OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of Shenling baizhu san （SLBZS） in ameliorating ulcerative colitis （UC）. METHODS Mice were randomly divided into normal group， model group， and low-， medium-， high-dose SLBZS groups （3， 6， 12 g/kg）， with 10 mice in each group. Except for the normal group， mice in other groups were given free access to 3% dextran sulfate sodium solution for 7 days to establish UC models. Simultaneously， mice in each group were intragastrically administered corresponding medicinal liquid or double-distilled water once a day for consecutive 7 days. After the last administration， the histopathological morphology of colon tissues was observed； the serum levels of inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and IL-18 were detected； the total bile acid contents in liver， gallbladder and colon tissues were determined； the expression level of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 （NLRP3） in colon tissues was tested. The expression levels of flora metabolism-related proteins [G protein-coupled receptor 41（GPR41），GPR43，farnesoid X receptor （FXR）， G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 （TGR5）， flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 （FMO3）， cytochrome P450 family 27 subfamily A member 1 （CYP27A1）， CYP7A1] in liver or colon tissues， as well as the proteins related to Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）/NLRP3 inflammatory axis [TLR4， NF-κB， phosphorylated NF-κB （p-NF-κB）， myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）， NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， caspase-1] in colon tissues were measured. RESULTS Compared with the model group， the colon tissue injury and inflammatory cell infiltration were alleviated in medium- and high-dose SLBZS groups. The serum levels of TNF-α， IL-1β and IL-18， total bile acid contents in liver and colon tissues， as well as the protein expression levels of FMO3 and CYP7A1 in liver tissues， TLR4， p-NF-κB， NF-κB， MyD88， NLRP3， ASC and caspase-1 in colon tissues were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）. Meanwhile， the total bile acid content in gallbladder， the protein expression levels of GPR41 and GPR43 in colon tissues， along with CYP27A1， FXR and TGR5 in liver tissues were significantly increased （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS SLBZS may relieve colonic inflammatory injury and ameliorate UC by regulating the expression of flora metabolism-related proteins and inhibiting the abnormal activation of TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammatory axis.

Acute liver injury (ALI) serves as a critical precursor and major etiological factor in the progression and ultimate manifestation of various hepatic disorders. The prevention and treatment of ALI is still a serious global challenge. Given the limited therapeutic options for ALI, exploring novel targeted therapeutic agents becomes imperative. The potential therapeutic efficacy of inhibiting RIPK2 is highlighted, as it may provide significant benefits by attenuating the MAPK pathway and NF-κB signaling. Herein, we propose a CMD-OPT model, a two-stage molecular optimization tool for the rapid discovery of RIPK2 inhibitors with optimal properties. Compound RP20, which targets the ATP binding site, demonstrated excellent kinase specificity, ideal oral pharmacokinetics, and superior therapeutic effects in a model of APAP-induced ALI, positioning RP20 as a promising preclinical candidate. This marks the first application of RIPK2 inhibitors in ALI treatment, opening a novel therapeutic pathway for clinical applications. These results highlight the efficacy of the CMD-OPT model in producing lead compounds from known active molecules, showcasing its significant potential in drug discovery.

Objective:To construct and evaluate the nomogram prediction model of spontaneous rupture of primary liver cancer (STRPLC), and make the web-based dynamic online nomogram.Methods:Clinical data of 346 patients with PLC treated in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University were retrospectively analyzed, including 87 males and 15 females, aged 58.15±10.32 years. Single factor and multiple factor logistic regression analysis were used to screen the influencing factors of STRPLC, and the prediction model was constructed based on the nomogram. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve and clinical decision analysis were used to evaluate the model. The web-based dynamic online nomogram was developed using the DynNom package in R4.3.1 software.Results:Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors for spontaneous rupture and hemorrhage of tumor were no history of systematic anti-tumor therapy, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, tumor protrusion on liver surface, tumor length, invasion of major blood vessels, and moderate to large amount of ascites (all P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the prediction model constructed by this nomogram is 0.913 (95% CI: 0.884-0.943), the best cutoff value is 0.254, with a sensitivity of 0.892, and a specificity of 0.803. The calibration curve shows a good agreement between the predicted probability and the actual probability. The decision curve of the model is above the two invalid lines of " none" and " all" in the horizontal range of 0.07-0.98, and the clinical net benefit of the model is >0. Then user-friendly web-based dynamic online nomogram is constructed. Conclusion:Large tumor size, superficial location, no history of systematic anti-tumor therapy, high AFP level, invasion of major blood vessels, and moderate to large amount of ascites are independent risk factors for STRPLC. The prediction model and dynamic online nanogram constructed by this method can effectively assess the risk of STRPLC.

