Irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） is a functional bowel disorder characterized primarily by abdominal pain and altered defecation habits. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has made progress in multiple aspects of IBS research and treatment， including syndrome distribution， development of TCM formulas， clinical efficacy evaluation， external therapies， and psychosocial regulation. However， it still faces challenges such as over-reliance on symptomatic manifestations rather than biomarkers for diagnostic criteria， and the lack of high-quality evidence-based data supporting the efficacy of TCM formulas in treating IBS. This paper proposed that TCM diagnosis and treatment of IBS should adhere to the strategy of integrating the holistic concept with syndrome differentiation and treatment， combining TCM external therapies such as acupuncture， moxibustion and acupoint application）， and emphasizing individualized diagnosis and treatment for psychosomatic abnormalities. Future research should integrate multi-omics technologies， artificial intelligence and other methods to deepen the understanding of the pathogenesis of IBS and the mechanisms of TCM formulas， so as to promote the standardization and internationalization of TCM in the diagnosis and treatment of IBS.

ObjectiveTo preliminarily explore the active components and target pathways of Angelicae Sinensis Radix-Polygonati Rhizoma （ASR-PR） herb pair in the treatment of simple obesity through network pharmacology and molecular docking， and to verify and investigate its mechanism of action via animal experiments. MethodsThe chemical constituents and targets of ASR and PR were predicted using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP）. Targets related to simple obesity were identified by retrieving the GeneCards， Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man （OMIM）， Pharmacogenomics Knowledgebase （PharmGKB）， and DisGeNET databases. The intersection of drug and disease targets was used to construct an active component-target network using Cytoscape software. This network was imported into the STRING database to construct a protein-protein interaction （PPI） network， and topological analysis was conducted to identify core genes. Gene Ontology （GO） analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis and mapping were performed using the DAVID database and the Microbioinformatics platform. AutoDock 1.5.7 software was used to perform molecular docking between the top five active components and core targets. An animal model of simple obesity was established by feeding C57BL/6J mice a high-fat diet. The mice were administered ASR （2.06 g·kg^-1）， PR （2.06 g·kg^-1）， or ASR-PR （4.11 g·kg^-1） for 10 weeks， while the model group received an equal volume of purified water by gavage. After the administration period， the mice were sacrificed to measure body fat weight and serum levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， high-density lipoprotein （HDL）， and low-density lipoprotein （LDL）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe histopathological sections of liver and adipose tissue. Serum levels of leptin， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the mRNA expression levels of epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3） in liver tissue were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultsNetwork pharmacology and molecular docking results indicated that the treatment of simple obesity by ASR-PR may involve the regulation of protein expression of core targets EGFR and STAT3 by its main components MOL009760 （Siberian glycoside A_qt）， MOL003889 （methyl protodioscin_qt）， MOL009766 （resveratrol）， MOL006331 （4′，5-dihydroxyflavone）， and MOL004941 （baicalin）， thereby modulating the PI3K/Akt and JAK/STAT signaling pathways. The animal experiment results showed that compared with the normal group， the model group had significantly increased body weight， body fat weight， and serum levels of TG， TC， TNF-α， IL-6， and leptin （P<0.01）. EGFR mRNA expression was significantly elevated （P<0.05）， while STAT3 mRNA expression was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Histological analysis revealed disordered hepatic architecture in the model group， with pronounced lipid vacuoles， cytoplasmic loosening， lipid accumulation， and steatosis. Adipocytes in white adipose tissue （WAT） and brown adipose tissue （BAT） of the model group exhibited markedly increased diameters， reduced cell counts per unit area， and irregular morphology. Compared with the model group， the ASR-PR group significantly reduced body weight， body fat weight， serum TC， IL-6， TNF-α， leptin levels， and EGFR mRNA expression （P<0.01）. TG levels were also significantly decreased （P<0.05）， while STAT3 mRNA expression was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Histopathological improvements included reduced size and number of hepatic lipid vacuoles and restoration of liver cell morphology toward that of the normal group. The diameter of adipocytes significantly decreased， and the number of adipocytes per unit area increased. ConclusionASR-PR may regulate the expression of key target proteins such as EGFR and STAT3 via its core active components， modulate the PI3K/Akt and JAK/STAT signaling pathways， repair damaged liver and adipose tissues， and thereby alleviate the progression of obesity in mice.

