Tumor has become a major disease that seriously threatens human health and life. The incidence rate is increasing year by year， yet the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， a treasure of the Chinese nation and a wealth for people worldwide， plays an important role in the treatment of tumors and has been receiving increasing attention both in China and abroad. In earlier work， based on the symptoms and metastatic characteristics of tumors， and drawing on the TCM theory of Yin and Yang in combination with modern medical research on tumors， the ''Yin deficiency-cancer correlation'' hypothesis was proposed. This hypothesis holds that ''Yin deficiency'' of the body is a major cause of malignant tumors， and that nourishing Yin to eliminate the pathogenic factor of Yin deficiency can treat cancer. By using Yin-nourishing drugs to tonify Yin deficiency， the occurrence and development of malignant tumors can be effectively prevented. Common anti-tumor Yin-nourishing drugs include Glehniae Radix， Lilii Bulbus， Ophiopogonis Radix， Liriopes Radix， Asparagi Radix， Dendrobii Caulis， Dendrobii Officinalis Caulis， Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma， Polygonati Rhizoma， Lycii Fructus， Mori Fructus， Ligustri Lucidi Fructus， Ecliptae Herba， Rehmanniae Radix， and Anemarrhenae Rhizoma. These drugs are generally sweet in flavor， cold and cool in nature， and moist in texture. They have the functions of nourishing Yin fluids， generating body fluids， and moistening dryness， and can also clear heat， being primarily indicated for Yin deficiency with depletion of body fluids. In view of the potential advantages and value of treating malignant tumors by tonifying Yin deficiency with Chinese medicine， this paper reviews recent studies on the anti-tumor effects of active components of Yin-nourishing drugs. It further summarizes their mechanisms of action in inducing apoptosis of tumor cells， arresting tumor cell proliferation， inhibiting tumor invasion， metastasis， and angiogenesis， enhancing and regulating immune function， augmenting the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs， and reversing tumor drug resistance. This study provides an objective overview of research progress on Yin-nourishing drugs in tumor treatment and offers new ideas for cancer therapy.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the synergistic effect and mechanism of curcumin （CUR） combined with zerumbone （ZER） on the biological behavior of non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） A549 cells. METHODS CCK-8 method and Gin’s formula were used to screen the optimal concentration combination for synergistic effect after the combination of CUR and ZER. The cells were divided into blank group， CUR group， ZER group， and CUR+ZER group. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate cell apoptosis， and clone formation experiment was used to evaluate cell proliferation ability， scratch experiment and Transwell migration experiment were used to evaluate cell migration ability， and Transwell invasion experiment was used to evaluate cell invasion ability. Western blot assay was used to detect the protein expressions of phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase （p- PI3K）， phosphorylated protein kinase B （p-Akt）， and vascular endothelial growth factor A （VEGF-A）. RESULTS The half inhibitory concentrations of CUR and ZER on A549 cells were approximately 16 and 12 μmol/L， respectively； the drug combination of CUR 8 μmol/L+ZER 6 μmol/L had the highest efficiency enhancement index， with the cell proliferation inhibition rate of （77.41±4.16）%， indicating the most significant synergistic effect. Compared with the CUR and ZER groups， the cell apoptosis rate in the CUR+ZER group was significantly increased （P＜0.01）， while the cell clone formation rate， cell migration rate， the number of migrating cells， the number of invading cells， and relative expression levels of p-PI3K， p-Akt， and VEGF-A proteins in the cells were significantly reduced （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS The combination of CUR and ZER has a synergistic effect， significantly promoting the apoptosis of NSCLC cells， and inhibiting cell proliferation， migration， and invasion. Its potential mechanism may be closely related to the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway， thereby down-regulating the protein expression of VEGF-A.

Objective To analyze the diagnostic utility of combining susceptibility-weighted imaging(SWI)with arterial spin labeling(ASL)in patients with acute ischemic stroke(AIS).Methods Fifty AIS patients who admitted to Yongchuan Hospital,Chongqing Medical University from July 2020 to July 2021 were selected.Scans were performed using a 3.0T MRI scanner,including sequences such as FLAIR,DWI,3D-TOF-MRA,3D-ASL,and SWI.The perfusion status of the infarction core,the grading of draining veins around the infarction core,compensation by collateral circulation,the occurrence of hemorrhagic transformation,and prognosis were assessed.Results The grading of draining veins around the infarction core was significantly correlated with NIHSS scores(r=0.869,P＜0.05)and prognosis(r=0.825,P＜0.05).In addition,significant correlations were found between the perfusion status of the infarction core and the occurrence of hemorrhagic transformation(r=0.873,P＜0.05),compensation by collateral circulation and prognosis(r=0.883,P＜0.05).Conclusion The combination of SWI and ASL provides accurate indications of the hemodynamic conditions around the infarction core in AIS patients,and it can accurately assess the prognosis of AIS patients,contributing valuable information for clinical diagnosis and the selection of treatment strategies.

Acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 5 (ACSL5), is a member of the acyl-CoA synthetases (ACSs) family that activates long chain fatty acids by catalyzing the synthesis of fatty acyl-CoAs. The dysregulation of ACSL5 has been reported in some cancers, such as glioma and colon cancers. However, little is known about the role of ACSL5 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We found that the expression of ACSL5 was higher in bone marrow cells from AML patients compared with that from healthy donors. ACSL5 level could serve as an independent prognostic predictor of the overall survival of AML patients. In AML cells, the ACSL5 knockdown inhibited cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the knockdown of ACSL5 suppressed the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by suppressing the palmitoylation modification of Wnt3a. Additionally, triacsin c, a pan-ACS family inhibitor, inhibited cell growth and robustly induced cell apoptosis when combined with ABT-199, the FDA approved BCL-2 inhibitor for AML therapy. Our results indicate that ACSL5 is a potential prognosis marker for AML and a promising pharmacological target for the treatment of molecularly stratified AML.
Humans ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Apoptosis ; beta Catenin/metabolism* ; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Coenzyme A Ligases/metabolism* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism* ; Lipoylation ; Prognosis ; Wnt Signaling Pathway

Objective:To investigate the influencing factors of operation time for laparos-copic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and analyze the learning curve of LSG in sarcopenic obesity (SO) and non-sarcopenic obesity (NSO).Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of 240 obesity patients who underwent LSG in the Fujian Medical University Union Hospital from January 2018 to June 2022 were collected. There were 52 males and 188 females, aged (30±8)years. Patients underwent L3 vertebral body horizontal axial computer tomography (CT) scanning before and after receiving LSG to accurately segment muscles and fats. Observation indicators: (1) treatment and follow-up; (2) influencing factors of operation time for LSG; (3) cumulative sum (CUSUM) of learning curve; (4) comparison of clinical data between patients in the initial and profi-cient stages. Measurement data with normal distribution were represent as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(IQR), and comparison between groups was conducted using the non-parameter test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using the Logistic regression model. The CUSUM of learning curve was calculated and the fitting process was conducted on scatter plot of learning curves. Results:(1) Treatment and follow-up. Of the 240 patients, there were 97 cases of SO and 143 cases of NSO. All 240 patients underwent LSG successfully, without conversion to open surgery. The operation time of 240 patients was (108±23)minutes. None of patient died during the perioperative period and all patients underwent follow-up during the postoperative 6 months. (2) Influencing factors of operation time for LSG. Results of multivariate analysis showed that SO was an independent factor influencing operation time for LSG ( odds ratio=2.207, 95% confidence interval as 1.207-4.038, P<0.05). (3) CUSUM of learning curve. Results of CUSUM of operation time in patients of SO and NSO showed that the best fit equation of patients of SO was y=-4E-08x 6+1E-05x 5-0.001 1x 4+0.063 1x 3-1.89x 2+28.126x-48.671 (x means the number of surgical cases), with goodness-of-fit R 2 as 0.833, and the best fit equation of patients of NSO was y=3E-09x 6-1E-06x 5+0.000 2x 4-0.010 9x 3+0.063 8x 2+12.053x-65.025 (x means the number of surgical cases), with goodness-of-fit R 2 as 0.716. Based on the trend of CUSUM of learning curve of operation time, the peak value of number of surgical cases in patients of SO and NSO was 81 and 36, respec-tively, which was used to divide the learning curve as two stages of the initial stage and the proficient stage. (4) Comparison of clinical data between patients in the initial and proficient stages. ① Of the 97 patients of SO, there were 81 cases and 16 cases in the initial stage and the proficient stage of LSG, with the operation time, postoperative duration of hospital stay as (119±23)minutes, (5.9±2.3)days and (106±21)minutes, (4.7±0.5)days, showing significant differences between them ( t=2.074, 2.147, P<0.05). ②Of the 143 patients of NSO, there were 36 cases and 107 cases in the initial stage and the proficient stage of LSG, with gender (female), height, preoperative body mass, defatted body mass, operation time, postoperative duration of hospital stay, body mass at postoperative 6 month, body mass index (BMI) at postoperative 6 month, percentage of excess weight loss (EWL%) at postoperative 6 month, cases with EWL% >100% at postoperative 6 month, excess BMI at post-operative 6 month as 20, (170±10)cm, (110±25)kg, (57±12)kg, (108±22)minutes, (6.1±1.6)days, (80±16)kg, (27.63±4.22)kg/m2, 83%±35%, 9, 1.99(6.03)kg/m2 and 87, (164±8)cm, (99±20)kg, (52±12)kg, (100±19)minutes, (4.7±1.1)days, (71±16)kg, (25.89±4.48)kg/m2, 103%±42%, 48, 0.31(5.82)kg/m2, showing significant differences between them ( χ2=9.484, t=3.266, 2.424, 2.141, 2.137, 5.821, 2.740, 1.993, -2.524, χ2=4.432, Z=-2.300, P<0.05). Conclusions:SO is an independent factor influencing operation time for LSG. It is suggested that the surgeons need to finish 81 cases and 36 cases master LSG in patients of SO and NSO.

