Chronic heart failure （CHF） is the final stage of cardiovascular diseases. It is a complex syndrome， with dyspnea and edema as the main clinical manifestations， and it is characterized by complex disease conditions， difficult cure， and high mortality. Ferroptosis， a new type of programmed cell death， is different from other types of programmed cell death. Ferroptosis is iron-dependent， accompanied by lipid peroxide accumulation and mitochondrial shrinkage， becoming a hot research topic. Studies have confirmed that ferroptosis plays a key role in the occurrence and development of CHF. The regulation of ferroptosis may become a potential target for the treatment of CHF in the future. The theory of Qi deficiency and stagnation refers to the pathological state of original Qi deficiency and abnormal transportation and distribution of Qi， blood， and body fluid， which has guiding significance for revealing the pathogenesis evolution of some chronic diseases. We believe that Qi deficiency and stagnation is a summary of the pathogenesis of ferroptosis in CHF. Deficiency of Qi （heart Qi） is the root cause of CHF， and stagnation （phlegm turbidity and blood stasis） is the branch of this disease. The two influence each other in a vicious circle to promote the development of this disease. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） plays an important role in the treatment of CHF， improving the prognosis and quality of life of CHF patients. This paper explores the correlation between the theory of Qi deficiency and stagnation and the mechanism of ferroptosis in CHF. Furthermore， this paper reviews the mechanism of Chinese medicines and compound prescriptions in preventing and treating CHF by regulating ferroptosis according to the principles of replenishing Qi and dredging to remove stagnation， aiming to provide new ideas and methods for the treatment of CHF with TCM.

Objective To explore the effect of metformin combined with insulin detemir on intestinal flora in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods A total of 176 patients with GDM admitted to Luzhou People's Hospital from May 2022 to July 2023 were selected and randomly divided into a single drug group and a combined group, with 88 cases in each group. The single drug group was treated with insulin detemir, and the combined group was given metformin combined with insulin detemir. The glucose metabolism levels and intestinal flora distribution were compared between the two groups before treatment and during delivery. The maternal-infant outcomes were statistically analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results During delivery, the levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc), and largest amplitude of glycemic excursions (LAGE), and the contents of Enterobacterium, Enterococcus and Escherichia coli in both groups were reduced compared with those before treatment, and the above indicators in the combined group were lower than those in the single drug group (all P<0.05). The contents of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were increased in both groups, and the indicators were higher in the combined group than those in the single drug group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in adverse maternal-infant outcomes between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Metformin combined with insulin detemir can effectively reduce blood glucose levels and improve intestinal flora distribution in patients with GDM, without increasing adverse maternal-infant outcomes.

Background Previous studies found that high temperature and heatwave increase the risk of traffic injuries. The complex road conditions in Yunnan Province result in frequent traffic accidents. However, there is limited evidence on the correlation between heatwave and traffic injuries in Yunnan Province. Objective To assess the association between heatwave events and traffic injuries, to estimate its disease burden, and to identify relevant sensitive groups. Methods We collected data on traffic injury cases and concurrent meteorological information from four surveillance sites in Yunnan Province, China: Dali, Lufeng, Zhaoyang, and Qilin from May to September each year from 2015 to 2023. Traffic injury cases refer to patients who visited the outpatient or emergency departments of local surveillance hospitals for the first time due to traffic injuries. Meteorological data were derived from the fifth generation atmosphericreanalysis dataset of the global climate provided by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. A time-stratified case-crossover design combined with distributed lag non-linear model was used to analyze the association between short-term exposure to heatwave and traffic injuries. We also conducted subgroup analyses by sex, age, occupation, injury cause, activity at the time of injury occurrence, and severity of injury. Results A total of 34764 traffic injury surveillance cases were included in the analysis. The risk of traffic injuries occurred during heatwave was 1.13 times (95%CI: 1.07, 1.20) greater than those occurred during non-heatwave, and 2.64% (95%CI: 1.49%, 3.73%) of traffic injuries were attributed to heatwave exposure throughout the study period. The results of stratified analysis showed greater impacts of heatwave on the risk of traffic injuries in female [odds ratio (OR)=1.17, attributable fraction (AF)=3.23%], people aged 15-64 years (OR=1.13, AF=2.68%), farmers/workers (OR=1.22, AF=4.07%), people with non-motor vehicle traffic injuries (OR=1.17, AF=3.24%), people who were driving or riding when injuries occurred (OR=1.12, AF=2.43%), and people with minor injuries (OR=1.18, AF=3.49%) ( P<0.05). Longer duration [excess risk (ER)=0.99%] and greater intensity (ER=4.12%) of heatwave had greater impacts on the risk of traffic injuries (P<0.05). Conclusion Heatwave events are associated with an increased risk of traffic injuries. Female, people aged 15-64, farmers/workers, people with non-motor vehicle traffic injuries, those injured while driving/riding a vehicle, and people with minor injuries are particularly vulnerable. The findings suggest that targeted mitigation and adaptation measures should be taken to address the risk of traffic injuries associated with extreme climate events.