ObjectiveTo preliminarily explore the active components and target pathways of Angelicae Sinensis Radix-Polygonati Rhizoma （ASR-PR） herb pair in the treatment of simple obesity through network pharmacology and molecular docking， and to verify and investigate its mechanism of action via animal experiments. MethodsThe chemical constituents and targets of ASR and PR were predicted using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP）. Targets related to simple obesity were identified by retrieving the GeneCards， Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man （OMIM）， Pharmacogenomics Knowledgebase （PharmGKB）， and DisGeNET databases. The intersection of drug and disease targets was used to construct an active component-target network using Cytoscape software. This network was imported into the STRING database to construct a protein-protein interaction （PPI） network， and topological analysis was conducted to identify core genes. Gene Ontology （GO） analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis and mapping were performed using the DAVID database and the Microbioinformatics platform. AutoDock 1.5.7 software was used to perform molecular docking between the top five active components and core targets. An animal model of simple obesity was established by feeding C57BL/6J mice a high-fat diet. The mice were administered ASR （2.06 g·kg^-1）， PR （2.06 g·kg^-1）， or ASR-PR （4.11 g·kg^-1） for 10 weeks， while the model group received an equal volume of purified water by gavage. After the administration period， the mice were sacrificed to measure body fat weight and serum levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， high-density lipoprotein （HDL）， and low-density lipoprotein （LDL）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe histopathological sections of liver and adipose tissue. Serum levels of leptin， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the mRNA expression levels of epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3） in liver tissue were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultsNetwork pharmacology and molecular docking results indicated that the treatment of simple obesity by ASR-PR may involve the regulation of protein expression of core targets EGFR and STAT3 by its main components MOL009760 （Siberian glycoside A_qt）， MOL003889 （methyl protodioscin_qt）， MOL009766 （resveratrol）， MOL006331 （4′，5-dihydroxyflavone）， and MOL004941 （baicalin）， thereby modulating the PI3K/Akt and JAK/STAT signaling pathways. The animal experiment results showed that compared with the normal group， the model group had significantly increased body weight， body fat weight， and serum levels of TG， TC， TNF-α， IL-6， and leptin （P<0.01）. EGFR mRNA expression was significantly elevated （P<0.05）， while STAT3 mRNA expression was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Histological analysis revealed disordered hepatic architecture in the model group， with pronounced lipid vacuoles， cytoplasmic loosening， lipid accumulation， and steatosis. Adipocytes in white adipose tissue （WAT） and brown adipose tissue （BAT） of the model group exhibited markedly increased diameters， reduced cell counts per unit area， and irregular morphology. Compared with the model group， the ASR-PR group significantly reduced body weight， body fat weight， serum TC， IL-6， TNF-α， leptin levels， and EGFR mRNA expression （P<0.01）. TG levels were also significantly decreased （P<0.05）， while STAT3 mRNA expression was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Histopathological improvements included reduced size and number of hepatic lipid vacuoles and restoration of liver cell morphology toward that of the normal group. The diameter of adipocytes significantly decreased， and the number of adipocytes per unit area increased. ConclusionASR-PR may regulate the expression of key target proteins such as EGFR and STAT3 via its core active components， modulate the PI3K/Akt and JAK/STAT signaling pathways， repair damaged liver and adipose tissues， and thereby alleviate the progression of obesity in mice.

