ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms by which Mahuang Lianqiao Chixiaodoutang （MLC） improves obesity-type polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS） through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway. MethodsThirty-six female Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a blank control group （Con） and an obesity-type PCOS model preparation group. The model was induced by gavage with letrozole （1 mg·kg^-1） combined with a high-fat diet （HFD）. After model establishment， the obesity-type PCOS model preparation group was further divided into the model group （Mod， normal saline）， metformin group （Met， 0.3 g·kg^-1）， low-dose MLC group （MLC-L， 4.3 g·kg^-1）， medium-dose MLC group （MLC-M， 8.6 g·kg^-1）， and high-dose MLC group （MLC-H， 17.2 g·kg^-1）. Active components of MLC and targets of obesity-type PCOS were screened from databases， a protein-protein interaction （PPI） network was constructed， and gene ontology（GO）and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis was performed. The gut microbiota structure was analyzed based on 16S rRNA sequencing and correlated with network pharmacology pathways. Body weight and estrous cycle were dynamically monitored. Ovarian morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL）. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect levels of follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， luteinizing hormone （LH）， anti-Müllerian hormone （AMH）， testosterone （T）， and estradiol （E₂）. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of phosphorylated PI3K/PI3K （p-PI3K/PI3K）， phosphorylated Akt/Akt （p-Akt/Akt）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， and Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）. ResultsNetwork pharmacology screening identified 124 active components of MLC and 408 overlapping targets between the herbal formula and the disease. Core targets such as Akt1 and Bcl-2 were revealed. As indicated by 16S rRNA sequencing， the abundances of Lachnospiraceae， Lachnoclostridium， and Dorea were increased in the MLC groups （P<0.05）， while the abundance of Veillonella was decreased （P<0.05）. KEGG correlation analysis integrating network pharmacology and gut microbiota data showed significant enrichment of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Animal experiments showed that， compared with the Mod group， body weight decreased to normal levels in the Met， MLC-M， and MLC-H groups. The estrous cycle became regular. The number of corpora lutea increased and cystic follicles decreased. Serum levels of T， FSH， and LH/FSH were reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the E₂ level was increased （P<0.01）. Ovarian cell apoptosis was reduced （P<0.01）， and the protein expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K， p-Akt/Akt， and Bcl-2 in ovarian tissue were significantly increased， whereas Bax protein expression was significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionMLC can regulate gut microbiota structure， effectively improve ovarian pathology in rats with obesity-type PCOS， and inhibit ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis. The mechanism may be associated with upregulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms by which Mahuang Lianqiao Chixiaodoutang （MLC） improves obesity-type polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS） through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway. MethodsThirty-six female Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a blank control group （Con） and an obesity-type PCOS model preparation group. The model was induced by gavage with letrozole （1 mg·kg^-1） combined with a high-fat diet （HFD）. After model establishment， the obesity-type PCOS model preparation group was further divided into the model group （Mod， normal saline）， metformin group （Met， 0.3 g·kg^-1）， low-dose MLC group （MLC-L， 4.3 g·kg^-1）， medium-dose MLC group （MLC-M， 8.6 g·kg^-1）， and high-dose MLC group （MLC-H， 17.2 g·kg^-1）. Active components of MLC and targets of obesity-type PCOS were screened from databases， a protein-protein interaction （PPI） network was constructed， and gene ontology（GO）and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis was performed. The gut microbiota structure was analyzed based on 16S rRNA sequencing and correlated with network pharmacology pathways. Body weight and estrous cycle were dynamically monitored. Ovarian morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL）. