Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver injury resulting from factors like viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, fatty liver disease, and cholestatic liver disease. Liver transplantation is currently the gold standard for treating severe liver diseases. However, it is limited by a shortage of donor organs and the necessity for lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into various liver cells and enhance liver function when transplanted into patients due to their differentiation and proliferation capabilities. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative therapy for treating liver diseases, especially for liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver transplant complications. However, due to the potential tumorigenic effects of MSCs, researchers are exploring a new approach to treating liver fibrosis using extracellular vesicles (exosomes) secreted by stem cells. Many studies show that exosomes released by stem cells can promote liver injury repair through various pathways, contributing to the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms by which stem cell exosomes affect liver fibrosis through different pathways and their potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, we discuss the advantages of exosome therapy over stem cell therapy and the possible future directions of exosome research, including the prospects for clinical applications and the challenges to be overcome.

Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver injury resulting from factors like viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, fatty liver disease, and cholestatic liver disease. Liver transplantation is currently the gold standard for treating severe liver diseases. However, it is limited by a shortage of donor organs and the necessity for lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into various liver cells and enhance liver function when transplanted into patients due to their differentiation and proliferation capabilities. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative therapy for treating liver diseases, especially for liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver transplant complications. However, due to the potential tumorigenic effects of MSCs, researchers are exploring a new approach to treating liver fibrosis using extracellular vesicles (exosomes) secreted by stem cells. Many studies show that exosomes released by stem cells can promote liver injury repair through various pathways, contributing to the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms by which stem cell exosomes affect liver fibrosis through different pathways and their potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, we discuss the advantages of exosome therapy over stem cell therapy and the possible future directions of exosome research, including the prospects for clinical applications and the challenges to be overcome.

Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver injury resulting from factors like viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, fatty liver disease, and cholestatic liver disease. Liver transplantation is currently the gold standard for treating severe liver diseases. However, it is limited by a shortage of donor organs and the necessity for lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into various liver cells and enhance liver function when transplanted into patients due to their differentiation and proliferation capabilities. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative therapy for treating liver diseases, especially for liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver transplant complications. However, due to the potential tumorigenic effects of MSCs, researchers are exploring a new approach to treating liver fibrosis using extracellular vesicles (exosomes) secreted by stem cells. Many studies show that exosomes released by stem cells can promote liver injury repair through various pathways, contributing to the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms by which stem cell exosomes affect liver fibrosis through different pathways and their potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, we discuss the advantages of exosome therapy over stem cell therapy and the possible future directions of exosome research, including the prospects for clinical applications and the challenges to be overcome.

Renal interstitial fibrosis （RIF） is a common pathological change process from the development of various chronic nephropathies to the end stage， and it is an important histological manifestation of renal function decline. At present， no effective anti-fibrosis drugs have been found in clinical practice. In recent years， with the continuous development of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） pharmacology， molecular biology， system biology， and network pharmacology， the research on regulating RIF with TCM monomer， single TCM， TCM compound， Chinese patent medicine， and TCM injection is deepening. Among them， Jianpi Yishen recipe， Shendi Bushen capsules， Jianzhong Bushen Xiaozheng decoction， Liuwei Dihuangtang， and Lycium barbarum polysaccharides can regulate transforming growth factor-β/small mother against decapentaplegic （TGF-β₁/Smads）， Wnt/β-catenin， and neurogenic locus notch homolog protein （Notch） signaling pathways. Wulingsan， Zhenwutang， pachymic acid ZA， pachymic acid ZC， and pachymic acid ZD， which mainly induce diuresis， can regulate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Hirudin， curcumin， and Fuzheng Huayu recipe， which mainly promote blood circulation， can inhibit inflammation-related pathways such as p-nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB）， Toll-like receptor 4/p-nuclear transcription factor-κB （TLR4/NF-κB）， and Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （JAK/STAT）， so as to achieve anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation effects and alleviate the progression of RIF. Shenshuai Xiezhuo decoction， Shenkang injection， and Shenshuai recipe， which are mainly used for invigorating Qi， removing blood stasis， and removing turbidity， can inhibit transdifferentiation of pericytes-myofibroblasts through vascular endothelial growth factor receptor （VEGFR） signaling pathway. At present， there are many studies on the regulation of the RIF signaling pathway by TCM， but there is a lack of a systematic summary. In this study， by combing the signaling pathway of TCM in the treatment of RIF， the effective target of TCM treatment is screened， and its possible mechanism is found， which provides new ideas for clinical treatment and new drug research and development.