Objective To observe the effects of Yixintai on lipid metabolism and the protein expressions of CPT-1 and CD36 in rats with heart failure;To explore the mechanism of its treatment of heart failure.Methods 106 out of 120 SD rats were selected to establish the heart failure model induced by myocardial infarction by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery,and 14 rats were selected as the sham-operation group.The successful model rats were randomly divided into model group,trimetazidine group and Yixintai low-,medium-and high-dosage groups,with 14 rats in each group.The administration group was given corresponding drugs by gavage once a day for 4 weeks.LVEF,LVFS,LVIDd and LVIDs were measured by color doppler ultrasonography,the contents of ANP,BNP,LA and FFA in serum were detected by ELISA,the contents of TG,TC,LDL and HDL were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer,HE and Masson staining were used to observe the morphology of myocardial tissue,the expressions of CPT-1 and CD36 protein in myocardial tissue were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,LVEF and LVFS in the model group decreased(P<0.05),the LVIDs and LVIDd increased(P<0.05);the contents of serum ANP,BNP,LA,FFA,TG,TC and LDL increased(P<0.05),while the content of HDL decreased(P<0.05),with myocardial edema,irregular arrangement of myocardial fibers,increased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fiber deposition;the protein expressions of CPT-1 and CD36 in myocardial tissue decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the LVEF and LVFS in Yixintai each dosage groups and trimetazidine group increased(P<0.05),LVIDs and LVIDd decreased(P<0.05);the contents of ANP,BNP,LA,FFA,TG,TC and LDL in serum of Yixintai medium-and high-dosage groups and trimetazidine group decreased(P<0.05),the content of HDL increased(P<0.05);myocardial edema was improved,inflammatory cell infiltration was reduced,collagen fiber deposition was reduced,and the protein expressions of CPT-1 and CD36 in myocardial tissue increased(P<0.05).Conclusion Yixintai may improve myocardial energy metabolism and treat heart failure by increasing the expression of CPT-1 and CD36 protein in myocardial tissue and promoting fatty acid β oxidation.

The escalating pressure from global population growth, climate change, and resource consumption is intensifying the burden on traditional agricultural production. Against this backdrop, soil degradation and pollution present increasingly severe challenges, creating a vicious cycle with rising food demands. Maintaining soil health and its ecosystem services has thus become a critical prerequisite for achieving sustainable agriculture in the future. This review explores the impacts of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics on soil microbial communities and their interactions. Soil C and N are key determinants of microbial diversity and community structure, intrinsically linked to soil C/N cycling, crop productivity, and ecological balance. Environmental factors such as nitrogen fertilizer application, organic matter amendment application, litter decomposition, elevated CO₂ concentrations, and nitrogen deposition significantly influence soil C and N dynamics. Changes in soil C and N content regulate microbial community dynamics and the synergistic, competitive, and antagonistic interactions among microorganisms. Meanwhile, microbial communities actively respond to alterations in soil C and N availability. The resulting shifts in microbial communities and their interactions subsequently regulate soil C/N cycling and ecosystem stability, ultimately influencing ecosystem functions. By elucidating the mechanisms underlying soil carbon-nitrogen-microbial interactions, this review significantly advances our understanding of soil ecosystem responses and feedback mechanisms in the context of global change, while also providing crucial practical guidance for enhancing soil fertility and promoting sustainable agricultural development through microbial regulation.
Soil Microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism* ; Carbon/metabolism* ; Soil/chemistry* ; Bacteria/growth & development* ; Fungi/metabolism* ; Ecosystem ; Fertilizers ; Agriculture