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect levels of follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， luteinizing hormone （LH）， anti-Müllerian hormone （AMH）， testosterone （T）， and estradiol （E₂）. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of phosphorylated PI3K/PI3K （p-PI3K/PI3K）， phosphorylated Akt/Akt （p-Akt/Akt）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， and Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）. ResultsNetwork pharmacology screening identified 124 active components of MLC and 408 overlapping targets between the herbal formula and the disease. Core targets such as Akt1 and Bcl-2 were revealed. As indicated by 16S rRNA sequencing， the abundances of Lachnospiraceae， Lachnoclostridium， and Dorea were increased in the MLC groups （P<0.05）， while the abundance of Veillonella was decreased （P<0.05）. KEGG correlation analysis integrating network pharmacology and gut microbiota data showed significant enrichment of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Animal experiments showed that， compared with the Mod group， body weight decreased to normal levels in the Met， MLC-M， and MLC-H groups. The estrous cycle became regular. The number of corpora lutea increased and cystic follicles decreased. Serum levels of T， FSH， and LH/FSH were reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the E₂ level was increased （P<0.01）. Ovarian cell apoptosis was reduced （P<0.01）， and the protein expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K， p-Akt/Akt， and Bcl-2 in ovarian tissue were significantly increased， whereas Bax protein expression was significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionMLC can regulate gut microbiota structure， effectively improve ovarian pathology in rats with obesity-type PCOS， and inhibit ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis. The mechanism may be associated with upregulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Curcumae Rhizoma, derived from the rhizome of Curcuma phaeocaulis, Curcuma kwangsiensis and Curcuma wenyujin, was called Ezhu in China. In the past, Curcumae Rhizoma extracts were obtained through water decoction or alternative methods, which showed significant anti-cancer effects. However, the mixed extracts contain various compound components of Curcumae Rhizoma, leading to an ambiguous mechanism of action for Curcumae Rhizoma extracts anti-cancer. Contemporary researchers have extracted the chemical components of Curcumae Rhizoma separately for experimental verification of its active ingredients in the anti-cancer field. Numerous studies demonstrated that curcumol, germacrone, β-elemene, and curcumin in Curcumae Rhizoma extracts have significant governing effects in anti-cancer activities. Pharmacological studies have shown that Curcumae Rhizoma suppresses cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, triggering apoptosis and regulating cellular autophagy to achieve anticancer effects. Here, we summarized the research progress of Curcumae Rhizoma on anti-cancer effects from 2013 to 2022, aiming to explore the deeper molecular mechanisms of Curcumae Rhizoma's active components in cancer treatment.

In recent years, the reform of the registration, evaluation, and approval system for traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has been promoted at the national level, with establishment of an evaluation evidence system for TCM registration that combines TCM theory, human use experience, and clinical trials(known as the "three-combined" evaluation evidence system). This system, which aligns with the characteristics of TCM clinical practice and the laws of TCM research and development, recognizes the unique value of human use experience in medicine and returns to the essence of medicine as an applied science, thus receiving widespread recognition from both academia and industry. However, it meanwhile poses new and higher challenges. This article delves into the value and challenges faced by the "three-combined" evaluation evidence system from three perspectives: registration management, medical institutions, and the TCM industry. Furthermore, it discusses how the China Association of Chinese Medicine, leveraging its academic platform advantages and leading roles, has made exploratory and practical efforts to facilitate the research and development of new TCM drugs and the implementation of the "three-combined" evaluation evidence system.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; China ; Drug Development

