AIM To investigate the effects of Yiqi Juanbi Formula on chondrocyte pyroptosis in rat models of collagen-induced arthritis(CIA).METHODS Fifty rats were subcutaneously injected at the tail base with an emulsion containing equal volumes of bovine type Ⅱ collagen and incomplete Freund's adjuvant(IFA)to establish the CIA models.These rats were then randomly assigned to the model group,the methotrexate group(0.35 mg/kg),and the low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose Yiqi Juanbi Formula groups(9.4,18.7,37.4 g/kg),in contrast to the ten intact rats serving in the normal control group.Following four weeks of intragastric administration,the rats had their general conditions observed;their joint swelling and arthritis indices measured;their ankle joint pathology assessed by HE staining;their serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ detected by ELISA;their mRNA expressions of NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ in ankle cartilage quantified by RT-qPCR;their protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in ankle cartilage analyzed by Western blot;and their NLRP3 and GSDMD positive expressions in ankle cartilage examined by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS Compared to the control group,the model group showed significantly increased joint swelling and arthritis indices(P＜0.01);elevated serum levels of IL-1 β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01);pathological changes including cartilage surface defects,reduced cell count,altered cellular morphology,irregular cell arrangement,and significant inflammatory cell infiltration in synovial tissue;upregulated mRNA expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01)and increased protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1(P＜0.01)in ankle cartilage;enhanced positive expressions of NLRP3 and GSDMD in ankle cartilage(P＜0.01).Compared to the model group,the groups intervened with methotrexate or medium-or high-dose Yiqi Juanbi Formula exhibited reduced joint swelling and arthritis indices(P＜0.01);alleviated pathological damage in ankle joints;decreased serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01);downregulated mRNA expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and reduced protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)in ankle cartilage;and diminished positive expressions of NLRP3 and GSDMD in ankle cartilage(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION Yiqi Juanbi Formula alleviates inflammation in CIA rats,potentially by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway,thereby suppressing chondrocyte pyroptosis.

Objective:To establish the quality standard of the standard decoction of wine-processed Coptidis Rhizoma by studying the extraction rate, fingerprint and component quantitative analysis.Methods:ccording to the Technical Requirements for Quality Control and Standard Formulation of Chinese Medicine Formula Granules, 15 batches of the standard decoction of wine-processed Coptidis Rhizoma were prepared, and the paste rate was determined; HPLC fingerprints of 15 batches of standard decoction of wine-processed Coptidis Rhizoma were established, and evaluated by combining similarity evaluation, clustering analysis, principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis; the contents of berberine, epiberberine, pamadine, and safranine in the samples of the 15 batches were determined and analyzed their transfer rates.Results:A total of 15 batches of standard decoction samples were calibrated with 11 common peaks, referring to the recognition of 8 components. The similarity between the samples and the control product was greater than 0.900; the clustering analysis could cluster the 15 batches of samples into 2 classes; the results of the principal component analysis showed that the cumulative variance contribution rate of the 3 principal component factors was 89.388%; the OPLS-DA screened out the 3 components of the quality difference; the 15 batches of samples out of the paste rate was 15.7% -20.8%, and the mass fractions of berberine, epiberberine, safranine, and palmatine were 18.47%-24.38%, 2.82%-3.49%, 5.08%-6.69%, and 4.84%-6.68%, respectively, with transfer rates of 41.7%-61.7%, 46.9%-68.7%, 39.8%-61.5%, and 43.8%-65.2%.Conclusion:The fingerprint and content determination method established in this study is accurate, stable, simple, and can be used for the quality control and evaluation of the standard decoction of wine-processed Coptidis Rhizoma.

AIM To investigate the effects of Yiqi Juanbi Formula on chondrocyte pyroptosis in rat models of collagen-induced arthritis(CIA).METHODS Fifty rats were subcutaneously injected at the tail base with an emulsion containing equal volumes of bovine type Ⅱ collagen and incomplete Freund's adjuvant(IFA)to establish the CIA models.These rats were then randomly assigned to the model group,the methotrexate group(0.35 mg/kg),and the low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose Yiqi Juanbi Formula groups(9.4,18.7,37.4 g/kg),in contrast to the ten intact rats serving in the normal control group.Following four weeks of intragastric administration,the rats had their general conditions observed;their joint swelling and arthritis indices measured;their ankle joint pathology assessed by HE staining;their serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ detected by ELISA;their mRNA expressions of NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ in ankle cartilage quantified by RT-qPCR;their protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in ankle cartilage analyzed by Western blot;and their NLRP3 and GSDMD positive expressions in ankle cartilage examined by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS Compared to the control group,the model group showed significantly increased joint swelling and arthritis indices(P＜0.01);elevated serum levels of IL-1 β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01);pathological changes including cartilage surface defects,reduced cell count,altered cellular morphology,irregular cell arrangement,and significant inflammatory cell infiltration in synovial tissue;upregulated mRNA expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01)and increased protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1(P＜0.01)in ankle cartilage;enhanced positive expressions of NLRP3 and GSDMD in ankle cartilage(P＜0.01).Compared to the model group,the groups intervened with methotrexate or medium-or high-dose Yiqi Juanbi Formula exhibited reduced joint swelling and arthritis indices(P＜0.01);alleviated pathological damage in ankle joints;decreased serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01);downregulated mRNA expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and reduced protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)in ankle cartilage;and diminished positive expressions of NLRP3 and GSDMD in ankle cartilage(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION Yiqi Juanbi Formula alleviates inflammation in CIA rats,potentially by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway,thereby suppressing chondrocyte pyroptosis.