Objective: To investigate the differences and diversity changes in gut microbiota between children and adolescents with constipation and diarrhea, and healthy individuals, and to explore the correlation between changes in stool consistency and gut microbiota, in order to provide a scientific reference for the research on intestinal microecology among children and adolescents. Methods: From October 2021 to March 2022, a total of 42 children and adolescents with constipation and 37 with diarrhea from a tertiary hospital in Hangzhou City, and 43 healthy individuals from 3 primary and secondary schools were included in this study. Fecal samples of children and adolescents were collected and then stool genomic DNA was extracted for 16S rRNA gene high throughput sequencing, and the sequencing results were analyzed. In the analysis of alpha diversity, the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used to compare the differences between the three groups, and the FDR multiple testing correction was used for pairwise comparisons. In the analysis of beta diversity, the Adonis test was used to compare the overall differences between the three groups, and the ANOSIM test was used for pairwise comparisons. In the LEfSe analysis, the LDA scores obtained through LDA analysis (linear regression analysis). Results: Alpha diversity analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the Shannon index (4.01, 3.81, 4.19) and Simpson index (0.05, 0.06, 0.04) between the diarrhea group, constipation group, and healthy group ( H=6.05, 6.35, P <0.1). Further pairwise comparison showed that the Shannon index and Simpson index of the healthy group were higher than those of the constipation group ( P <0.1). Beta diversity analysis showed that the impact of grouping factors on inter group differences was statistically significant ( R 2=0.045, P <0.1). Community composition analysis showed that there were 234 species in total among the three groups, and 36 unique species in the healthy group, 36 species in the diarrhea group, and 48 species in the constipation group. Species difference analysis showed significant differences in species composition at the genus level among the three groups ( H=0.000 05, 0.000 16, 0.000 20, 0.000 21, 0.000 53, 0.001 39, P <0.1), including Lachnospiraceae of Firmicutes phylum, Eubacterium hallii, Veillonellaceae, Qscillospiraceae, Butyricicoccaceae and Staphylococcaceae, respectively. KEGG abundance statistics and COG functional analysis showed that there were no significant differences in gene expression abundance of the same function among the three groups ( P >0.1). Conclusions The different stool consistency of children and adolescents is related to changes in gut microbiota composition. Compared to the healthy group, children with constipation or diarrhea have disrupted gut microbiota balance, with a shift in dominant bacteria and a higher abundance of opportunistic pathogens.

Objective:To analyze the preoperative and postoperative serum cholinesterase (CHE) levels in patients with stage ⅠA-ⅢA breast cancer who underwent surgical treatment, and to explore the roles of them and peripheral blood inflammatory markers in the prognostic prediction of stage ⅠA-ⅢA breast cancer.Methods:The relevant blood indicators of 152 patients with stage ⅠA-ⅢA breast cancer who underwent surgery and postoperative adjuvant therapy from January 2012 to December 2017 at Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were retrospectively studied. The optimal cut-off values of serum CHE levels and peripheral blood inflammatory markers [systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) ] were calculated using X-tile 3.6.1 software. Patients were categorized into low and high value groups based on the optimal cutoff values. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis were used to assess the correlation between CHE and peripheral blood inflammation indexes and disease-free survival (DFS). Spearman correlation coefficient and Wilcoxon test were used to assess the correlation and changes of CHE and inflammation indexes before and after treatment. In addition to this, a nomogram prediction model was conscturcted based on independent prognostic factors by R software, which was validated by Bootstrap method.Results:The CHE levels of patients before and after treatment was 8 645.0 (7 251.3, 10 229.3) and 9 309.0 (7 801.0, 10 835.3) U/L, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( Z=2.73, P=0.006) .The optimal cut-off values for postoperative CHE (Post-CHE), postoperative SII (Post-SII), and postoperative SIRI (Post-SIRI) associated with patients' DFS, being 7 773 U/L, 741, and 0.9, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that tumor size (≤2 cm vs.