Fingerprint （2012 edition）， and the similarity evaluation was carried out. The volatile oil of standard decoction was identified by UPLC coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry （UPLC-Q-TOF/MS）. Then the volatile oil components were analyzed by GC-MS. RESULTS The similarities of UPLC characteristic chromatograms for volatile oil of 15 batches of Qingshang juantong decoction were between 0.949 and 0.997. A total of 12 common peaks were obtained. According to the UPLC-Q-TOF/MS， the main components were methyl eugenol， E-ligustilide， E-butylidenephthalide and so on. A total of 23 components were identified by GC-MS， which were mainly 3，4，5-trimethoxy- methylbenzene， patchouli alcohol， Z-ligustilide and so on. CONCLUSIONS The characteristic chromatograms of the volatile oil in the standard decoction of Qingshang juantong decoction is established， and it is inferred that methyl eugenol， ligustilide， E- butylidenephthalide， patchouli alcohol， 3，4，5-trimethoxy-methylbenzene might be the main active components affecting the clinical therapeutic effect of the volatile oil of Qingshang juantong decoction.