As a common malignant tumor of the respiratory system， the incidence and mortality of lung cancer are still rising year by year. Its pathogenesis is complex， the prognosis is poor， and it seriously affects human physical and mental health. Although existing Western medical treatments can inhibit tumor growth to a certain extent and relieve patients' painful symptoms， problems such as postoperative recurrence and metastasis， numerous adverse reactions， and the tendency to develop drug resistance make the overall therapeutic effect unsatisfactory. Therefore， it is urgent to seek more efficient and safer treatments. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK） signaling pathway can regulate the growth， differentiation， apoptosis， and autophagy of lung cancer cells， and is extensively involved in the occurrence and development of lung cancer， thus being regarded as an important target for anti-lung cancer therapy. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） exerts anti-lung cancer effects through multiple pathways， mechanisms， and targets， with advantages such as preventing postoperative recurrence and metastasis， alleviating the adverse reactions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy， and improving quality of life. TCM has therefore become a key approach in current anti-lung cancer treatment. Studies have found that active components of Chinese medicine， including flavonoids， saponins， polyphenols， and terpenes， as well as Chinese medicine compound prescriptions such as Guiqi Yiyuan extract， Qingzao Jiufei decoction， and Yiqi Fuzheng formula， have significant regulatory effects on AMPK and its interacting signaling pathways. These effects include inducing autophagy and apoptosis of lung cancer cells， modulating macrophage polarization， inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition， reversing drug resistance， and blocking the cell cycle， thereby exerting anti-lung cancer activity. This article reviews and summarizes recent studies on the anti-lung cancer effects of TCM， and discusses the mechanisms by which TCM regulates the AMPK signaling pathway in the treatment of lung cancer， with the aim of providing ideas and references for the development of new clinical anti-lung cancer drugs.

As a common malignant tumor of the respiratory system， the incidence and mortality of lung cancer are still rising year by year. Its pathogenesis is complex， the prognosis is poor， and it seriously affects human physical and mental health. Although existing Western medical treatments can inhibit tumor growth to a certain extent and relieve patients' painful symptoms， problems such as postoperative recurrence and metastasis， numerous adverse reactions， and the tendency to develop drug resistance make the overall therapeutic effect unsatisfactory. Therefore， it is urgent to seek more efficient and safer treatments. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK） signaling pathway can regulate the growth， differentiation， apoptosis， and autophagy of lung cancer cells， and is extensively involved in the occurrence and development of lung cancer， thus being regarded as an important target for anti-lung cancer therapy. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） exerts anti-lung cancer effects through multiple pathways， mechanisms， and targets， with advantages such as preventing postoperative recurrence and metastasis， alleviating the adverse reactions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy， and improving quality of life. TCM has therefore become a key approach in current anti-lung cancer treatment. Studies have found that active components of Chinese medicine， including flavonoids， saponins， polyphenols， and terpenes， as well as Chinese medicine compound prescriptions such as Guiqi Yiyuan extract， Qingzao Jiufei decoction， and Yiqi Fuzheng formula， have significant regulatory effects on AMPK and its interacting signaling pathways. These effects include inducing autophagy and apoptosis of lung cancer cells， modulating macrophage polarization， inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition， reversing drug resistance， and blocking the cell cycle， thereby exerting anti-lung cancer activity. This article reviews and summarizes recent studies on the anti-lung cancer effects of TCM， and discusses the mechanisms by which TCM regulates the AMPK signaling pathway in the treatment of lung cancer， with the aim of providing ideas and references for the development of new clinical anti-lung cancer drugs.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most important histological type of lung cancer. This disease affects a large number of patients, and the prognosis of advanced patients is poor. Although great progress has been achieved for existing treatment methods, challenges still exist. Cancer is a genetic disease, and its occurrence is accompanied by substantial genomic-sequence instability. (GT/CA)_n repeat sequence is a common microsatellite sequence serving as transcriptional function-related regions, DNA-methylation modification sites, and other functional sites. Its polymorphism is closely related to the expression of EGFR, HO-1, and HIF-1α in NSCLC patients. (GT/CA)_n repeat sequence is the breakthrough point to explore the molecular mechanism of NSCLC occurrence and development, develop molecular markers for diagnosis and prognosis and epigenetics research. This paper summarizes the studies on (GT/CA)_n repeat polymorphisms in NSCLC with the aim of providing references for relevant NSCLC research.

