Cuproptosis and ferroptosis， two recently identified metal ion-dependent forms of cell death， are triggered by homeostasis dysregulation of intracellular copper and iron， as well as oxidative stress. They demonstrate considerable potential in anti-tumor therapy. Cuproptosis arises from mitochondrial dysfunction and proteotoxic stress caused by copper overload， while ferroptosis is driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Although traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） exhibits regulatory effects on cuproptosis and ferroptosis， its clinical application is hindered by poor solubility and low bioavailability. Through physical nanonization or carrier-based delivery technologies adopted by nano-TCM， the targeting specificity， stability， and bioavailability of drugs are significantly improved. By integrating sustained-release and controlled-release properties， metal ion homeostasis and redox balance in the tumor microenvironment （TME） can be precisely modulated. Research demonstrates that nano-TCM， such as celastrol-copper nanocomplexes （Cel-Cu NPs）， induces cuproptosis by augmenting intracellular copper accumulation and suppressing glutathione （GSH） levels. Nano-systems encapsulating camptothecin or artemisinin trigger ferroptosis via Fenton reaction and GSH depletion. Synergistic strategies of nano-materials， including ferrum-based metal-organic frameworks （Fe-MOFs） combined with piperlongumine， further amplify antitumor efficacy. Despite advancements in targeting cuproptosis and ferroptosis， challenges persist in nano-TCM development， including complex fabrication processes， suboptimal dosage optimization， and insufficient integration with the holistic principles of TCM. Future research should focus on exploring the interaction between cuproptosis and ferroptosis， developing multi-targeted nanodelivery systems， and fostering deeper integration of TCM theory with nanomedicine to advance novel therapeutic strategies for oncology.

Cuproptosis and ferroptosis， two recently identified metal ion-dependent forms of cell death， are triggered by homeostasis dysregulation of intracellular copper and iron， as well as oxidative stress. They demonstrate considerable potential in anti-tumor therapy. Cuproptosis arises from mitochondrial dysfunction and proteotoxic stress caused by copper overload， while ferroptosis is driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Although traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） exhibits regulatory effects on cuproptosis and ferroptosis， its clinical application is hindered by poor solubility and low bioavailability. Through physical nanonization or carrier-based delivery technologies adopted by nano-TCM， the targeting specificity， stability， and bioavailability of drugs are significantly improved. By integrating sustained-release and controlled-release properties， metal ion homeostasis and redox balance in the tumor microenvironment （TME） can be precisely modulated. Research demonstrates that nano-TCM， such as celastrol-copper nanocomplexes （Cel-Cu NPs）， induces cuproptosis by augmenting intracellular copper accumulation and suppressing glutathione （GSH） levels. Nano-systems encapsulating camptothecin or artemisinin trigger ferroptosis via Fenton reaction and GSH depletion. Synergistic strategies of nano-materials， including ferrum-based metal-organic frameworks （Fe-MOFs） combined with piperlongumine， further amplify antitumor efficacy. Despite advancements in targeting cuproptosis and ferroptosis， challenges persist in nano-TCM development， including complex fabrication processes， suboptimal dosage optimization， and insufficient integration with the holistic principles of TCM. Future research should focus on exploring the interaction between cuproptosis and ferroptosis， developing multi-targeted nanodelivery systems， and fostering deeper integration of TCM theory with nanomedicine to advance novel therapeutic strategies for oncology.

ObjectiveTo systematically review the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） and depression， and to provide a basis for synergistic management in clinical practice. MethodsThis study was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines， with the PROSPERO registration number of CRD42023482013. PubMed， Embase， the Cochrane Library， Web of Science， CNKI， Wanfang Data， VIP， and CBM were searched for articles on the association between NAFLD and depression published up to November 1， 2024. The articles were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria， and related data were extracted. RevMan 5.3 was used to perform the Meta-analysis. ResultsA total of 18 studies were included， involving 396 793 participants. Among these studies， 12 discussed the influence of NAFLD on depression， involving 224 269 participants， among whom there were 75 574 patients with NAFLD. The Meta-analysis showed that NAFLD was significantly associated with the risk of depression （odds ratio ［OR］=1.21， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 1.12 — 1.30， P0.001）. Six studies examined the influence of depression on NAFLD， involving 172 524 participants， among whom there were 29 368 patients with depression. The meta-analysis showed that depression caused a significant increase in the risk of NAFLD （OR=1.13， 95%CI： 1.05 — 1.22， P=0.001）. ConclusionThere is a significant bidirectional association between NAFLD and depression. It is recommended to perform the screening for depression and enhance mental health monitoring in patients with NAFLD， and metabolic function assessment and exercise intervention should be performed for patients with depression.