Objective To analyze the differences of brain activity between first-episode untreated depressive patients with and without suicidal ideation(SI),and its correlations with clinical characteristics.Methods A total of 40 major depressive disorder(MDD)patients with SI(MDD+SI group),40 patients without SI MDD(MDD+NSI group),and 40 healthy controls(HC)(HC group)were enrolled.The 17-item Hamilton depression scale(HAMD-17)and Beck scale for suicide ideation(BSI)were used to assess the severity of depression and SI,respectively.MRI data were collected.The values of fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation(fALFF)were calculated.Results(1)Compared with the HC group,the MDD+NSI group showed decreases in the fALFF val-ues of the default network and attention network.The fALFF values of the attention network in the MDD+SI group showed decreases.Compared with the MDD+NSI group,the MDD+SI group showed decreases in the fALFF values of the attention network.(2)The fALFF values in the left middle frontal gyrus were negatively correlated with the total score of HAMD-17(r=-0.55;P<0.001)in the MDD+NSI group,while the fALFF values in the left middle frontal gyrus were negatively correlated with the total score of HAMD-17(r=-0.53;P<0.001)and the total score of BSI(r=-0.51;P<0.001)in the MDD+SI group.(3)The optimal critical value of fALFF value in left middle frontal gyrus for predicting SI occurrence in MDD patients was-0.039,area under the curve(AUC)was 0.76,sensitivity was 0.63,and specificity was 0.80.Conclusion The decreased local activity intensity in the left middle frontal gyrus of the brain might be the central mechanism for the occurrence of SI in MDD patients.In addition,the left middle frontal gyrus might have certain value in identifying SI and predicting the severity of SI.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of hemorrhoidal artery ligation combined with ultrasonic knife resection,suture,ligature and suspension in the treatment of mixed hemorrhoids with annular prolapse.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted to select 80 patients with annular prolapse mixed hemorrhoids admitted to the anorectal Department of our hospital from January 2022 to April 2023.According to different treatment plans,they were divided into control group(n=40 cases)who received external stripping and internal ligation combined with tape ligation,and study group(n=40 cases)who received hemorrhoidal artery ligation combined with ultrasonic knife resection,suture,ligation and suspension.The operative effect,operative status,postoperative anal pain,anal edema,stool blood score and quality of life were evaluated.Results The effective rate of the study group was 97.50％,which was higher than that of the control group(77.50％)(P＜0.05).The operation time,intraoperative blood loss,hospital stay and wound healing time of the research group were(25.03±10.00)minutes,(10.00±5.32)ml,(7.25±1.54)days and(12.21±2.00)days respectively.[is better than that of control group(29.85±14.00)minutes,ml(17.85±10.25),(11.87±2.35),(18.89±4.85)days],two groups of comparison,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The VAS scores of anal pain in the study group on 1 day,3 days and 7 days after the operation were(4.25±0.85)points,(2.89±0.54)points and(2.00±0.30)points,respectively.The scores of perianal edema were(1.87±0.36)points,(1.41±0.30)points,and(1.00±0.20)points,respectively.The hematochezia scores were(1.85±0.21)points,(1.34±0.18)points,and(0.85±0.13)points,respectively.Which were better than that of control group[(7.56±1.10),(6.54±1.03),(4.87±1.00)][(2.40±0.58),(2.03±0.49),(1.87±0.45)][(2.45±0.55),(2.03±0.47),(1.88±0.25)],and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The recurrence rate was 2.50％in the study group and 17.50％in the control group(P＜0.05).The scores of SF,MH,PF and GH of the Modified Health Survey Summary Form(SF-36)in the study group were(88.54±10.22,87.87±10.58,88.97±10.00,89.95±10.05)higher than those of the control group(67.52±10.00,70.10±11.25,71.10±9.85,70.00±10.00)(P＜0.05).Conclusion Hemorrhoidal artery ligation combined with ultrasonic knife resection,suture,ligature and suspension in the treatment of patients with annular prolapse mixed hemorrhoids has ideal surgical effect and little trauma,which is beneficial to promoting postoperative rehabilitation,alleviating anal pain,improving anal edema and hematostoecium,and improving quality of life.