Eucommiae Cortex, the dried bark of Eucommia ulmoides( Eucommiaceae), has both medicinal and edible values.Modern research has shown that Eucommiae Cortex contains various components such as flavonoids, lignans, iridoids, phenolic acids,terpenoids, and steroids, which have anti-osteoporosis, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, blood glucose-lowering, and gastrointestinal tract-protecting effects. Eucommiae Cortex has applications in multiple fields such as healthcare, industry, and animal husbandry,demonstrating broad development prospects. This article reviews the chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, and quality control status of Eucommiae Cortex. Furthermore, according to the concept of quality marker(Q-marker), this article predicts the Q-markers of Eucommiae Cortex from traditional medicinal properties, traditional medicinal effects, new medicinal effects, measurability of chemical components, compatibility, harvesting periods, and geographical origins. The components such as pinoresinol diglucoside,chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin, baicalein, baicalin, olivil, coniferyl ferulate, and kaempferol can be used as Q-markers for Eucommiae Cortex, which provide reference for establishing a systematic quality control system for Eucommiae Cortex.
Eucommiaceae/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Quality Control ; Humans ; Animals

In this study, RAW264.7 cells were employed to investigate the effects of honey-processed Astragalus on their energy metabolism and polarization, and explore the scientific connotation of the enhanced efficacy of honey-processed Astragalus on invigorating spleen-stomach and replenishing Qi. The medicated sera were prepared by intragastric administration of rats with water extracts of crude and honey-processed Astragalus, and the composition changes of medicated sera of crude and honey-processed Astragalus were analyzed by using LC-MS technology. The cell survival rates were detected and the concentrations of medicated sera were screened through CCK-8 assay. The differences of cell phagocytic rates, ATP energy metabolism, and NO secretion between crude and honey-processed Astragalus were evaluated by using neutral red phagocytosis assay, ATP detection kit, and NO detection kit. The effects of crude and honey-processed Astragalus on TNF-α secretion of RAW264.7 cells were detected by employing ELISA kit. The effects of crude and honey-processed Astragalus on polarization of RAW264.7 cells were evaluated by utilizing flow cytometry. The differential metabolites related to glycolysis in cell lysates and culture media were screened by using LC-MS technology. The experiment was approved by the experimental animal ethics committee from Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine (No. AWE202407352). The results showed that the contents of betaine, amino acids, and ononin in the prepared medicated sera of rats treated by intragastric administration with water extracts of honey-processed Astragalus increased compared to those in crude one. The results of CCK-8 experiment showed that there were no cytotoxic effects on RAW264.7 cells in the medicated sera of crude and honey-processd Astragalus at different concentration. The phagocytic index and ATP yield both increased to varying degrees after administration of the medicated sera to cells. The secretion of NO in normal and inflammatory cells increased and decreased respectively, and the effect of honey-processed Astragalus was better than that of crude one. The results of ELISA kit showed that the medicated sera of both crude and honey-processed Astragalus could promote the secretion of TNF-α in a concentration-dependent manner, and the promoting effect of honey-processed Astragalus was stronger than that of crude one. The results of flow cytometry showed that the medicated sera of both crude and honey-processed Astragalus could promote M1-type polarization and inhibit M2-type polarization of RAW264.7 cells, and the effect of honey-processed Astragalus was better than that of crude one. Compared to crude Astragalus, the metabolites related to glycolysis in the cell lysates and culture media of the medicated sera of honey-processed Astragalus were generally on the rise, indicating that the effect on promoting glycolysis of honey-processed Astragalus was better than that of crude one. In summary, honey-processed Astragalus can promote the polarization and energy metabolism of RAW264.7 cells, and participate in positive immune regulation, which is correlated with its enhanced effect of invigorating spleen-stomach and replenishing Qi.

The 2021 version of the Baveno Ⅶ consensus on portal hypertension and the 2023 guidelines from the European Association for the Study of the Liver define recompensated cirrhosis as the restoration and stabilization of liver function, improvement of liver fibrosis, and absence of decompensated cirrhosis for a long time following effective treatment of the underlying etiology of cirrhosis. Recompensated cirrhosis has become an important research direction in the field with the gradually increasing number of these patients. Temporary recompensation, stable recompensation, and long-term recompensation are the three stages into which patients with cirrhosis are divided, based on varying recompensation stages. Clinical characteristics and prognosis are significantly different among different stages. Patients in the temporary compensation stage have significant fluctuations in their condition and poor stability, with a high risk of recurrent complications. The prognosis of patients in the stable recompensation stage is significantly affected by the cause and the type of initial decompensation event, while the condition of patients in the long-term recompensation stage is more stable, and the long-term prognosis is close to that of compensated cirrhosis. This article aims to summarize and explore the recompensation rates at different stages of liver cirrhosis, the occurrence risk of various complications and liver cancer, and long-term management and treatment following recompensation, providing new directions for future research in this field.