Objective To investigate the influencing factors for low anterior resection syndrome(LARS)at one year after ileostomy reversal in patients who have undergone radical resection for rectal cancer,and to inform clinical interventions.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 312 patients who successfully underwent ileostomy reversal after radical resection for rectal cancer between January 2023 and January 2024 at 3 tertiary hospitals in Chongqing.Based on LARS scores at 1-year after stoma reversal,they were divided into a LARS group(score≥21)and a non-LARS group(score≤20).Clinical data were collected from the medical record system,including age,body mass index(BMI),sex,tumor size,tumor distance from the anal verge,T stage,N stage,date of low anterior resection,neoadjuvant therapy,postoperative chemotherapy,anastomotic leakage,and date of ileostomy reversal.Univariate analysis was used to screen potential influencing factors,and variables with P<0.2 were included in a multivariate logistic regression model.Binary stepwise regression analysis was applied to further analyze significant influencing factors for LARS at 1 year after ileostomy reversal.Results In the cohort,there were 127 patients assigned into the LARS group and 185 into the non-LARS group.The incidence of LARS at 1 year after ileostomy reversal was 40.70%,with mild cases accounting for 21.79%and severe ones for 18.91%,and a mean LARS score of 14.52±11.64.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that neoadjuvant therapy(yes vs no:OR=1.830,95%CI:1.088～3.089;P=0.023),tumor distance from anal verge≤5 cm(vs>5 cm:OR=2.044,95%CI:1.249～3.374;P=0.005),occurrence of anastomotic leakage(yes vs no:OR=7.470,95%CI:2.247～34.102;P=0.003),time to reversal(≥181 d vs 91～180 d:OR=2.297,95%CI:1.363～3.917;P=0.002),and N stage(N1～N2 vs N0:OR=1.650,95%CI:1.009～2.717;P=0.047)were significant influencing factors for LARS at 1 year after ileostomy reversal.Conclusion Our results suggest that anastomotic leakage,time to reversal≥181 d,tumor distance from anal verge≤5 cm,neoadjuvant therapy,and N stage N1～N2 are associated with the occurrence of LARS at 1 year after ileostomy reversal in patients following radical resection of rectal cancer.Clinical healthcare providers should implement early intervention and long-term follow-up for patients with high-risk factors both before and after stoma reversal.

Objective:To evaluate the image quality and radiation dose in contrast-enhanced thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT using automatic tube voltage modulation (ATVM) coupled with artificial intelligence iterative reconstruction (AIIR) versus routine tube voltage combined with Karl-3D iterative reconstruction (Karl-3D IR), and to determine the optimal noise level for AIIR in contrast-enhanced thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT.Methods:A total of 100 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT examination in the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University from April to October, 2023 were randomly divided into group A and group B using a random number table, with 50 patients in each group. Group A was scanned using ATVM, and images were reconstructed using AIIR with 1-5 noise levels. Group B was scanned using tube voltage 120 kVp and images were reconstructed with Karl-3D IR and noise level 5. The single-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), effective dose (E), and size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) were recorded or calculated for all patients or images. Subjective evaluations of all images were performed. The quality of the reconstructed images using AIIR with 1-5 noise levels were compared and the optimal noise level of AIIR for image reconstruction was determined. Image quality and radiation dose were statistically analyzed for Group A (image reconstruction with optimal AIIR noise level) and Group B.Results:The mean SNR and mean CNR of the reconstructed images using AIIR with noise levels 1, 2, and 3 in group A were higher than those using AIIR with noise levels 4 and 5. The images reconstructed using AIIR with noise levels 3 and 4 scored higher in subjective assessment than those reconstructed using AIIR with noise levels 1, 2, and 5. Therefore, noise level 3 was optimal for AIIR in reconstruction of contrast-enhanced thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT images. The mean SNR, mean CNR, and subjective evaluation score of group A using AIIR with noise level 3 were higher than those of group B using Karl-3D IR with noise level 5 ( P<0.001). The mean SSDE and the mean E of group A were reduced by 46% and 41%, respectively, compared with those of group B. Conclusions:ATVM technology combined with the AIIR algorithm can improve image quality and reduced patient radiation dose in contrast-enhanced thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT. Noise level 3 is optimal for AIIR in the reconstruction of arterial-phase and venous-phase contrast-enhanced thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT images.

Objective:To evaluate the image quality and radiation dose in contrast-enhanced thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT using automatic tube voltage modulation (ATVM) coupled with artificial intelligence iterative reconstruction (AIIR) versus routine tube voltage combined with Karl-3D iterative reconstruction (Karl-3D IR), and to determine the optimal noise level for AIIR in contrast-enhanced thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT.Methods:A total of 100 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT examination in the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University from April to October, 2023 were randomly divided into group A and group B using a random number table, with 50 patients in each group. Group A was scanned using ATVM, and images were reconstructed using AIIR with 1-5 noise levels. Group B was scanned using tube voltage 120 kVp and images were reconstructed with Karl-3D IR and noise level 5. The single-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), effective dose (E), and size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) were recorded or calculated for all patients or images. Subjective evaluations of all images were performed. The quality of the reconstructed images using AIIR with 1-5 noise levels were compared and the optimal noise level of AIIR for image reconstruction was determined. Image quality and radiation dose were statistically analyzed for Group A (image reconstruction with optimal AIIR noise level) and Group B.Results:The mean SNR and mean CNR of the reconstructed images using AIIR with noise levels 1, 2, and 3 in group A were higher than those using AIIR with noise levels 4 and 5. The images reconstructed using AIIR with noise levels 3 and 4 scored higher in subjective assessment than those reconstructed using AIIR with noise levels 1, 2, and 5. Therefore, noise level 3 was optimal for AIIR in reconstruction of contrast-enhanced thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT images. The mean SNR, mean CNR, and subjective evaluation score of group A using AIIR with noise level 3 were higher than those of group B using Karl-3D IR with noise level 5 ( P<0.001). The mean SSDE and the mean E of group A were reduced by 46% and 41%, respectively, compared with those of group B. Conclusions:ATVM technology combined with the AIIR algorithm can improve image quality and reduced patient radiation dose in contrast-enhanced thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT. Noise level 3 is optimal for AIIR in the reconstruction of arterial-phase and venous-phase contrast-enhanced thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT images.