Mitochondria are abundant in hepatocytes and play an important role in the normal operation of the liver. Mitochondrial division/fusion is two biological processes that maintain the dynamic balance of mitochondria， and it is closely associated with the change of cell function and the development and progression of diseases. Balance of mitochondrial division/fusion is of key significance in the treatment of many diseases. Recent studies have shown that abnormal mitochondrial division/fusion plays a significant role in fatty liver disease， hepatitis， liver fibrosis， and liver cancer， which are the four stages of the progression of liver diseases， and the therapeutic targets based on the regulation of such abnormalities are constantly being identified. By reviewing the role of mitochondrial division/fusion in different stages of liver disease， this article further demonstrates the role of mitochondrial division/fusion mechanism in chronic liver diseases and also provides a scientific basis for more ideas on the treatment， remission or even reversal of liver disease progression based on mitochondrial division/fusion.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis in children, which is defined in TCM terms as a syndrome of phlegm-heat obstructing the lung.Methods:This was a block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial.From January 2022 to September 2023, 359 children aged 3 to 7 years old diagnosed as acute bronchitis (lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome) were enrolled from 21 participating hospitals and randomly assigned to the experimental group and placebo group in a 3︰1 ratio, and respectively treated with Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules and its matching placebo.Cough resolution/general resolution rate after 7 days of treatment was used as the primary efficacy outcome for both groups.Results:(1)On the seventh day of treatment, the rate of cough disappearance/basically disappearance in the experimental group and placebo group were 73.95% and 57.61% retrospectively, which had statistically significance ( P=0.001).(2)After 7 days of treatment, the median duration of cough disappearance/basic disappearance were 5 days and 6 days in the two groups , with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.006).The area under the curve of cough symptom severity time was 7.20 ± 3.79 in the experimental group and 8.20±4.42 in the placebo group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.039).(3) After 7 days of treatment, the difference between TCM syndrome score and baseline was -16.0 (-20.0, -15.0) points in the experimental group and -15.0 (-18.0, -12.0) points in the placebo group, with significant difference between the two groups ( P=0.004).In the experimental group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 49.04%, 28.35%, 16.48% and 6.13% severally; and in the placebo group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 38.04%, 26.09%, 29.35%, and 6.52% separately, which had statistically significant ( P=0.014).(4) There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events or adverse reactions during the trial between both groups.Moreover, while adverse reactions in the form of vomiting and diarrhea were occasionally reported, no serious drug-related adverse event or adverse reaction was reported.(5)The tested drug provided good treatment compliance, showing no statistically significant difference from the placebo in terms of compliance rate. Conclusions:Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules provides good safety, efficacy, and treatment compliance in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis, and lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome, in children.

Objective To establish a liver-specific Rbp4 gene knockout mouse model and to explore the effect of liver Rbp4 gene deletion on glucose metabolism.Methods Cre-LoxP technology was used to construct a liver-specific Rbp4 gene knockout mouse model using C57/BL6J and Alb-Cre mice.The genotype of the mice was identified by polymerase chain reaction and agarose gel electrophoresis.Ten 18 week old C57/BL6J male mice were included in the WT group,10 flox homozygous and Alb-Cre negative mice of the same age were included in the experimental control group(Rbp4flox/flox:Cre-),and 10 flox homozygous and Alb-Cre positive mice of the same age were included in the experimental group(Rbp4flox/flox:Cre+).Expression levels of RBP4 protein and mRNA in the liver were verified by Western Blot and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR),respectively,and expression levels of Rbp4 mRNA in other tissues were detected by qRT-PCR.Morphological changes in liver tissue were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining.Blood glucose values were detected in mouse tail vein blood samples using a blood glucose meter,and glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance were determined.Expression levels of the liver glucose metabolism genes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase(Pepck)and glucose-6-phosphatase(G6pase)were detected by qRT-PCR.Results Liver-specific Rbp4 knockout mice were successfully bred and identified.RBP4 protein and mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the liver of Rbp4flox/flox:Cre+mice(P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference in the relative expression levels of Rbp4 mRNA in fat,kidney,pancreas,spleen,heart,or muscle tissues among the three groups(P＞0.05).Liver-specific Rbp4 knockout had no significant effect on liver morphology,glucose tolerance,or insulin tolerance(P＞0.05).Pepck mRNA levels in the liver differed significantly among the three groups(P＜0.05),and pairwise comparison showed that liver Pepck mRNA levels were significantly lower in Rbp4flox/flox:Cre+mice compared with levels in Rbp4flox/flox:Cre-mice(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in liver glucose-6-phosphatase(G6pase)mRNA expression among the three groups(P＞0.05).Conclusions We successfully constructed a liver-specific Rbp4 knockout mouse model.Deletion of Rbp4 in the liver inhibited expression of Pepck mRNA in the liver,thus providing a basis for further exploration of the role of this gene in glucose metabolism in mice.