Objective To explore the changes in brain structure after short-term withdrawal therapy in patients with alcohol use disorder(AUD).Methods A total of 28 male patients with AUD were included,and brain MRI scans were performed at the time of enrollment and 2-3 weeks after standardized treatment.The total volume of brain tissue,gray matter,white matter and cerebrospi-nal fluid volume before and after treatment were measured by voxel-based morphometry(VBM)technology,and the gray matter volume of each brain region of the whole brain was measured and statistically analyzed according to the automated anatomical labeling(AAL)template.Results Compared with the baseline data,after 2-3 weeks of standardized treatment,the volume of gray matter in brain tissue increased significantly,and the volume of cerebrospinal fluid decreased significantly.Compared with before treatment,the brain regions with increased gray matter volume in the left hemisphere were distributed in the medial and paracingulate gyrus,central sulcus cover,anterior wedge lobe and insula,and the brain regions with increased gray matter volume in the right hemisphere were distributed in the anterior cingulate gyrus,paracingulate gyrus,central sulcus cover,amygdala,superior temporal gyrus,middle temporal gyrus,transverse temporal gyrus,anterior cuneiformus,posterior central gyrus,superior marginal gyrus,peritaloid cortex and insula.Conclusion Patients with AUD experience some increases in gray matter volume,especially in the prefrontal lobe,after short-term withdrawal therapy.

BACKGROUND:A previous study by our group found that protein phosphatase 2Cm(PP2Cm)null mice developed significantly fewer symptoms of renal failure relative to wild-type mice,and thus it was speculated that PP2Cm may play an important protective role in the development of renal fibrosis,however,the molecular mechanisms remain undefined. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of the PP2Cm gene on the transcriptome of human renal tubular epithelial cells. METHODS:Cultured human renal tubular epithelial cells were transfected with the PP2Cm gene into human renal tubular epithelial cells using plasmids.The expression of PP2Cm in the cells was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR assay and western blot assay,and subsequently,cell RNA was separately extracted for transcriptome sequencing to look for differentially expressed genes between transfected and control groups.The resulting differential genes were further subjected to GO analysis and KEGG analysis using bioinformatics methods. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were 796 differentially expressed genes,553 of which were downregulated genes and 243 upregulated genes,in human renal tubular epithelial cells transfected with the PP2Cm gene compared with untransfected blank cells by sequencing analysis.GO analysis results showed that the upregulated genes were significantly enriched in cellular biosynthetic processes,protein translation,intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways,and so on.The downregulated expressed genes were significantly enriched in endothelial cell proliferation,cell adhesion and other signaling pathways.KEGG analysis results showed that the significantly up-regulated genes were enriched in metabolism-related signaling pathways such as amino acid metabolism and biosynthesis.The downregulated expressed genes were significantly enriched in signaling pathways such as pantothenate and coenzyme A biosynthesis.Our results show that PP2Cm overexpression can affect a number of signaling pathways related to a range of biological processes in renal tubular epithelial cells,which may be important in metabolism-related signaling pathways such as amino acid metabolism and biosynthesis.

