ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Yiqi Yangyin Jiedu Huayu prescription on minimal hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis based on intestinal metabolomics. MethodsA total of 11 patients with liver cirrhosis who were hospitalized in Beijing Ditan Hospital， Capital Medical University， from March to May 2024， and were diagnosed with MHE based on psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score were enrolled as subjects， and 11 healthy family members of the patients were enrolled as control group. Fecal samples were collected for metabolomics analysis from the control group and the patients with MHE before and after treatment with Yiqi Yangyin Jiedu Huayu prescription， and a population cohort study was conducted to investigate the effect of Yiqi Yangyin Jiedu Huayu prescription on intestinal metabolism of patients with MHE. The Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical data between two groups； the independent samples t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， the paired t-test was used for comparision before and after treatment within the same group， and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups. ResultsA total of 29 differentially expressed metabolites were detected between the MHE group and the control group， mainly amino acids， organic acids， organic amines， carbohydrates， fatty acids， and vitamins， and there were 12 upregulated metabolites and 17 downregulated metabolites in the MHE group， which were mainly enriched in the metabolic pathways of ornithine， branched-chain amino acid， and aromatic amino acid. After the treatment with Yiqi Yangyin Jiedu Huayu prescription， 80 differentially expressed metabolites were detected in the patients with MHE， mainly carbohydrates， organic acids， and amino acids， and there were 56 upregulated metabolites and 24 downregulated metabolites， which were mainly enriched in the metabolic pathways of ornithine， branched-chain amino acid， and aromatic amino acid. ConclusionYiqi Yangyin Jiedu Huayu prescription can exert a therapeutic effect on patients with MHE by regulating intestinal metabolism.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure （ACLF） is a dangerous disease with severe conditions， rapid progression， and high short-term mortality. Intestinal flora and metabolites are closely associated with the development， progression， and pathogenesis of ACLF. During the development of ACLF， the destruction of intestinal integrity and the dysregulation of intestinal microecology and its metabolites mediate immune disturbance and thus aggravate systemic inflammatory response. This article elaborates on the role of intestinal flora and metabolites in the development and progression of ACLF and related therapeutic strategies.

The Hedgehog （Hh） signaling pathway plays an important role in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma and its tumor microenvironment， and abnormal activation of Hh signal can accelerate the growth of tumor. The crosstalk between the Hh signaling pathway and TME is closely associated with tumor growth and the formation of inhibitory tumor microenvironment. Evidence shows that inhibition of Hh signal plays an important role in inhibiting the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma. This article reviews the current research status of the role， mechanism， and potential therapeutic significance of abnormal activation of Hh signal in hepatocellular carcinoma and its tumor microenvironment， so as to provide new ideas for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

ObjectiveTo explore the syndrome elements and evolving patterns of patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute on chronic liver failure （HBV-ACLF） at different stages. MethodsClinical information of 1,058 hospitalized HBV-ACLF patients， including 618 in the early stage， 355 in the middle stage， and 85 in the late stage， were collected from 18 clinical centers across 12 regions nationwide from January 1， 2012 to February 28， 2015. The “Hepatitis B-related Chronic and Acute Liver Failure Chinese Medicine Clinical Questionnaire” were designed to investigate the basic information of the patients， like the four diagnostic information （including symptoms， tongue， pulse） of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， and to count the frequency of the appearance of the four diagnostic information. Factor analysis and cluster analysis were employed to determine and statistically analyze the syndrome elements and patterns of HBV-ACLF patients at different stages. ResultsThere were 76 four diagnostic information from 1058 HBV-ACLF patients， and 53 four diagnostic information with a frequency of occurrence ≥ 5% were used as factor analysis entries， including 36 symptom information， 12 tongue information， and 5 pulse information. Four types of TCM patterns were identified in HBV-ACLF， which were liver-gallbladder damp-heat pattern， qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern， liver-kidney yin deficiency pattern， and spleen-kidney yang-deficiency pattern. In the early stage， heat （39.4%， 359/912） and dampness （27.5%， 251/912） were most common， and the pattern of the disease was dominated by liver-gallbladder damp-heat pattern （74.6%， 461/618）； in the middle stage， dampness （30.2%， 187/619） and blood stasis （20.7%， 128/619） were most common， and the patterns of the disease were dominated by liver-gallbladder damp-heat pattern （53.2%， 189/355）， and qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern （27.6%， 98/355）； and in the late stage， the pattern of the disease was dominated by qi deficiency （26.3%， 40/152） and yin deficiency （20.4%， 31/152）， and the patterns were dominated by qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern （36.5%， 31/85）， and liver-gallbladder damp-heat pattern （25.9%， 22/85）. ConclusionThere are significant differences in the distribution of syndrome elements and patterns at different stages of HBV-ACLF， presenting an overall trend of evolving patterns as "from excess to deficiency， transforming from excess to deficiency"， which is damp-heat → blood stasis → qi-blood yin-yang deficiency.