Liver fibrosis is a compensatory response in the process of tissue repair after chronic liver injury, and it is also a necessary pathological process in the progression of a variety of chronic liver diseases. In the pathological state, the imbalance between hepatic oxidative system and antioxidant system can lead to the excessive production or insufficient clearance of reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS), which may induce the injury of hepatocytes, expand inflammatory response, and promote the development and progression of liver fibrosis. As a master regulator of oxidative stress and inflammatory response, NF-κB plays a key role in the process of liver fibrosis. Therefore, the cascade interaction between ROS/RNS and the NF-κB signaling pathway plays a guiding role in further clarifying the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and exploring effective prevention and treatment strategies. This article reviews and discusses the interaction between ROS/RNS and the NF-κB signaling pathway and its important role in the progression of liver fibrosis, so as to provide strategies and references for targeted therapy for liver fibrosis.

China has classified the Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19) as a statutory category B infectious disease and managed it according to Category B since January 8, 2023.In view that Omicron variant is currently the main epidemic strain in China, in order to guide the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) infection in children with the times, refer to the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Infection (Trial 10 th Edition), Expert Consensus on Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Novel Coronavirus Infection in Children (Fourth Edition) and the Diagnosis and Treatment Strategy for Pediatric Related Viral Infections.The Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Novel Coronavirus Infection in Children (Fifth Edition) has been formulated and updated accordingly on related etiology, epidemiology, pathogenic mechanism, clinical manifestations, auxiliary examination, diagnosis and treatment, and added key points for the treatment of COVID-19 related encephalopathy, fulminating myocarditis and other serious complications for clinical reference.

Objective:To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) infection among hospitalized children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in China, and provide basic data for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of HPIVs infection.Methods:From November 2014 to February 2020, 5 448 hospitalized children with CAP were enrolled in 14 hospitals in 11 provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government in southern China and northern China. Nasopharyngeal aspirates or throat swabs were collected, and the nucleic acids of 18 types respiratory viruses including HPIV1-4 were screened by suspension array technology. Demographic data and clinical information were collected for statistical analysis.Results:The total detection rate of HPIVs in 5 448 children with CAP was 8.83% (481/5 448), and the detection rate in males was higher than that in females (62.79% vs. 37.21%; χ2=0.000, P=0.992). The detection rate of HPIVs in 1~< 3 years age group was higher than that in other age groups, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=61.893, P<0.001). The detection rate of HPIVs in the northern region was higher than that in the southern region (9.02% vs 8.65%), but the difference was not statistically significant ( χ2=0.239, P=0.625). The prevalence of HPIV1-4 in northern and southern China was not completely same. HPIV1 was mainly prevalent in autumn in both northern and southern regions. HPIV2 was prevalent in summer in northern China, and the detection rate was low in southern China. HPIV3 reached its peak in both spring and summer in both northern and southern China, but its duration was longer in southern China than in northern China. HPIV4 is mainly popular in autumn in both southern China and northern China. Among 481 children infected with HPIVs, 58.42% (281/481) were infected with HPIV alone, and the main clinical manifestations were cough (90.75%) and fever (68.68%). Out of the HPIV-positive cases, 42.62% (205/481) were co-infected with another type of HPIV or a different virus, while 11.43% (55/481) had co-infections with two or more different viruses. HPIV3 was the most common type of co-infection with other viruses. HPIV3 infection accounted for the largest proportion (76.80%) in 47 HPIVs-positive children with severe pneumonia. Conclusions:HPIVs is one of the most important pathogens causing CAP in children in China, and children under 3 years of age are the main populations of HPIVs infection. The prevalence characteristics of all types of HPIVs in children in the north and south are not completely same. HPIV3 is the dominant type of HPIV infections and causes more severe diseases.

Objective: To understand the detection rate, epidemic pattern of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in China. Methods: From June 2017 to March 2020, a prospective multi-center study on the viral aetiology among hospitalized children with ALRTI was conducted in six pediatrics hospital of North China, Northeast, Northwest, South China, Southeast, and Southwest China. A total of 2 839 hospitalized children with ALRTI were enrolled, and the respiratory specimens were collected from these cases. A multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay were employed to screen the respiratory viruses, and the molecular epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children infected with RSV were analyzed. Results: The positve rate of RSV was 18.6% (528/2 839), and the positive rate of RSV in different regions ranged from 5.5% to 44.3%. The positive rate of RSV in male was higher than that in female (20.2% vs 16.3%), and there was a significant statistically difference between two groups (χ2=6.74, P=0.009). The positive rate of RSV among children under 5 years old was higher than that among children older than 5 years old (22.3% vs 4.5%), and there was a significant statistically difference between two groups (χ2=97.98,P<0.001). The positive rate of RSV among the <6 months age group was higher than that of other age groups (all P<0.05). During January 2018 and December 2019, RSV was detected in almost all through the year, and showed peaks in winter and spring. RSV-positive cases accounted for 17.0% (46/270) among children with severe pneumonia, including 36 cases infected with RSV alone. Conclusion: RSV is an important viral pathogen in children under 5 years old with ALRTI in China. The virus can be detected almost all through the year and reached the peak in winter and spring. RSV could lead to severe pneumonia in children and caused huge threaten to children's health.
Child ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/epidemiology* ; Child, Hospitalized ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology* ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human ; China/epidemiology*