>2 cm and ≤5 cm: HR=2.55, 95% CI: 1.30-4.99, P=0.006; ≤2 cm vs. >5 cm: HR=8.95, 95% CI: 4.15-19.32, P<0.001), number of positive lymph nodes ( HR=3.84, 95% CI: 2.24-6.58, P<0.001), clinical stage (stage Ⅰ vs. stage Ⅱ: HR=1.52, 95% CI: 0.68-3.39, P=0.309, stage Ⅰ vs. stage Ⅲ: HR=8.12, 95% CI: 3.76-17.55, P<0.001), Ki-67 expression ( HR=2.19, 95% CI: 1.24-3.84, P=0.007), whether radiotherapy ( HR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.19-3.53, P=0.010), Post-CHE ( HR=6.81, 95% CI: 3.94-11.76, P<0.001), Pre-neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) ( HR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.21, P=0.014), Post-NLR ( HR=5.23, 95% CI: 2.78-9.85, P<0.001), Pre-platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) ( HR=2.08, 95% CI: 1.01-4.26, P=0.046), Post-PLR ( HR=7.11, 95% CI: 3.78-13.37, P<0.001), Pre-lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) ( HR=0.37, 95% CI: 0.20-0.66, P<0.001), Post-LMR ( HR=0.23, 95% CI: 0.13-0.41, P<0.001), Pre-SII ( HR=1.81, 95% CI: 1.05-3.12, P=0.033), Post-SII ( HR=6.12, 95% CI: 3.48-10.76, P<0.001), Pre-SIRI ( HR=2.12, 95% CI: 1.24-3.63, P=0.006), and Post-SIRI ( HR=4.93, 95% CI: 2.87-8.48, P<0.001) were associated with DFS in patients with stage ⅠA-ⅢA breast cancer. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size (≤2 cm vs. >2 cm and ≤5 cm: HR=2.86, 95% CI: 1.41-5.78, P=0.003; ≤2 cm vs. >5 cm: HR=3.72, 95% CI: 1.50-9.26, P=0.005), number of positive lymph nodes ( HR=4.66, 95% CI: 2.28-9.54, P<0.001), Ki-67 expression ( HR=2.13, 95% CI: 1.15-3.94, P=0.016), Post-CHE ( HR=0.18, 95% CI: 0.10-0.33, P<0.001), Post-SII ( HR=2.71, 95% CI: 1.39-5.29, P=0.004), and Post-SIRI ( HR=3.77, 95% CI: 1.93-7.36, P<0.001) were independent influencing factors for DFS in patients with stage ⅠA-ⅢA breast cancer. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the median DFS of patients in the Ki-67<30% group was not reached, and the median DFS of patients in the Ki-67≥30% group was 89.0 months, and the 3- and 5-year DFS rates were 84.9% vs. 75.9% and 80.8% vs. 64.3%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=7.65, P=0.006) ; the median DFS of patients in the tumor size≤2 cm group was not reached, the median DFS of the 2 cm5 cm group was 26.3 months, and the 3- and 5-year DFS rates were 95.5% vs. 74.6% vs. 42.1%, 86.3% vs. 68.6% vs. 25.3%, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=40.46, P<0.001) ; the median DFS of patients in the group with the number of positive lymph nodes<4 was not reached, and the median DFS of the group with the number of positive lymph nodes≥4 was 30.7 months, and the 3- and 5-year DFS rates were 87.9% vs. 46.4% and 81.4% vs. 28.6%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2= 47.34, P<0.001) ; the median DFS of patients in the Post-CHE<7 773 U/L group was 47.3 months, and the median DFS of patients in the Post-CHE≥7 773 U/L group was not reached, and the 3- and 5-year DFS rates were 52.8 % vs. 88.6% and 27.8% vs. 81.2%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=62.17, P<0.001) ; the median DFS was not achieved in patients in the Post-SII<741 group, and the median DFS was 30.5 months in the Post-SII≥741 group, with 3- and 5-year DFS rates of 88.1% vs. 38.5% and 80.1% vs. 30.8%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=50.78, P<0.001) ; the median DFS of patients in Post-SIRI<0.9 group was not reached, the median DFS of Post-SIRI≥0.9 group was 33.3 months, and the 3- and 5-year DFS rates were 93.5% vs. 46.7% and 84.9% vs. 39.9%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=40.67, P<0.001). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that Post-CHE was not correlated with Post-SII ( r=-0.111, P=0.175), and Post-CHE was negatively correlated with Post-SIRI ( r=-0.228, P=0.005). Post-treatment CHE was elevated compared to preoperative and the median DFS was not reached in patients with elevated CHE group and 61.8 months in patients with reduced CHE group after treatment, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=25.67, P<0.001). The nomogram based on independent prognostic factors had good predictive performance, with a C-index of 0.893. Conclusion:The serum CHE level exhibited a significant increase following treatment. Postoperative serum CHE combined with SII and SIRI can effectively predict DFS in patients with stage ⅠA-ⅢA breast cancer, and the prognosis of patients with elevated CHE after treatment is better. The nomogram constructed based on independent prognostic factors has good predictive performance for DFS in breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect mechanism of Eucommia ulmoides on improving postpartum depression in rats. METHODS Pregnant rats were randomly divided into normal group， postpartum depression group， and low-dose and high-dose groups of E. ulmoides （1.34， 2.68 g/kg， calculated by crude drug）， with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， the rats in other groups suffered from fear stress to induce postpartum depression