BACKGROUND: Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is indicated as a broad-spectrum medicine for a variety of diseases, including cancer and cardiac disease. While the role of ATO in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (HIRI) has not been reported. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the effects of ATO on HIRI. METHODS: In the present study, we established a 70% hepatic warm I/R injury and partial hepatectomy (30% resection) animal models in vivo and hepatocytes anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) models in vitro with ATO pretreatment and further assessed liver function by histopathologic changes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cell counting kit-8, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) for extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 was transfected to evaluate the role of ERK1/2 pathway during HIRI, followed by ATO pretreatment. The dynamic process of autophagic flux and numbers of autophagosomes were detected by green fluorescent protein-monomeric red fluorescent protein-LC3 (GFP-mRFP-LC3) staining and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: A low dose of ATO (0.75 μmol/L in vitro and 1 mg/kg in vivo ) significantly reduced tissue necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, and hepatocyte apoptosis during the process of hepatic I/R. Meanwhile, ATO obviously promoted the ability of cell proliferation and liver regeneration. Mechanistically, in vitro  studies have shown that nontoxic concentrations of ATO can activate both ERK and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-serine/threonine kinase (PI3K-AKT) pathways and further induce autophagy. The hepatoprotective mechanism of ATO, at least in part, relies on the effects of ATO on the activation of autophagy, which is ERK-dependent. CONCLUSION Low, non-toxic doses of ATO can activate ERK/PI3K-AKT pathways and induce ERK-dependent autophagy in hepatocytes, protecting liver against I/R injury and accelerating hepatocyte regeneration after partial hepatectomy.
Animals ; Arsenic Trioxide ; Autophagy/physiology* ; Reperfusion Injury/prevention & control* ; Mice ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/physiology* ; Arsenicals/therapeutic use* ; Oxides/therapeutic use* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

The production of high-quality oocytes requires precisely orchestrated intercellular communication. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived nanoparticles that play a vital role in the transfer of bioactive molecules, which has gained much attention in the field of diagnosis and treatment. Over the past ten years, the participation of EVs in the reproductive processes of oocytes has been broadly studied and has shown great potential for elucidating the intricacies of female reproductive health. This review provides an extensive discussion of the influence of EVs on oocytes, emphasizing their involvement in normal physiology and altered cargo under pathological conditions. In addition, the positive impact of therapeutic EVs on oocyte quality and their role in alleviating ovarian pathological conditions are summarized.
Humans ; Extracellular Vesicles/physiology* ; Oocytes/cytology* ; Female ; Animals ; Cell Communication/physiology*

Knee osteoarthritis(KOA)is a common chronic degenerative bone and joint disease characterized by degeneration and wear of knee cartilage.It is commonly found in middle-aged and elderly people and seriously impacts on their lower limb activity and quality of life.At present,the treatment of early and middle stage KOA mainly relies on the conservative methods such as oral medication,joint injection,topical patches and traditional Chinese medicine.Platelet rich plasma(PRP),as an autologous platelet concentrate,is rich in various growth factors and has no risk of immune rejection.In recent years,it has been widely used in the repair of bone,joint,and soft tissue injuries.However,the short biological half-life of growth factors in PRP and the fluidity of injection sites can result in insufficient binding force,short action time,poor target therapy efficacy,and the need for repeated injections in the joint cavity,which will increase the risk of iatrogenic infections.Hydrogels are cross-linked polymer networks containing water,and their high histocompatibility and drug release have attracted much attention.The slow and continuous release of drug is achieved by loading PRP onto hydrogel.Its unique adhesion reduces the flow of drug in the joint,thus extending the local action time of PRP and reducing the need for repeated injection.This article reviews the biological characteristics of PRP and hydrogel,the mechanism of action and clinical application of PRP loaded hydrogel in the treatment of KOA,and analyzes the existing problems and challenges,aiming to provide more effective treatment options for KOA patients through the in-depth discussion of this new treatment method.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the composition of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and depression/anxiety/sleep disturbances (D/A/S) in patients with chronic pain.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted at 13 tertiary hospitals across China, enrolling patients who experienced chronic pain between November 2023 and May 2024. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and TCM constitution categories were used to assess the patients. The association between the TCM constitution and the D/A/S ratio was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsA total of 1107 patients (63.2% women) were analyzed. Compared with those with a balanced constitution, patients who had qi-deficiency and yin-deficiency were at a higher risk of depression. Qi-deficiency and yin-deficiency were associated with anxiety. Sleep disturbances were common in patients with qi-deficiency constitution (odds ratio [OR]: 2.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42–3.81), yang-deficiency constitution (OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.26–2.98), yin-deficiency constitution (OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.24–3.32), blood stasis constitution (OR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.01–4.22), and qi-stagnation constitution (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.35–5.25).ConclusionIn patients with chronic pain, specific TCM constitutions may be associated with D/A/S. Further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the potential causal relationships between TCM constitution types and these conditions.