Objective:To construct and evaluate the nomogram prediction model of spontaneous rupture of primary liver cancer (STRPLC), and make the web-based dynamic online nomogram.Methods:Clinical data of 346 patients with PLC treated in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University were retrospectively analyzed, including 87 males and 15 females, aged 58.15±10.32 years. Single factor and multiple factor logistic regression analysis were used to screen the influencing factors of STRPLC, and the prediction model was constructed based on the nomogram. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve and clinical decision analysis were used to evaluate the model. The web-based dynamic online nomogram was developed using the DynNom package in R4.3.1 software.Results:Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors for spontaneous rupture and hemorrhage of tumor were no history of systematic anti-tumor therapy, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, tumor protrusion on liver surface, tumor length, invasion of major blood vessels, and moderate to large amount of ascites (all P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the prediction model constructed by this nomogram is 0.913 (95% CI: 0.884-0.943), the best cutoff value is 0.254, with a sensitivity of 0.892, and a specificity of 0.803. The calibration curve shows a good agreement between the predicted probability and the actual probability. The decision curve of the model is above the two invalid lines of " none" and " all" in the horizontal range of 0.07-0.98, and the clinical net benefit of the model is >0. Then user-friendly web-based dynamic online nomogram is constructed. Conclusion:Large tumor size, superficial location, no history of systematic anti-tumor therapy, high AFP level, invasion of major blood vessels, and moderate to large amount of ascites are independent risk factors for STRPLC. The prediction model and dynamic online nanogram constructed by this method can effectively assess the risk of STRPLC.

Objective To observe the effects of Yixintai on lipid metabolism and the protein expressions of CPT-1 and CD36 in rats with heart failure;To explore the mechanism of its treatment of heart failure.Methods 106 out of 120 SD rats were selected to establish the heart failure model induced by myocardial infarction by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery,and 14 rats were selected as the sham-operation group.The successful model rats were randomly divided into model group,trimetazidine group and Yixintai low-,medium-and high-dosage groups,with 14 rats in each group.The administration group was given corresponding drugs by gavage once a day for 4 weeks.LVEF,LVFS,LVIDd and LVIDs were measured by color doppler ultrasonography,the contents of ANP,BNP,LA and FFA in serum were detected by ELISA,the contents of TG,TC,LDL and HDL were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer,HE and Masson staining were used to observe the morphology of myocardial tissue,the expressions of CPT-1 and CD36 protein in myocardial tissue were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,LVEF and LVFS in the model group decreased(P<0.05),the LVIDs and LVIDd increased(P<0.05);the contents of serum ANP,BNP,LA,FFA,TG,TC and LDL increased(P<0.05),while the content of HDL decreased(P<0.05),with myocardial edema,irregular arrangement of myocardial fibers,increased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fiber deposition;the protein expressions of CPT-1 and CD36 in myocardial tissue decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the LVEF and LVFS in Yixintai each dosage groups and trimetazidine group increased(P<0.05),LVIDs and LVIDd decreased(P<0.05);the contents of ANP,BNP,LA,FFA,TG,TC and LDL in serum of Yixintai medium-and high-dosage groups and trimetazidine group decreased(P<0.05),the content of HDL increased(P<0.05);myocardial edema was improved,inflammatory cell infiltration was reduced,collagen fiber deposition was reduced,and the protein expressions of CPT-1 and CD36 in myocardial tissue increased(P<0.05).Conclusion Yixintai may improve myocardial energy metabolism and treat heart failure by increasing the expression of CPT-1 and CD36 protein in myocardial tissue and promoting fatty acid β oxidation.