AIM:This study aims to explore the effects and underlying mechanisms of caloric restriction(CR)on folic acid(FA)-induced acute kidney injury(AKI)in mice.METHODS:An AKI model was established by in-traperitoneal injection of FA(250 mg/kg).(1)Twenty male C57BL/6J mice(20～25 g)were randomly assigned to 4 groups(n=5):sham+ad libitum(AL),FA+AL,sham+CR,and FA+CR.The mice in CR groups were subjected to a 66%reduction in daily food intake within a limited feeding window for 2 weeks,while those in AL groups had unrestricted access to food.All mice had free access to water,and their body weight changes were monitored throughout the experi-ment.(2)An additional set of twenty male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups(n=5):control,A769662,FA,and FA+A769662.The AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)agonist A769662(30 mg/kg)was administered intraperito-neally for 3 d prior to FA injection.(3)Modeling of tubule-specific AMPK knockout(RT-AMPK-CKO)mice followed the same protocol as wild-type C57BL/6J mice.Blood and kidney tissues were harvested 48 h after FA injection.Serum creati-nine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer.The kidney pa-thology was examined by HE staining.The malondialdehyde(MDA)level and the reduced/oxidized glutathione(GSH/GSSG)ratio were assessed using assay kits.The protein levels of p-AMPK,AMPK,and ferroptosis-related markers were evaluated by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:(1)After 2 weeks,CR significantly reduced body weight and increased p-AMPK level compared with AL group(P<0.05).(2)Compared with FA+AL group,the mice in FA+CR and FA+A769662 groups exhibited notably lowered SCr and BUN levels,reduced expression of kidney injury mole-cule-1 and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin,lowered tubular injury scores,decreased long-chain fatty acid-CoA ligase 4(FACL4)and 4-hydroxynonenal levels,restored glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)expression,decreased MDA level,and enhanced GSH/GSSG ratio(P<0.05).(3)In the FA-induced renal injury model,RT-AMPK-CKO mice showed no significant differences compared with wild-type mice(P>0.05).However,in the FA+CR model,RT-AMPK-CKO mice failed to exhibit renal protection,with increased lipid peroxidation,elevated MDA level,and reduced GSH/GSSG ratio(P<0.05).Furthermore,CR-induced down-regulation of FACL4 and up-regulation of GPX4 were significantly reversed in RT-AMPK-CKO mice(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The CR attenuates FA-induced AKI in mice by activating AMPK and inhibiting ferroptosis.

Objective To investigate mortality risk factors and characterize pathogen distribution and antimicrobial resistance patterns in intensive care unit(ICU)patients with suspected infection following surgery.Methods A total of 65 hospitals in 16 provinces in China from July 1,2021,to December 31,2022.Clinical data were collected for surgical patients transferred to the ICU with suspected infection.Data included demographics[sex,age,underlying conditions(hypertension,diabetes,cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease,hematologic disease)],surgical site,infection site,microbiological results with susceptibility testing,drug resistance and acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ)scores and the length of hospital stays.Patients were stratified by prognosis into death group and survial group,by drug resistance status into resistant and non-resistant groups.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression identified risk factors for mortality and antimicrobial resistance.Draw the receiver operator characteristic curve(ROC curve)to evaluate the predictive value of each risk factor for patient prognosis and drug resistance occurrence.Results A total of 677 patients with suspected postoperative infection in the ICU were enrolled.There were 96 deaths and 591 survivors.① Analysis of risk factors affecting prognosis:univariate analysis showed that compared with the survival group,the patients in the had a higher APACHEⅡscore,the proportion of patients with previous cerebrovascular disease,surgery sites in the abdomen,chest,brain,pelvis,limbs,other areas,as well as those with pulmonary infection,bloodstream infection,urinary tract infection,Gram-positive bacterial infection(Candida),fungal infection,multi-drug resistant bacterial infection was higher,and the length of hospital stay was shorter(all P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis identified higher APACHEⅡscore[odds ratio(OR)=1.15,95%confidence interval(95%CI)was 1.11-1.20],pulmonary infection(OR=4.07,95%CI was 2.05-8.11),bloodstream infection(OR=2.61,95%CI was 1.52-4.51),and urinary tract infection(OR=2.20,95%CI was 1.01-4.42)were independent risk factors for prognosis(all P<0.05).The ROC curve analysis showed that the death risk prediction model established based on the above independent risk factors had certain predictive value for the prognosis of ICU postoperative patients with suspected infection,area under the curve(AUC)=0.820,95%CI was 0.770-0.860,P<0.05.