Chronic gastritis is a chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa caused by various etiologies and can be categorized into chronic non-atrophic gastritis and chronic atrophic gastritis.Chronic atrophic gastritis is a common disorder of the digestive system characterized by gastric mucosal gland atrophy,mucosal thinning,and basal layer thickening.The development of intestinal metaplasia and atypical hyperplasia on this basis is recognized as a precancerous lesion of gastric cancer and represents a key stage in the"inflammation-cancer transformation"of chronic gastritis.However,universally recognized and effective treatment strategies for this"inflammation-cancer transformation"process are lacking in clinical practice.This study integrates Correa′s cascade reaction with clinical practice,summarizing the pathogenesis of the"inflammation-cancer transformation"of chronic gastritis as weakness of the middle jiao and blood stasis.It suggests that the"inflammation-cancer transformation"process involves the pathological development of spleen and stomach deficiency,transportation and transformation dysfunction,turbid phlegm,blood stasis,and the gradual formation of cancerous toxins,with spleen and stomach weakness as the core mechanism and phlegm and blood stasis as the crucial pathological link.Based on an in-depth exploration of the deficiency of the middle jiao and blood stasis,supported by pharmacological research and clinical experience,this paper proposes the therapeutic approach of strengthening the spleen and replenishing qi,expelling phlegm and activating blood.It discusses the related prescriptions in preventing and treating the"inflammation-cancer transformation"of chronic gastritis.This study aims to provide new perspectives and insights for the prevention and treatment of chronic gastritis with traditional Chinese medicine,offering a novel framework for clinical treatment.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and therapeutic efficacy of robot-assisted radical resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. The clinical data of 29 patients who underwent robot-assisted radical resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma at the Department of Minimally Invasive Hepatic Surgery,the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from July 2021 to February 2025 were retrospectively collected. There were 16 males and 13 females, aged ( M(IQR)) 68.0 (10.0) years (range:36 to 78 years), and body mass index (24.0±2.9) kg/m 2 (range:17.5 to 29.1 kg/m 2). Bismuth-Corlette classification: 12 cases type Ⅰ, 4 cases type Ⅱ, 6 cases type Ⅲb, and 7 cases type Ⅳ. Preoperative CA19-9 was 161.7(320.9) U/ml (range:7.1 to 1 000.0 U/ml), and carcinoembryonic antigen was 2.8(2.1)μg/L (range:0.3 to 203.1 μg/L). Preoperative total bilirubin was 134.2 (348.9) μmol/L (range:10.4 to 557.9 μmol/L), direct bilirubin was 90.8 (264.1) μmol/L (range:2.5 to 418.7 μmol/L), ALT was 136.4 (134.8) U/L (range:13.0 to 569.9 U/L), AST was 122.2 (119.9) U/L (range:16.0 to 384.0 U/L), and albumin was (34.5±6.3) g/L (range:21.7 to 41.3 g/L). Comparison of quantitative data at different time points using paired t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Cox univariate analysis was performed for the relevant variables, and Cox multivariate regression analysis was used to screen the independent prognostic factors of patients after robot-assisted radical resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Results:All the 29 patients successfully underwent robot-assisted radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma, and the R0 resection rate was 93.1% (27/29) without conversion to laparotomy. The operation time was 295.0 (87.5) minutes (range:195 to 590 minutes), the intraoperative blood loss was 100.0 (150.0) ml (range:20 to 1 000 ml), the intraoperative blood transfusion rate was 20.1% (6/29), the number of lymph nodes dissected was 10.0 (7.0) pieces (range: 6 to 18 pieces), the first postoperative deflatus time was 3.0 (1.0) days (range:2 to 4 days), The oral feeding time was 5.0 (1.0) days (range: 4 to 7 days), the