AIM:To study whether glycyrrhizic acid(GL)can resist the ototoxicity of cisplatin(CDDP)in mice and its molecular mechanism.METHODS:Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 5 groups:control group,DMSO(5%)group,CDDP(4 mg/kg)group,CDDP+low-dose(50 mg/kg)GL group,and CDDP+high-dose(100 mg/kg)GL group(n=14).Auditory brainstem response(ABR)was used to detect hearing changes of mice.HE staining was used to observe the morphological change of cochlear stria vascular in mice.Evans blue(EB)staining was used to observe the per-meability change of the blood-labyrinth barrier(BLB).Immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression and distribution of adhesion protein VE-cadherin and tight junction protein ZO-1 on the cochlear stria.ELISA assay and immunofluorescence technology were employed to detect the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleu-kin-1β(1L-1β).RESULTS:In CDDP group,ABR waveforms of all frequencies were disturbed,the hearing threshold was significantly increased,and I wave latency was prolonged(P＜0.05).In CDDP+GL group,ABR waveforms of various frequencies were well differentiated,the hearing threshold was significantly decreased,and the latency of I-wave was shortened(P＜0.01).The disordered morphology and more vacuoles in the stria vascularis were observed by HE staining in CDDP group.The GL alleviated CDDP-induced damage in the stria vascularis.In EB staining,CDDP caused an increase in per-meability of BLB(P＜0.01),which was improved by GL treatment(P＜0.01).Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of VE-cadherin and ZO-1 in CDDP group were decreased(P＜0.01),which was restored in CDDP+GL group(P＜0.01).The ELISA and immunofluorescence results showed that the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α was in-creased after CDDP treatment(P＜0.01),which was restored in CDDP+GL group(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:The GL alleviates CDDP-induced hearing loss in mice by inhibiting CDDP-induced inflammation and reducing the permeability of BLB.

OBJECTIVE To study the pharmacokinetic changes in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of bronchial asthma model rats after the complication of Ephedra sinica and Prunus armeniaca. METHODS SD male rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， E. sinica group （12 g/kg， calculated by raw drug， similarly hereinafter）， P. armeniaca group （6 g/kg） and E. sinica-P. armeniaca drug-pair group （12 g/kg of E. sinica+6 g/kg of P. armeniaca）， with 6 rats in each group. Except for the blank group， the bronchial asthma model was induced by spraying rats in each group with an equal volume mixture of 2% acetylcholine chloride and 0.4% histamine phosphate， once a day， for 7 d. One hour before modeling every time， rats in each group were gavaged with the corresponding drug/normal saline， once a day， for 7 d. After the final administration and provocation of asthma， blood and cerebrospinal fluid collection were performed at different time points. The plasma and cerebrospinal fluid samples were pre-treated （with geranylgeranyl as the internal standard）， and the mass concentrations of ephedrine/pseudoephedrine， methyl ephedrine and amygdalin in both samples were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. DAS 2.0 pharmacokinetic software was used to determine the main pharmacokinetic parameters through the non-atrial chamber model and to compare the changes of the pharmacokinetic parameters before and after the combination of the two drugs. RESULTS Compared with E. sinica group， cmax and AUC0-21.33 h （or AUC0-10.67 h） of ephedrine/pseudoephedrine and methyl ephedrine in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of rats were significantly reduced in E. sinica-P. armeniaca drug-pair group， while CLZ/F and VZ/F were significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； tmax of methyl ephedrine in the cerebrospinal fluid was significantly shortened （P＜ 0.05）.Compared with P. armeniaca group， the t1/2 of amygdalin in the plasma of rats in E. sinica-P. armeniaca drug-pair group was significantly shortened， and CLZ/F was significantly increased （P＜0.01）； the tmax of bitter amygdalin in the cerebrospinal fluid was significantly shortened， and the AUC0-10.67 h， CLZ/F， and VZ/F were significantly increased （P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS The combination of E. sinica and P. armeniaca accelerates the absorption and elimination of ephedra alkaloids， thus reducing the accumulation of ephedra alkaloids in the bronchial asthma model rats.