②Regarding antimicrobial resistance:250 patients developed resistance and 427 did not.Univariate analysis showed compared with the non-resistant group,the APACHEⅡscore,the proportion of patients with cerebrovascular diseases,hematological diseases,surgeries at chest,brain,limbs,other sites,as well as those with pulmonary infection,bloodstream infection,urinary tract infection,intracranial infection,Gram-negative bacillus infection,and Gram-positive cocci infection(Staphylococcus epidermidis,Staphylococcus aureus,Enterococcus faecalis),and the mortality rate in the resistant group were significantly higher,the proportion of patients with surgeries at abdominal cavity,pelvic cavity and abdominal cavity infection were significantly lower,and the length of hospital stay was significantly longer(all P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis bloodstream infection(OR=4.00,95%CI was 2.22-7.19),urinary tract infection(OR=3.25,95%CI was 1.47-7.17),Klebsiella pneumoniae infection(OR=2.23,95%CI was 11.22-44.02),Acinetobacter baumannii infection(OR=48.12,95%CI was 20.10-115.17),Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection(OR=34.06,95%CI was 13.00-89.25),Escherichia coli infection(OR=24.97,95%CI was 10.55-59.13),Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection(OR=19.04,95%CI was 3.30-109.96),and Staphylococcus aureus infection(OR=13.48,95%CI was 4.57-39.78)were independent risk factors for resistance(all P<0.01).The ROC curve analysis showed that the predictive model for drug resistance established based on the above independent risk factors had certain predictive value for drug resistance in adult patients with suspected infections after surgery in the ICU.The AUC=0.920,95%CI was 0.890-0.940,P<0.05.Conclusion Higher APACHEⅡscores and the presence of pulmonary,bloodstream,or urinary tract infections were associated with increased mortality in ICU patients with suspected postoperative infection.Patients with bloodstream or urinary tract infections,or infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae,Acinetobacter baumannii,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Escherichia coli,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia,or Staphylococcus aureus,had significantly higher odds of developing antimicrobial resistance.

Objective:To analyze the intercomparision result of personal dose monitoring and gross alpha/beta detection capability between the disease control and prevention institutions at provincial, municpal and county levels during 2022-2024, in order to provide a reference for radiation detection capability and policy making of these institutions in China.Methods:Data on personal dose monitoring and gross alpha/beta detection, obtanied from the 2022-2024 radiation detection capability intercomparison between the disease control and prevention institutions at different levels, were recorded. Both the qualification rates (including excellence) and excellence rates of all the institutions at all evels from 2022 to 2024 were analyzed using SPSS 22.0.Results:From 2022 to 2024, the number of participating institutions at all levels showed an overall upward trend, increasing from 262 to 430, with particularly notable growth at the municipal level. In the 2024 gross α/β detection capability intercomparison, the non-qualification rate in municipal-level institutions was significantly higher than in county-level institutions ( χ2=10.53, P < 0.05). The qualification rate (including excellence) of the municipal-level gross alpha/beta detection in 2022 and 2024 were lower than in 2023( χ2=29.93, P < 0.01). Among all regions, the 2024 personal dose monitoring intercomparison result showed that the qualification rate (including excellence) in East China was higher than in Southwest and Northwest China ( χ2=15.62, P <0.01). East China also outperformed Northwest China ( χ2=16.21, P <0.01). In the 2022 gross alpha/beta detection capability intercomparison, the qualification rate (including excellent performance) in East China and South China was higher than in Northwest China ( χ2=23.76, 11.22, P<0.01). Overall, East China showed relatively higher qualification rate in intercomparison result of both personal dose monitoring and radiation detection (including excellence), while Northwest China showed lower qualification rates (including excellence). Conclusions:Although the radiation detection capability of disease control and prevention institutions at all levels has improved in recent years, there are still insufficience of detection capabilities at some municipal- and county-level laboratories and even unbalance between different regionas. Policy support should prioritize underdeveloped areas, such as municipal- and county-level institutions and the Northwest, and enhance the technical proficiency and quality management of laboratory personnel.