drainage tube removal time was 8.0 (2.0) days (range: 6 to 26 days), and the postoperative hospital stay time was 10.0 (6.0) days (range:7 to 27 days). The incidence of complications above grade Ⅱ of the Clavien-Dindo complication grading system was 24.1% (7/29), including 3 cases of gastrointestinal bleeding with recurrent high fever, 1 case of delayed gastric emptying, 1 case of bile leakage, and 5 cases of hypoalbuminemia. The total bilirubin was 42.8 (66.8) μmol/L (range:6.8 to 195.9 μmol/L), direct bilirubin was 28.1 (38.5) μmol/L (range:4.3 to 88.6 μmol/L), ALT was 55.8 (56.0) U/L (range:9.9 to 207.1 U/L), AST was 33.9 (17.9) U/L (range:10.6 to 122.7 U/L), and albumin was (32.1±3.8) g/L (range:22.8 to 37.7 g/L), the levels of transaminase and bilirubin in the postoperative liver function indexes were significantly improved compared with those before operation, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The mortality rate of patients without perioperative death was 3.4% (1/29) at 90 days after surgery. The results of Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that R0 resection was an independent prognostic factor for survival at 1 year after surgery ( P<0.05). The follow-up time was 15.0 (12.0) months (range:6 to 30 months), 1 of the 29 patients died of intra-abdominal infection 1 week after discharge, and the remaining 28 patients were completely followed up, of which 20 patients had no recurrence and metastasis during the follow-up period, and the tumor-free survival was 15.0 (12.0) months (range:6 to 30 months), the tumor-free survival rate was 65.5% (19/29), the overall survival rate was 68.9% (20/29), and 8 patients with postoperative recurrence and metastasis. One patient with liver metastasis survived after reoperation, and one patient underwent postoperative chemoradiotherapy and died due to recurrence. There were 8 deaths during the follow-up, of which 7 died due to tumor recurrence and metastasis, and 1 died due to previous underlying diseases. Conclusion:Robot-assisted radical resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma is feasible and effective.

Objective:To explore the reoperation cause and molecular classification of patients reoperated for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. Clinical data from 102 PTC patients who underwent reoperation at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were collected between February 2019 and December 2024. The cohort comprised 26 males (25.5%) and 76 females (74.5%), with initial age of (33.1±12.2) years (range: 9 to 67 years). At initial surgery, 25.5% (26/102) exhibited extrathyroidal extension, 52.0% (53/102) had multifocal tumors, and 19.6% (20/102) had metastatic lymph nodes with extranodal extension. AJCC staging classified 95.1% (97/102) as stage Ⅰ, 2.9% (3/102) as stage Ⅱ, and 2.0% (2/102) as stage Ⅲ. Standardized primary tumor resection was performed in 81.4% (83/102), prophylactic central compartment lymph node dissection (LND) in 89.2% (91/102), and therapeutic lateral LND in 47.1% (48/102). Data on recurrence, genetic alterations, reoperation intervals, and clinical features of multiple recurrent PTC cases were analyzed.Results:Among 102 patients, 81.4% (83/102) presented with lateral neck metastases, 48.0% (49/102) with central compartment metastases, and 22.6% (23/102) with residual thyroid lobe recurrence at reoperation. Reoperation occurred within 6 months postoperatively in 18.6% (19/102) and after 6 months in 81.4% (83/102). Genetic detection revealed BRAF mutation in 63.7% (65/102), RET fusions in 19.6% (20/102), and TERT promoter mutations in 8.8% (9/102). During reoperation, 88.2% (90/102) underwent therapeutic lateral LND, and 39.2% (40/102) required residual gland resection. Twelve patients received multiple surgeries, including 4 cases with BRAF+TERT mutations, 4 with RET fusions, and 4 with BRAF mutation alone. Conclusions:The reasons for the reoperation of PTC mainly include recurrence and complementary surgery. Genetic alterations such as BRAF mutation and RET fusion are common in PTC patients requiring reoperation.