BACKGROUND:Intervertebral disc degeneration is a condition caused by the combined effects of various factors,such as cellular apoptosis,oxidative stress,and inflammatory responses.Currently,it is believed that the core of this condition lies in the degeneration and apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells(NPCs).However,the specific pathological mechanisms remain unclear. OBJECTIVE:By investigating the expression of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha(HIF-1α)signaling pathway and the apoptosis of NPCs under different oxygen concentrations,to clarify the biological characteristics of NPCs under varying oxygen levels,and to explore the mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration. METHODS:Normal and degenerated NPCs were collected.The second-generation cells were used for imaging identification.The third-generation cells were cultured in the following conditions:37℃,air,100%humidity.Leibovitz's medium containing 100 μmol/L CoCl2 and 10%fetal bovine serum medium containing 100 μmol/L H2O2 were used to create distinct oxygen concentration environments for the third-generation cells,allowing for the investigation of cellular responses and behaviors under normal,low oxygen,and oxidative stress conditions.The third-generation cells were divided into six groups:normal NPCs+hypoxia,normal NPCs+normoxia,normal NPCs+oxidative stress,degenerated NPCs+hypoxia,degenerated NPCs+normoxia,and degenerated NPCs+oxidative stress groups.Cell viability and proliferation were assessed using the cell counting kit-8 method.Cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry.RT-PCR and western blot assay were utilized to examine the protein and mRNA expression levels of PI3K,AKT,and HIF-1α. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At different oxygen concentrations,the cell proliferation rate of both normal and degenerated NPCs decreased as the oxygen concentration increased.Conversely,the apoptosis rate increased as the oxygen concentration rose(P<0.05).With the normal NPCs+hypoxia group as the control group,the effect of degenerated NPCs on the apoptosis rate was highly significant(P<0.001).Oxygen concentration had a highly significant impact on both NPC proliferation rate and apoptosis rate(P<0.001).The interaction between cell degeneration and oxygen concentration significantly affected both NPC proliferation and apoptosis rates(P<0.05).At different oxygen concentrations,the protein and mRNA expression levels of PI3K,AKT,and HIF-1α in normal NPCs were highest under low oxygen concentration,followed by oxidative stress environment,and lowest under normoxia.In degenerated NPCs,the protein and mRNA expression levels of PI3K,AKT,and HIF-1α decreasd as the oxygen concentration increased.The protein and mRNA expression levels of PI3K and Akt in normal NPCs were significantly higher than those in degenerated NPCs(P<0.05).With the normal NPCs+hypoxia group as the control group,the effects of normal or degenerated NPCs,as well as oxygen concentration,on the protein and mRNA expression of PI3K,AKT,and HIF-1α were highly significant.The interaction between cell degeneration and oxygen concentration also had an extremely significant effect on the protein and mRNA expression of PI3K,AKT,and HIF-1α(P<0.001).To conclude,there is a close correlation between the proliferation and apoptosis of NPCs and both oxygen concentration and the cellular functional state.The PI3K/Akt/HIF-1α signaling pathway exhibits antagonistic regulatory effects under various cellular functional states and different oxygen concentration environments.The mechanism may be associated with the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,which consequently transcribes HIF-1α,thus maintaining the balance of reactive oxygen species metabolism.This pathway plays a significant role in inhibiting oxidative stress,antagonizing NPCs apoptosis,and consequently delaying intervertebral disc degeneration.

The kidney is the body's most important organ and the protein components in urine could be detected for diagnosing certain diseases. The amount of IgG protein in urine could be used to determine the degree of kidney function damage. IgG protein in human urine was detected by vertical flow paper-based microfluidic chip, double-antibody sandwich immunoreaction, and cell phone image processing. The results showed that using an IgG antibody concentration of 500 μg/mL and a gold standard antibody concentration of 100 μg/mL, the image signal showed a good linear relationship in the range of IgG concentration of 0.2-3.2 μg/mL, with R²=0.973 3 achieved. A complete set of detection devices were designed and the detection method showed good non-specificity.
Humans ; Microfluidics ; Immunoglobulin G ; Kidney ; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques

Objective:To explore the advantage of Fuzheng Huayu capsule in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis based on neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) risk stratification in reducing the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:916 cases diagnosed with hepatitis B cirrhosis and followed up for five years from January 2011 to January 2016 at Beijing Ditan Hospital Affiliated with Capital Medical University were included, and clinical data were collected. Patients were divided into a combination group and an antiviral group according to whether they were treated with anti-fibrosis for≥6 months. The antiviral group was treated with entecavir or tenofovir disoproxil, while the combination group was treated with Fuzheng Huayu capsules based on the antiviral therapy. The incidence of HCC was compared between the two groups of patients within five years. The advantaged groups treated with Fuzheng Huayu capsule were explored based on NLR risk stratification. The independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare measurement data between two groups. Categorical variable data were compared using either the χ2 test or Fisher's exact probability method. The incidence of HCC in the two groups of patients was analyzed through the Kalplan-Merier curve and compared using the log-rank method. Results:There were 299 (32.6%) and 617 (67.4%) cases in the combined group and the antiviral group, respectively. A total of 154 (16.8%) patients developed HCC during the follow-up period. The five-year cumulative incidence of HCC in the combination group was lower than that in the antiviral group (10.7% vs. 19.8%, χ2 = 11.848, P = 0.000 4). Patients with baseline NLR>3 had an increased risk of HCC. According to NLR risk stratification, there were 191 cases in the low-risk group (NLR<1.4), 462 cases in the medium-risk group (NLR1.4 ~ 3.0), and 263 cases in the high-risk group (NLR>3). Among medium to high-risk patients, the incidence of HCC was significantly reduced in the combination group (11.5% vs. 19.4%, χ2 = 4.519, P = 0.029; 13.2% vs. 26.2%, χ2 = 5.258, P = 0.019), while there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of HCC among the low-risk group ( P = 0.38). Conclusion:Compared with antiviral treatment alone, Fuzheng Huayu capsules combined with antiviral treatment can better reduce the five-year HCC incidence rate in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis. Medium-and high-risk patients with NLR stratification are the most advantageous population to be treated with Fuzheng Huayu capsules.

Objective To investigate the effect of Liangxue Jiedu decoction on intestinal flora in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF). Methods The patients who were hospitalized and diagnosed with HBV-ACLF in Beijing Ditan Hospital from October 2018 to October 2019 were enrolled, and healthy individuals were enrolled as HP group. High-throughput sequencing was used to screen for the differences in bacterial diversity and species between HBV-ACLF patients and healthy individuals, and differentially expressed bacteria between the two groups were screened out at the phylum and genus levels. With the help of in vitro simulated fermentation experiment, fecal samples were collected from the patients with HBV-ACLF and were then cultured in the medium containing different concentrations of Liangxue Jiedu decoction (0, 10%, 50%, and 100%) for 24 hours, and the changes in intestinal flora were analyzed and compared between the HBV-ACLF treatment group, the HBV-ACLF non-treatment group, and the HP group at the genus level. The t -test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups. Results A total of 10 HBV-ACLF patients were enrolled, with 5 in the HBV-ACLF treatment group and 5 in the HBV-ACLF non-treatment group, and there were 15 individuals in the HP group. Compared with the HP group, the HBV-ACLF non-treatment group had significant reductions in the diversity and abundance of intestinal flora. At the phylum level, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were mainly observed in the samples of the HP group, while the HBV-ACLF non-treatment group had a significant reduction in Bacteroidetes and significant increases in Fusobacteria , Proteobacteria , and Fibrobacteres. At the genus level, compared with the HP group, the HBV-ACLF non-treatment group had significant reductions in Ruminococcus, Blautia , and Eubacterium and significant increases in Parabacteroides, Lactobacillus, Fusobacterium , and Streptococcus . The in vitro fermentation experiment showed that compared with the HBV-ACLF non-treatment group, the HBV-ACLF treatment group had significant increases in Ruminococcus, Lachnospira, Bacteroides , and Genusgenus and significant reductions in Fusobacterium and Proteobacteria (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Liangxue Jiedu decoction can regulate intestinal flora disturbance, restore the diversity of intestinal flora, increase dominant bacteria, and reduce pathogenic bacteria, which may be one of its important mechanisms of action in the treatment of HBV-ACLF.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the gold standard for nucleic acid amplification in molecular diagnostics. The PCR includes multiple reaction stages (denaturation, annealing, and extension), and a complicated thermalcycler is required to repetitively provide different temperatures for different stages for 30-40 cycles within at least 1-2 hours. Due to the complicated devices and the long amplification time, it is difficult to adopt conventional PCR in point-of-care testing (POCT). Comparing to conventional PCR, isothermal amplification is able to provide a much faster and more convenient nucleic acid detection because of highly efficient amplification at a constant reaction temperature provided by a simple heating device. When isothermal amplification is combined with microfluidics, a more competent platform for POCT can be established. For example, various diagnosis devices based on isothermal amplification have been used to rapidly and conveniently detect SARS-CoV-2 viruses. This review summarized the recent development and applications of the microfluidics-based isothermal amplification. First, different typical isothermal amplification methods and related detection methods have been introduced. Subsequently, different types of microfluidic systems with isothermal amplification were discussed based on their characteristics, for example, functionality, system structure, flow control, and operation principles. Furthermore, detection of pathogens (e.g. SARS-CoV-2 viruses) based on isothermal amplification was introduced. Finally, the combination of isothermal amplification with other new technologies, e.g. CRISPR, has been introduced as well.
COVID-19/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Microfluidics ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics*

Physical fitness is the basic ability necessary to meet daily living activities,including walking, running, jumping, throwing, climbing, and so on. Adequate physical fitness is essential for the prevention and management of metabolic diseases. Impaired physical fitness is common in patients with diabetes mellitus and its chronic complications. This article reviews the impact of diabetes and its complications on physical fitness, current methods for assessment and management to provide a reference for comprehensive prevention and treatment of diabetic patients.