Traditional development of small protein scaffolds has relied on display technologies and mutation-based engineering, which limit sequence and functional diversity, thereby constraining their therapeutic and application potential. Protein design tools have significantly advanced the creation of novel protein sequences, structures, and functions. However, further improvements in design strategies are still needed to more efficiently optimize the functional performance of protein-based drugs and enhance their druggability. Here, we extended an evolution-based design protocol to create a novel minibinder, BindHer, against the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). It not only exhibits super stability and binding selectivity but also demonstrates remarkable properties in tissue specificity. Radiolabeling experiments with ^99mTc, ⁶⁸Ga, and ¹⁸F revealed that BindHer efficiently targets tumors in HER2-positive breast cancer mouse models, with minimal nonspecific liver absorption, outperforming scaffolds designed through traditional engineering. These findings highlight a new rational approach to automated protein design, offering significant potential for large-scale applications in therapeutic mini-protein development.

The 2021 version of the Baveno Ⅶ consensus on portal hypertension and the 2023 guidelines from the European Association for the Study of the Liver define recompensated cirrhosis as the restoration and stabilization of liver function, improvement of liver fibrosis, and absence of decompensated cirrhosis for a long time following effective treatment of the underlying etiology of cirrhosis. Recompensated cirrhosis has become an important research direction in the field with the gradually increasing number of these patients. Temporary recompensation, stable recompensation, and long-term recompensation are the three stages into which patients with cirrhosis are divided, based on varying recompensation stages. Clinical characteristics and prognosis are significantly different among different stages. Patients in the temporary compensation stage have significant fluctuations in their condition and poor stability, with a high risk of recurrent complications. The prognosis of patients in the stable recompensation stage is significantly affected by the cause and the type of initial decompensation event, while the condition of patients in the long-term recompensation stage is more stable, and the long-term prognosis is close to that of compensated cirrhosis. This article aims to summarize and explore the recompensation rates at different stages of liver cirrhosis, the occurrence risk of various complications and liver cancer, and long-term management and treatment following recompensation, providing new directions for future research in this field.

Objective:To evaluate the association between septic shock and tracheal injury in the intensive care unit (ICU) patients with invasive ventilation.Methods:This was a prospective single-centre cohort study. Patients who underwent invasive mechanical ventilation at the Department of Anesthesia Critical Care Medicine of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from May 31, 2020 to March 5, 2022 were selected. The general characteristics of patients, reasons for ICU admission, vital signs, laboratory test results, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ scores, Charlson Comorbidity Index, size of endotracheal tube, presence or absence of septic shock, oxygenation index, duration of intubation, consumption of norepinephrine and epinephrine, and tracheal injury scores at the time of extubation were recorded. Univariate linear regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for tracheal injury, followed by adjustment using multivariate linear regression analysis.Results:Ninety-seven patients were ultimately included, and the average age was (56.6±16.5) yr, with 64.9% being male. The results of adjusted linear regression showed that septic shock was associated with tracheal injury scores ( β=2.99, 95% confidence interval 0.70-5.29). Subgroup analysis revealed a stronger correlation with a duration of intubation≥8 days ( P=0.013). Conclusions:Patients with septic shock exhibit significantly higher tracheal injury scores compared with those without septic shock, suggesting that septic shock may serve as an independent risk factor for tracheal injury.

Objective:To evaluate the association between septic shock and tracheal injury in the intensive care unit (ICU) patients with invasive ventilation.Methods:This was a prospective single-centre cohort study. Patients who underwent invasive mechanical ventilation at the Department of Anesthesia Critical Care Medicine of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from May 31, 2020 to March 5, 2022 were selected. The general characteristics of patients, reasons for ICU admission, vital signs, laboratory test results, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ scores, Charlson Comorbidity Index, size of endotracheal tube, presence or absence of septic shock, oxygenation index, duration of intubation, consumption of norepinephrine and epinephrine, and tracheal injury scores at the time of extubation were recorded. Univariate linear regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for tracheal injury, followed by adjustment using multivariate linear regression analysis.Results:Ninety-seven patients were ultimately included, and the average age was (56.6±16.5) yr, with 64.9% being male. The results of adjusted linear regression showed that septic shock was associated with tracheal injury scores ( β=2.99, 95% confidence interval 0.70-5.29). Subgroup analysis revealed a stronger correlation with a duration of intubation≥8 days ( P=0.013). Conclusions:Patients with septic shock exhibit significantly higher tracheal injury scores compared with those without septic shock, suggesting that septic shock may serve as an independent risk factor for tracheal injury.