model during pregnancy； at the same time of modeling， the administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically， while the normal group and postpartum depression group were given physiological saline intragastrically for 21 days. Postpartum behaviors of rats during the experiment were assessed using the open field test， Morris water maze test and sucrose preference test. Additionally， the levels of corticosterone （CORT） in serum， corticotropin releasing factor （CRF） and urocortin （UCN） in hypothalamus， and adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH） in hypophysis were detected； meanwhile， the protein expressions of CRF receptor 1 （CRFR1）， CRFR2， and voltage-dependent anion channel 1 （VDAC1） in hippocampal tissue were measured； the proportions of apoptotic cells and JC-1 high potential cells in hippocampal tissue were determined， and the morphology of hippocampal tissue was observed. RESULTS Compared with postpartum depression group， the high-dose group of E. ulmoides showed improvements in appetite， mental state， and hair color in rats； their body weight had increased； the scores of vertical movement， horizontal movement and self-sorting significantly increased； from the 2ed to 4th day avoidance latency significantly shortened， and the times of crossing the platform and the time of crossing the platform Δ 基金项目国家自然科学基金青年基金项目（No.82204789） significantly increased/prolonged （P＜0.05）； the ratio of glucose and water consumption significantly increased at 20 days of pregnancy and 30 days postpartum （P＜0.05）； the levels of CRF， UCN， ACTH and CORT， phagocytic rate， protein expressions of CRFR2 and VDAC1， and the proportion of apoptosis cells in hippocampal tissue were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）； the proportion of JC-1 high potential cells significantly increased （P＜0.05）， and the phenomenon of edema around neuronal cells was significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS E. ulmoides can improve postpartum depression by inhibiting excessive activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis， decreasing the expression of CRFR2， thereby inhibiting the expression of VDAC1， and decreasing the apoptosis of neuronal cells.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect mechanism of Eucommia ulmoides on improving postpartum depression in rats. METHODS Pregnant rats were randomly divided into normal group， postpartum depression group， and low-dose and high-dose groups of E. ulmoides （1.34， 2.68 g/kg， calculated by crude drug）， with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， the rats in other groups suffered from fear stress to induce postpartum depression model during pregnancy； at the same time of modeling， the administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically， while the normal group and postpartum depression group were given physiological saline intragastrically for 21 days. Postpartum behaviors of rats during the experiment were assessed using the open field test， Morris water maze test and sucrose preference test. Additionally， the levels of corticosterone （CORT） in serum， corticotropin releasing factor （CRF） and urocortin （UCN） in hypothalamus， and adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH） in hypophysis were detected； meanwhile， the protein expressions of CRF receptor 1 （CRFR1）， CRFR2， and voltage-dependent anion channel 1 （VDAC1） in hippocampal tissue were measured； the proportions of apoptotic cells and JC-1 high potential cells in hippocampal tissue were determined， and the morphology of hippocampal tissue was observed. RESULTS Compared with postpartum depression group， the high-dose group of E. ulmoides showed improvements in appetite， mental state， and hair color in rats； their body weight had increased； the scores of vertical movement， horizontal movement and self-sorting significantly increased； from the 2ed to 4th day avoidance latency significantly shortened， and the times of crossing the platform and the time of crossing the platform Δ 基金项目国家自然科学基金青年基金项目（No.82204789） significantly increased/prolonged （P＜0.05）； the ratio of glucose and water consumption significantly increased at 20 days of pregnancy and 30 days postpartum （P＜0.05）； the levels of CRF， UCN， ACTH and CORT， phagocytic rate， protein expressions of CRFR2 and VDAC1， and the proportion of apoptosis cells in hippocampal tissue were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）； the proportion of JC-1 high potential cells significantly increased （P＜0.05）， and the phenomenon of edema around neuronal cells was significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS E. ulmoides can improve postpartum depression by inhibiting excessive activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis， decreasing the expression of CRFR2， thereby inhibiting the expression of VDAC1， and decreasing the apoptosis of neuronal cells.