Objective     To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors for perioperative lung surgery patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron variant infection. Methods     The clinical data of patients who underwent lung surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from December 1, 2022 to January 9, 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into an infection group and a non-infection group according to whether they were infected with SARS-CoV-2. And the clinical data of two groups were collected and compared. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors affecting the time of hospitalization. Results     A total of 70 patients were enrolled in this study, including 36 (51.4%) males and 34 (48.6%) females at a median age of 61.0 (49.0, 66.8) years. There were 28 patients in the infection group and 42 patients in the non-infection group. The proportion of preoperative abnormal coagulation function and the risk of postoperative pulmonary infection in perioperative patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 were higher than those in the non-infection group (P<0.05). Subgroup analysis found that patients with preoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to have pulmonary infection after surgery, but did not prolong the time of hospitalization or increase the risk of severe disease rate. The patients with postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection had worse clinical prognosis, including longer time of hospitalization (P=0.004), higher ICU admission rate (P=0.000), higher lung infection rate (P=0.003) and respiratory failure rate (P=0.000). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that gender and extent of surgery were independent risk factors for prolonged hospitalization time. Conclusion     Preoperative infection with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant will increase the risk of pulmonary infection, but it will not affect the clinical prognosis. However, postoperative infection with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant will still prolong the time of hospitalization, increase the ICU rate, and the risk of pulmonary complications.

OBJECTIVE To establish the HPLC fingerprint of Jianpi huayu decoction， and to determine the contents of 8 components. METHODS Thermo Hypersil Gold C18 column was used with mobile phase consisted of methanol-0.05% phosphoric acid aqueous solution （gradient elution） at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The column temperature was 30 ℃， the injection volume was 5 μL. The detection wavelength of matrine was 211 nm， and the other components’ detection wavelength was 283 nm. The similarity evaluation of HPLC fingerprints for 10 batches of Jianpi huayu decoction was performed by using the Similarity Evaluation System of Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine （2012 edition）. The contents of chlorogenic acid， vanillic acid， p-coumaric acid， ferulic acid， hesperidin， quercetin， bergapten and matrine in the samples were determined by HPLC. RESULTS HPLC fingerprint of Jianpi huayu decoction was established. A total of 27 common peaks were identified， and 8 components were identified. The similarity between 10 batches of samples and the control map ranged from 0.942-0.999. RSDs of precision， repeatability and stability tests were less than 3% （n＝6）. The average recoveries of chlorogenic acid， vanillic acid， p-coumaric acid， ferulic acid， hesperidin， quercetin， bergapten and matrine were 99.48%， 101.32%， 101.18%， 100.79%， 101.12%， 99.19%， 99.81% and 102.46%， respectively； RSDs were 1.34%， 0.93%， 1.90%， 1.84%， 0.54%， 1.53%， 1.33% and 1.01%， respectively （n＝6）. The contents were 0.021-0.061， 0.025-0.034， 0.116-0.295， 0.006- 0.062， 0.014-0.053， 0.017-0.026， 0.014-0.027 and 14.05-24.11 mg/g， respectively. CONCLUSIONS The established fingerprint and content determination method can provide a reference for the quality control and subsequent preparation development for Jianpi huayu decoction.

Objective To prepare 4-sulfonylcalix[6]arene-modified cotton fibers for adsorption and removal of uranium based on the specific complexation of calix[6]arene with uranium (VI). Methods Chemical grafting was used for the modification of cotton, which reacted with α-bromoisobutyryl bromide, glycidyl methacrylate, and 4-sulfonylcalix[6]arene. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize the structure of 4-sulfonylcalix[6]arene-modified cotton (Cotton S-C[6]a). A Franz diffusion cell was used to simulate uranium-contaminated skin. Laser fluorimetry was used to determine the uranium content. Results SEM, XPS, and FTIR showed that cotton fibers were successfully grafted with 4-sulfonylcalix[6]arene. The optimal conditions of Cotton S-C[6]a for the adsorption of uranium (VI) was pH 4.0, duration of 20 min, and 20 mg of adsorbent. The adsorption process fitted well with pseudo-secondary-order kinetics. The uranium removal efficiency of Cotton S-C[6]a was up to 78.46% in aqueous solution and 81.72% on skin. Conclusion The synthesized Cotton S-C[6]a is highly efficient in the removal of uranium (VI) in solution and on contaminated skin.

Objective To investigate the effect of Compound Lingdan Capsule on serum biochemical parameters and liver fibrosis degree in a mouse model of liver fibrosis. Methods A total of 125 specific pathogen-free male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control group with 5 mice, CCl 4 model group with 15 mice, low-, middle-, and high-dose CCl 4 groups (0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mg·g -1 ·d -1 ) with 15 mice in each group, DDC model group with 15 mice, and low-, middle-, and high-dose DDC groups (0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mg·g -1 ·d -1 ) with 15 mice in each group. After successful modeling, the mice in the administration groups were given Compound Lingdan Capsule suspension at the respective doses by gavage, and those in the normal control group and the model group were given an equal volume of normal saline by gavage, for 4 consecutive weeks. Blood samples were collected from the eyeballs, and serum was used to measure aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin, and bilirubin. Liver tissue samples were collected at the same site of the right lobe of the liver for pathological observation, Sirius Red staining, α-SMA antibody staining, and COL1A1 antibody staining. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups, and the Bonferroni method was used for further comparison between two groups. Results Compared with the model group, each dose group had significant reductions in the serum level of ALT and a significant increase in the serum level of albumin after the administration of Compound Lingdan Capsule (all P < 0.05), the levels of AST and bilirubin in the middle and high dose groups were lower (all P < 0.05), and the difference of each index in the high dose group was more significant than that in the low dose group (all P < 0.05). Each dose group had varying degrees of improvement in the pathological changes of the liver and a significant reduction in the number of Sirius Red staining-positive cells, as well as varying degrees of reduction in the protein expression of α-SMA and COL1A1. Conclusion Compound Lingdan Capsule can improve liver function and reduce liver fibrosis degree in mice with liver fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of exosomes derived from Echinococcus multilocularis on macrophage polarization after treatment for different durations and concentrations. Methods A total of 60 BALB/c mice were used for modeling, among which 4 mice were selected to observe the growth of abdominal lesions on 7.0T MRI. The mice for modeling were dissected, and the protoscoleces was taken from the abdominal lesion and cultured in vitro ; ultracentrifugation was used to extract the exosomes from the supernatant, and transmission electron microscopy and Western blotting were used for the characterization of exosomes. The macrophages without exosome treatment were established as control group, and the macrophages co-cultured with different concentrations of exosomes derived from Echinococcus multilocularis were established as experimental group (10 μg/mL group and 50 μg/mL group) and were cultured for 48 and 72 hours. The morphological changes of macrophages were observed under a microscope, and flow cytometry and ELISA were used to observe polarization state. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t -test was used for further comparison between two groups. Results The results of 7.0T MRI showed the formation of diffuse lesions with different sizes in the abdominal cavity of mice, and the exosomes derived from Echinococcus multilocularis were approximately 100 nm in diameter and were cup-shaped or saucer-shaped, with the positive expression of the surface markers CD9, TSG101, and CD63. After co-culture, most of the cells in the experimental group were elongated with an irregular and polygonal shape. Flow cytometry showed that after 48 hours of co-culture, the positive rates of CD16/32, CD206, and CD369 in the control group were 99.53%±0.06%, 90.27%±0.21%, and 2.40%±0.20%, respectively; compared with the control group, except that the 10 μg/mL exosome group had a significant reduction in the positive rate of CD369 (0.80%±0.00%) ( P < 0.05), all the other groups had a significant increase in the positive rates of CD16/32, CD206, and CD369 (all P < 0.000 1); after 72 hours of co-culture, the positive rates of CD16/32, CD206, and CD369 in the control group were 99.67%±0.06%, 85.47%±0.55%, and 6.60%±0.20%, respectively, and compared with the control group, the experimental group had significant increases in the positive rates of CD16/32, CD206, and CD369 (all P < 0.05). ELISA showed that after 48 hours of co-culture, the levels of IL-6 and TNFα in the control group were 58.53±15.52 pg/mL and 320.70±5.30 pg/mL, respectively, and when the exosome concentration was 50 μg/mL, the level of IL-6 in the experimental group was 98.81±15.55 pg/mL, which was higher than that in the control group ( P < 0.05); after 72 hours of co-culture, the levels of IL-6 and TNFα in the control group were 76.22±9.68 pg/mL and 323.90±87.37 pg/mL, respectively, and when the exosome concentration was 10 μg/mL, the level of TNFα was 164.20±14.17 pg/mL, which was significantly lower than that in the control group ( P < 0.05); when the exosome concentration was 50 μg/mL, the level of IL-6 was 99.52±8.35 pg/mL, which was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Exosomes derived from Echinococcus multilocularis can regulate macrophage polarization and induce M2-like polarization of macrophages after co-culture at a concentration of 10 μg /mL for 72 hours, and further studies are needed to clarify the specific method.