Background Non-suicidal self-injury(NSSI)behavior has become a major public health concern and can have significant implications for the physical and mental health of adolescents.Peer victimization is a risk factor for adolesents to have NSSI behavior,so exploring the relationship and underlying mechanism between peer victimization and NSSI functions will provide a promising strategy for the prevention and intervention of NSSI behavior.Objective To investigate the relationship between peer victimization and NSSI functions in adolescents with unipolar and bipolar depression,so as to provide references for the intervention of NSSI behavior in adolescent patients with unipolar and bipolar depression.Methods Using multi-stage stratified sampling,940 adolescents with unipolar and bipolar depression who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,fifth edition(DSM-5)criteria for bipolar depressive episodes or depressive disorders were selected from 14 psychiatric hospitals in China.All participations were assessed using Chinese version of the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation(C-FASM),Multidimensional Peer-Victimization Scale(MPVS),UCLA Loneliness Scale(UCLA-LS)and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item(PHQ-9).Pearson correlation coefficient was to assess the correlation among above scales,and the model fit and path coefficients for mediation were analyzed with model 4 in Process 4.0 for SPSS.Results A total of 698(74.26%)adolescents with unipolar and bipolar depression completed the questionnaire survey.NSSI behavior was detected in 374 patients(53.58%).Among adolescents with unipolar and bipolar depression and NSSI behavior,MPVS total score was positively correlated with the scores of NSSI emotion regulation function,attention-seeking function and social avoidance function in C-FASM(r=0.104,0.130,0.266,P<0.05 or 0.01),UCLA-LS score also yielded a positive correlation with the scores of NSSI emotion regulation function,attention-seeking function and social avoidance function in C-FASM(r=0.321,0.112,0.246,P<0.05 or 0.01),and UCLA-LS score was positively correlated with MPVS total score(r=0.241,P<0.01).Loneliness demonstrated a complete mediating role in the relationship between peer victimization and emotion regulation function,with an indirect effect value of 0.033(95%CI:0.019～0.050)and an effect size of 73.33%.A partial mediating effect of loneliness was also observed for the relationship between peer victimization and social avoidance function,with an indirect effect value of 0.016(95%CI:0.007～0.025)and an effect size of 17.98%.Conclusion Loneliness may act as a mediator in the relationship between the peer victimization and the NISS emotion regulation and social avoidance functions in adolescents with unipolar and bipolar depression and NSSI behaviors.

Background Decline in cognitive function is considered a hallmark of schizophrenia,and transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)has developed as a promising tool for cognitive enhancement.Objective To systematically evaluate the effect of tDCS on improving cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia,so as to provide references for clinical intervention of cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia.Methods A computer-based systematic search was conducted on September 12,2023 through CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,PubMed,CINAHL and PsycINFO databases,and randomized controlled trials relevant to the efficacy of tDCS for management of cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia were collected.The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Trials(RoB 2.0).Results A total of 17 articles were included,including 953 patients with schizophrenia.TDCS has an improvement effect on cognitive functions such as information processing speed,attention,working memory,executive function and learning ability in patients with schizophrenia.Conclusion tDCS may have an effect on improving cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia.